Pictured are Executive Officers of the CARIB CHAMBER meeting with Consul General of Barbados Hon. Colin S. Mayers and Consul Ms. Resa A. Layne in Miami, Florida to discuss the importance of addressing Sustainabiltiy, Economic Development and Disaster Reduction for the Caribbean Region.
In recent discussions with experts and scientist from around the world the Caribben region has been identified as a region in “crisis”. Scientists have identified a number of vulnerabilities for the Caribbean Island nations and the Gulf of Mexico states from the impacts of climate change. Some of the major ones include:
• sea level rise
• salt water intrusion in estuaries,
• risk to mangroves
• increased frequency and/or intensity of hurricanes
• potential new rain patterns jeopardizing water security
• potential reduction of crop production jeopardizing food security
• bleaching of coral reefs jeopardizing both tourism and fishing
• impacts on coastal zone infrastructure due to sea level rise.
The Blue Community conference is slated for May 3-6, 2011 in Orlando, Florida that will address these issues. The 3-day conference will be hosted by the CARIB CHAMBER along with Disneyworld, Disney Events, Waves of Change and Friends of the UN at the Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Florida.
Specific Themes of the Conference will include Sustainability, Disaster Reduction, and Economic Development through Eco-Tourism. The Conference will further show how all three of these themes are interrelated
and that solutions to these challenges work in synergistic ways.
Water resource management is also a major challenge for the Caribbean region with the advent of Climate
Change. The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in Barbados describes the challenge this
way:
“The Caribbean faces inexorable climate change during the 21st century. This phenomenon will have a profound
effect on the long-term sustainable socioeconomic development of the islands and is likely to jeopardize
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. All economic and social sectors will be adversely affected.
The water resources sector on most islands is one that will be strongly impacted by climate change.
Against a background of increasing demand for potable water, sea-level rise may lead to flooding of lowlands
and seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers, while variability in climate may see more intense rainstorms resulting
both in increased run-off leading to increased flooding and reduced recharge leading to aquifer depletion.
Such impacts will have a negative ripple effect on other vital aspects of regional economies such as the
tourism, recreational, agricultural and industrial sectors. Unfortunately, adequate management of water resources
on many Caribbean islands is sorely lacking.”
Food imports in the Caribbean region almost double that of exports. Furthermore new WTO rules have significantly
decreased the profitability of the primary plantation exports of bananas, sugar cane, rice, and coconut.
This in turn has created more employment problems with the lower prices offered for the exports.
The opportunity is available to diversify Caribbean agriculture and enhance more of the Caribbean food supply
through selling to increasing tourist markets and growing metropolitan areas. This in turn could increase
profits, lower the imbalance of trade, and improve employment for the agricultural industry.
While Caribbean agriculture has declined the marine fishing resources have been largely undeveloped.
Sound sustainable management of Caribbean fishing resources could greatly improve both the food supply
and economy of the region. The science, technology, expertise and solutions exist! Strategies that have been developed will be addressed at the conference. They offer cost saving components as well as practices to increase the sustainability of a community thus increasing the possibilities of visits from those seeking ecotourism or sustainability preferences. Together the strategies of sustainability, disaster reduction, and ecotourism will assist the Caribbean Region on a path to a healthier and more prosperous future.
Join us on May 3- 6, 2011, in Orlando, Florida to help learn how to address these important issues affecting the Caribbean region.
