Coastal Biodiversity Conservation in Montecristi, DR and Tres Bahias, Haiti

Executive Management

Location

Montecristi 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

Thematic

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

Funded by

Project objective

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

Challenges

Strengthen the resilience of marine communities and ecosystems by reducing overfishing and marine habitat degradation without affecting the livelihoods of local fishermen.

Enhance strategies to take advantage of commercial opportunities for sustainable nature-based tourism.

Main Lines of Action of the

Project

Planning and governance

Strengthening of the public policy framework to address the threats in coastal BD related to CC, for the development and planning of activities related to tourism and fishing in the areas of intervention.

EbA field measurements

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 vulnerability of local communities and improving their livelihoods.

Local capacity building

Develop a comprehensive community-based EbA approach to coastal zone management in the DR and Haiti as a result of education programs and dissemination of best management practices based on local knowledge and customs.

Financing

It is a project financed 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 Republic of Germany through the German Governmental Development Bank (KFW).

Beneficiary population

5,500 people, 70% 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).

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

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

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

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate action: Adopt urgent measures to combat climate change and its effects.

Underwater life: Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Life of terrestrial ecosystems: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project deliverables

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

These documents that reflect the best practices and lessons learned are available and are a contribution that will provide sustainability to the investment made in the project to improve the quality of life, alternative and sustainable livelihoods and better use of ecosystem services with the care of ecosystems and biodiversity of the Protected Areas of the project intervention area.