cl Caribbean WaterWays
SGrF Newsletter of the GEF IWCAM Project
EHI Volume 3, Issue 2/3 e/Sept 2009
EHU Volume 3, Issue 2/3 ]une/Sept 2009
In this issue:
* Conserving For-
ests for Better
Water (pgs. 1,2,3)
* Regional Labora-
tory Workshop
(pgs.1, 6)
* Community Per-
spectives on Wa-
tershed Manage-
ment (pgs.1,10,11)
* RTAG 4 (pgs. 2, 7)
* Grenada: The St.
John's Watershed
(pg. 4)
* Dominica-What
does the LBS Pro-
tocol have to do
with it? (pg. 5)
* STP Training (pg.
6)
* Caricom Consor-
tium of Institutions
on Water Ad-
vances its Agenda
(pg. 7)
* Workshop on Hy-
drometric Net-
works (pg. 8)
* Jamaica Demo
Project Manager
Shares experi-
ences with SOPAC
(pg.9)
* Going Global:
Sharing IWCAM
Experiences in
Paraguay (pg.12)
Workshop Enhances
Regional Laboratory Quality
Assurance Skills
From May 12th 15th, 2009, the
Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
(CEHI), one of the co-executing agencies
of the GEF-IWCAM Project, ran a Work-
shop on "Laboratory Quality Assurance
and Method Quality Control" in Rodney
Bay, St. Lucia.
The course targeted laboratory
managers, and quality assurance and
laboratory personnel involved in the
(Continued on page 6)
Community Perspectives
on Watershed Management
The GEF-IWCAM Projects approach to
Integrated Water Resource Assessment in Saint
Conserving Forests for
Better Water
"It is clear that we need to first and foremost
protect whatever primary forest remains on the island
in order to stabilize the dry season stream flow situa-
tion. We also need to set aside adequate reserve areas
per watershed so that secondary forest can evolve.
This will improve water quality in the short term. In the
long term, we will be returning the water benefits of a
primary forest and greater opportunities for sustain-
able water supplies."
These were Cornelius Isaac's concluding words
after making the case for conservation of St. Lucia's pri-
mary forests in a presentation titled "Forests and Rivers -
the relevance of St. Lucia's forest to stream flow security"
at a recent session sponsored by the GEF-IWCAM Project
during St. Lucia's Water Week in May 2009. Cornelius is
the Project Manager for the St. Lucia Demonstration Pro-
ject, located in the Fond D'or Watershed.
The relationship between forests and water re-
sources is closer than many of us realize. Forests are an
integral part of the water cycle. They intercept rainfall,
evaporate moisture from vegetative surfaces, transpire soil
moisture and maintain soil infiltration, thereby influencing
the amount and quality of water available. As water passes
through a forest ecosystem the soil traps sediment and
filters out pesticides and other pollutants from upslope land
uses and activities. Forests stabilize the soils by helping to
prevent erosion as ground vegetation, litter and plant roots
protect the soil during periods of heavy rainfall, reducing
the impairment of water quality due to sedimentation. As
rainfall is intercepted, rapid runoff and flooding is also re-
duced.
Most importantly perhaps, forests play a role in
recharging and maintaining the quality of groundwater.
Water utilities know well that changes in land use can af-
fect the quality of water at intakes, often leading to greater
treatment costs.
Yet, even as the demand for water grows, Carib-
bean forests are declining in both size and quality.
(Continued on page 2)
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Regional Technical
Advisory Group's
Fourth Meeting
The GEF-IWCAM Pro-
ject often looks towards regional
experts to help to guide it in
achieving its objective of im-
proved integration of watershed
and coastal areas in Caribbean
small island developing states. As
such, once to twice a year, the
project calls a meeting of the
Regional Technical Advisory
I iic.tr SriiweeT, .r. IP. Group (RTAG).
presents Work Plan
The RTAG is comprised
of one senior technical representative from each country
(wherever possible this national member should represent a
sector which is related to that country's demonstration project or
areas of principal IWCAM concern), the GEF-IWCAM Regional
Project Coordinator, and a representative from each of the two
Executing Agencies (EAs), UNEP CAR/RCU and CEHI. In addi-
tion the RTAG may invite regional or international, technical
expertise as guests to a meeting where that expertise may prove
to be valuable (and with the agreement of the EAs).
