Coastal Biodiversity Conservation in Montecristi, DR and Three Bays, Haiti

Executive Directorate

Location

Monte Cristi National Park in the Dominican Republic and Three Bays National Park in the Republic of Haiti

Date

January, 2020 – June, 2022

Total Contribution

$2,000,000

Total Budget

$2,000,000

Theme

Climate change, biodiversity, marine coastal livelihoods, and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA).

Funded by

Objective of the project

Strengthen the management of government, the private sector, and local communities in the intervention areas of the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti with effective implementation of EbA in order to reduce the impacts of Climate Change.

Challenges

Strengthen the resilience of marine communities and ecosystems through the reduction of overfishing and degradation of marine habitats without affecting the livelihoods of local fishermen.

Increase business opportunity exploitation strategies for nature-based sustainable tourism.

Axes of Action

Project

Planning and Governance

Strengthening the public policy framework to address threats to coastal marine ecosystems related to climate change, for the development and planning of activities related to tourism and fishing in the intervention areas.

EbA measures in the field

Establish a community-driven operational framework to protect the biodiversity of coastal ecosystems sensitive to climate change by incorporating the use of local knowledge for best practices, helping to reduce the vulnerability of local communities and improve their livelihoods.

Strengthening local capacities

Develop a comprehensive community-based EbA approach for coastal zone management in the DR and Haiti, based on education and outreach programs on best management practices informed by local knowledge and customs.

Financing

It is a project funded by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), co-financed by the International Climate Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Government Development Bank (KfW).

Population beneficiary

5,500 people, 70% of whom are women and young people from the communities.

Achievements

Sustainable tourism carrying capacity (15,000 ha (150 km2) of land area and 150,000 ha (1,500 km2) of marine area).

GHG emissions reduced in pilot areas, 2400 tons/year of CO2 capture.

Coastal-marine habitats protected through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), benefiting communities in intervention areas with the coverage of 1000 ha of mangrove forest, 1000 ha of wetlands, 1000 ha of coral reefs, and 4000 ha of coastal-marine landscapes.

Development of a training, dissemination, and communication platform for good practices and guidelines for sustainable coastal management, biodiversity protection, and resilient livelihoods.

Development goals sustainable

Climate action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Terrestrial ecosystem life: sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.

Products of project

During the project, studies, analyses, and plans were carried out to establish an efficient governance system and strengthen capacities, based on the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Measures implemented in the field.

These documents, which reflect best practices and lessons learned, are available and will contribute to the sustainability of the investment made in the project for the improvement of quality of life, alternative and sustainable livelihoods, and the better utilization of ecosystem services with the care of the ecosystems and biodiversity of the Protected Areas within the project's intervention zone.