In July 2009, the Project convened its fourth RTAG
meeting in Nassau, the Bahamas, to discuss past, present and
future project activities. The draft mid-term evaluation of the
BACKGROUND ON THE GEF-IWCAM
PROJECT:
The Global Environment Facility-funded Integrating Watershed
and CoastalAreas Management in Caribbean Small Island De-
veloping States (GEF-IWCAM) Project was approvedby the
Global Environment Facility (GEF) in May2004. Implementing
agencies are the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). Executing agencies are the Secretariat of the
Cartagena Convention (UNEP-CAR/RCU) and the Caribbean
Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) and the UN Office for
Project Services (UNOPS). The thirteen participating SIDS are:
Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Grenada,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trini-
dad and Tobago. The length of the Project is years and com-
menced in the second quarter of 2005. The Project Coordinating
Unit is located at the CEHI, as agreed by the Implementing and
Executing Agencies and the participating countries.
project was presented. Some major conclusions extracted from
the report were:
The Project:
is very significant and is expected to deliver important
benefits and offer lessons.
is successful and expected to continue to be so.
has a strong local and regional impact.
focus should move to replication of successes, sus-
tainability, and capturing key lessons.
is well formulated and well undertaken by an experi-
enced Project Coordination Unit and with sufficient
support from the Implementing and Executing Agen-
cies.
needs no significant corrective actions to objectives,
activities or outcomes.
is providing important support to Land Based Sources
of Marine Pollution Protocol of the Cartagena Conven-
tion (LBS Protocol) ratification process.
The RTAG was specifically asked to consider the sustainability
of the IWCAM ap-
proach after the end of
the project. Participants
stressed that much of
the sustainability of the
approach would be
linked to ratification of
the LBS Protocol. LBS
ratification would en-
trench the IWCAM
approach into national olpe'inlg ereiLrfli"iH II,' b l.hLh"
(Continued on page 7)
Looking around at the green hillsides of the
Caribbean, we might be tempted to think that our
water supplies are guaranteed for many years to
come. However forests face numerous threats,
among them: conversion for agriculture or for devel-
opment (residential, industrial and commercial uses,
roads, paved areas etc.); wildfires; insect outbreaks
and; harvesting for timber.
Increasingly, more and more of the vegeta-
tion that we see on hillsides is in fact secondary for-
est or vegetation which has grown after some drastic
event such as a forest fire or indiscriminate clearing.
Once primary forest is destroyed, light-demanding
species grow first followed by an under story of
shade-tolerant species, which is known as succes-
sion (See Box A, pg. 3).
(Continued on page 3)
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
(Contmuedfrom page 2)
Primaryforest
BOX A:
Annual Perennial Shrubs Softwood Hardwood
Plants Plants and Trees Pines Trees
Grasses
Time -
Succession-a simplified description
Primary forests, important for water conservation,
once covered hillsides and valleys throughout the Carib-
bean. These are forests which exist without significant
disturbances for significant periods, long enough to be
dominated by mature trees and are composed mainly of
shade tolerant species. These include the Gommier,
Chatainier, Bois de Masse and Balata Chien.
Secondary forests, which now dominate many of
the forest areas in the region, in contrast, are far less effi-
cient at water conservation. They are composed mainly of
pioneer species which grow rapidly, demand a lot of light
and generally do not live long. Dominant trees in secon-
dary forests include the Palmiste, Bois Canon, Laurier
and Mahot.
The reality is that demand for land for a variety of
activities means that forest acreage on the whole is de-
clining and the creation of reserves (areas set aside for
non-development) is important if primary forest in particu-
lar, vital to the sustainability of water quantity and quality,
is to be protected. St. Lucia's Fond D'or Watershed,
where the Demonstration Project is located, has an area
of 39 square kilometers, of which only 23 percent is re-
serve. Efforts through the Demo Project seek to preserve
what is left of these forests.
Managing primary forest and expanding the forest
reserves in each watershed is important if we are to have
sustainable water supplies in the future. Better communi-
cation and cooperation between different sectors is
needed. The development and implementation of good
management practices is important to ensure that existing
forests protect and enhance the freshwater environment
which ultimately also affects coastal water quality as well.
Better integration of forest and water policy, plans and
measures is vital to sustainable management of water
resources.
Secondaryforest
Box B:
Impact of Climate Change on
Forests
* Changes in precipitation (frequency, intensity, distribution)
* Increased drought
* Increased evaporation due to higher temperatures, affecting
species distribution
* Extreme weather events (e.g. floods, hurricanes) that could
cause damage and stress to forests
* Changes to the physical, chemical and biological processes
of soil
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Grenada: The St. John's
Watershed
Grenada faces major threats to local watersheds
and the marine environment. To begin addressing the prob-
'lem, the Ministries with responsibility for the Environment
and Agriculture in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance,
RPanning, Economy, Energy, Foreign Trade & Cooperatives,
and with the support of the GEF-IWCAM Project, held a
Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution Awareness and
Promotion Workshop at the National Stadium in St. Geor-
ges, Grenada, on the 6th 7th April 2009.
Similar to the Dominica LBS Workshop (see pg.
5), the objectives of the Workshop were to: raise awaren;essl
of the LBS Protocol, examine its implications for Gre iada *
and discuss its implementation. The Workshop also so:iughl
to initiate the development of a master plan for a watesh.ed
at risk in Grenada.
Stakeholders from Government, and other non-
governmental agencies, including private sector and com-
munity-based organizations participated in the Workshop.
The St. John's Watershed
St. John's Watershed is being considered for de-
velopment of a Watershed Master Plan to address the LBS
Protocol. This Watershed Management Planning approach
will be used as a template that could be replicated in other
high-risk watersheds in Grenada and the Wider Caribbean
SIDS.
After describing the St. John's Watershed the
meeting discussed many of the issues affecting it. These
include erosion and resulting sedimentation which affects
Grande Anse Beach and its reefs negatively, and repeated
i::diniig of communities in the lower watershed area. In
addilin there are manufacturing (e.g. soft drinks, deter-
genl) agricultural, housing, mining and other activities
which are also causing pollution. The area was toured later
Ihal dav by Workshop participants.
A three-step approach, to be led by an Inter-
agency Collaborative team and to take place over 18,
months, is envisaged: 1) initiation and scoping; 2) design
and implementation of control measures; 3) a monitoring
and evaluation mechanism. The meeting agreed that Ih;e
entire effort should be cross-cutting and integrated and thal
training for various stakeholders would be an integral pan .:.
it. There was a recognition that policy and decision makers
need to use guidelines that encourage integrated manage-
ment, that legislation needs to be revamped, and that suc-
cessful cases need to be promoted.
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. ... ..
5 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Dominica-what does the LBS Protocol have to do with it?
It is oft remarked that if Christopher Columbus were to return to the Caribbean some 500 years after his original visit, the one island
he would recognize is the Commonwealth of Dominica. In comparison with her Caribbean neighbors, Dominica has significant forest cover and
a fairly pristine environment. But, as many Dominicans will remark, the situation has degraded notably in the past few decades due to uncon-
trolled forest clearance; encroachment by farmers; use of agro-chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides; siltation of rivers and
dams; poor land use practices; indiscriminate waste disposal; pollution; land tenure rights; and, unplanned developments.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF), together with the GEF-IWCAM Project, the United Nations Caribbean
Regional Coordinating Unit (UNEP/CAR-RCU), the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), and the Pan-American Health Organiza-
tion (PAHO), held a workshop in Roseau, Dominica in July 2009 to address these threats and the role of the Land-based Sources of Marine
Pollution (LBS) Protocol of the Cartagena Convention to address them.
The LBS Protocol is a regional agreement for the prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution from land-based sources and
activities, providing a framework for addressing pollution based upon national and regional needs and priorities. It adopts an approach which
focuses upon addressing the sources of pollution, including the application of most appropriate technologies and best management practices. It
also promotes the establishment of pollution standards and schedules for implementation.
The objectives of the workshop were to raise F Do
awareness of the LBS Protocol, examine its implications
for Dominica, and discuss its ratification and implemen-
tation. The Workshop also sought to initiate the develop-
ment of a master plan for a watershed at risk in Domin-
ica. It is hoped that this master plan will guide the design
and implementation of appropriate measures to mini-
mize the risk posed to life, property and the coastal zone
as a result of pollution, accelerated land degradation
and flooding.
The workshop was very well attended by key
stakeholders from Government, at the local and national
level. Participants, together with the regional agencies
present, brainstormed about how to promote LBS Proto-
col ratification in Dominica as well as the development of
a watershed management planning initiative for the
Roseau Watershed.
Such a watershed planning initiative would
seek to improve quality and quantity of water in the Ro-
seau River; preserve and sustain tourism potential of the valley; heighten the physical planning activities and improve programmes in the valley,
and maintain the aesthetic value of the watershed. Some critical issues in the watershed identified at the meeting, and at the field trip through
the watershed, are road construction, land tenure, inadequate physical planning, solid and liquid waste disposal, ad hoc quarrying (materials
taken from roadsides), poultry farming, human settlement, agricultural practices, environmental services (spas), pollutants, and stakeholder
identification.
The key stakeholders were broadly defined as the wider public, utility companies, government, and the private sector. Participants
underscored the importance of a Communication Plan / Strategy, involving education / public awareness, workshop, town hall meetings, train-
ings, and publications. Those present also underscored the need for assessment of information available and gaps and establishment of a
steering committee (new or existing) and development of a workplan.
Based on the results of this meeting, the GEF-IWCAM Project Coordination Unit, CEHI, UNEP/CAR-RCU and the Forestry Division of
MAFF will work together to elaborate next steps for plan development. In parallel to the watershed management initiative, GEF-IWCAM and
UNEP/CAR-RCU will be working with the Government of Dominica to support them on the road to ratification of the LBS Protocol.
www.iwcam.org
IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
(Contmuedfrom page 1)
analysis of environmental samples. It aimed to en-
hance and develop their capabilities to perform basic
analytical techniques in support of IWCAM objec-
tives, and to develop the capacity for national envi-
ronmental surveillance and monitoring.
Participants were selected from laboratories
in participating countries of the English-speaking
Caribbean that were assessed as part of the Pro-
ject's laboratory strengthening component. The
course curriculum was based on the training needs
identified in the assessment.
The workshop sought to raise the standard
at which laboratories in the Region operate to an
internationally accepted level. Participants were
trained in the development, implementation and
documentation of a laboratory quality management
system that meets the requirements of the interna-
tional laboratory standard ISO/IEC 17025 General
Requirements for the Competence of Testing and
Calibration Laboratories.
Selected laboratories will be supplied with
laboratory equipment to carry out environmental
monitoring and the national training needs will be
assessed and training provided at this level
CEHI will coordinate an informal network of
laboratories and other interested parties in order to
facilitate the exchange of:
* Standard Operating Procedures
* Experiences
* Suppliers
* Training opportunities
* Troubleshooting
Proficiency testing services by an institution
such as CEHI is required and the specific tests and
the cost of provision of such a service still need to be
looked at.
",orai
Training on Operation & Mainte-
nance of Sewage Treatment Plants
for Operators
A GEF-IWCAM Regional training workshop
on Operation & Maintenance of Sewage Treatment
Plants was convened from May 18-22, 2009 in Mon-
tego Bay, Jamaica. This workshop was organized,
based upon a request from the Project Steering
Committee that training in this area be provided to
Participating Countries.
The training sought to improve the skills of
plant operators across the region, in order to reduce
the pollution load entering the marine environment.
Over thirty persons from 12 of the Projects
PCs received training. The training covered all as-
pects of biological wastewater treatment and in-
cluded troubleshooting and plant visits. Local coun-
terparts from NEPA and the Water Resources Au-
thority assisted in organizing the event and making
background presentations as well. UNEP CAR/RCU
took the opportunity to introduce participants to the
LBS Protocol.
i !5' Slni 1luinfi~ I l,'IvI tlllllL'lll Inltl \lnIil'i:" aMlir
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.ViLhefle 11 tir% q/ 11rtrc
fhprif rr
IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
The CARICOM Consortium of
Institutions on Water Advances its
Agenda
w3
The GEF-IWCAM Project attended a meet-
ing to jointly plan the work of a Consortium of CARI-
COM Institutions on Water. This meeting took place
on July 14, 2009 at the CARICOM Secretariat,
Georgetown, Guyana. It was attended by represen-
tatives from the CARICOM Secretariat, CEHI,
CBWMP Inc, CAPNET, GWP-C, CWWA, CDERA,
UWI, CERMES, and the OECS Secretariat, among
others.
(Continuedfrom page 2)
RTAG 4 cont'd:
governance structures. It will also prove helpful in obtaining ex-
ternal funding from donors. The RTAG suggested that the pro-
ject focus its activities on countries that are close to ratifying in
order to help with this process, identify the gaps, and take the
needed actions to help move the process forward.
A draft work plan for 2010 was presented to the RTAG
and the participants made a number of useful suggestions on
how to enhance the work of the Project in the upcoming year.
These included: a focus on legislators and the private sector,
additional support to LBS Protocol ratification, stressing the link
to climate change, and capacity building activities in areas such
as project and proposal preparation, wastewater treatment and
re-use, preparing watershed management plans (process /
methodology), and hydrochemistry and water analysis interpre-
tation. These recommendations, as well as others made during
the meeting, will be presented to the Project Steering Committee
for consideration during its upcoming meeting in October 2009,
Dominican Republic.
The meeting was a follow up to a meeting
held in December 2008, of an IWRM Partnership
Group, established through the support of the GEF-
IWCAM Project. This IWRM Partnership Group had
been exchanging information and had engaged in
joint planning on these previous occasions. The
meeting was also designed to advance the mandate
given to CARICOM institutions by the CARICOM
Council for Trade & Economic Development
(COTED), when it met earlier in 2008. COTED in-
structed that a Consortium of CARICOM institutions,
in collaboration with other entities, advance an
agenda for water management in the region. The
meeting therefore sought to facilitate such advance-
ment.
Conclusions and Recommendations from
the IWRM Partnership Group meeting, the subse-
quently drafted Terms of Reference for the CARI-
COM Consortium on Water, and a possible Work
Programme for the Consortium were also discussed.
Elements of the Work Programme would be:
* Policy Formulation & Institutional Development
(led by CEHI)
* Data & Information Sharing (led by CIMH)
* Capacity Enhancement (led by UWI)
* Technology & Methods (led by UWI/ CERMES)
GEF-IWCAM's Clearing House Mechanism
work would support the Data and Information Shar-
ing element.
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Did you know?
1ii ".r,, ll'llm i
The streets of many Caribbean towns flood after
heavy rainfall, stranding people, creating a health hazard,
destroying property and causing chaos.
Flooding is exacerbated by waterways which are
loaded with sediment and drains which are clogged by
solid waste debris.
Preventing soil erosion and keeping streets and
waterways clear of litter helps to prevent flooding.
IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Workshop on Hydrometric
Networks underlines importance
of measuring and recording
rainfall
The Caribbean region is one of the world's
wettest regions in terms of precipitation. Average
annual precipitation ranges from 1,100 mm in Anti-
gua to more than 6,000 mm in the mountains of Do-
minica. Yet despite this, planners, authorities and
decision-makers often find that there are no records
available on river discharge, rainfall, groundwater
levels or climate data. These data are however, the
necessary foundation for proper planning, decision
making and watershed management. Furthermore,
long term records of data are often required to make
reliable conclusions.
II i>rkigr iilt'p eliig inIg Ithel' nu'in for uii. h' l'trr |
iIr'l'riri 0o al e'a11I le" i\lanlmlI
In order to address this issue, a Workshop
on Hydrometric Networks was or anized in St. Vin-
cent and the Grenadines from 18th 20th May 2009.
Its objectives were: to inform about the importance of
data collection; to show the latest technology in hy-
drometric networks and; to offer a platform for the
exchange of experience among Caribbean states.
The workshop was initiated by the Carib-
bean Renewable Energy Development Programme
(CREDP-GTZ) and jointly organized by CREDP-
GTZ, the GEF- IWCAM Project and the Government
of St. Vincent and the Grenadines through the Minis-
try of Health and the Environment. Further sponsors
were SEBA Hydrometrie GmbH and Egis BCEOM
International.
St. Vincent was selected as the venue for
this Workshop because the National Water Re-
sources Management Study Project, which is funded
by the European Development Fund (EDF) and im-
plemented by Egis BCEOM, is erecting a new hydro-
metric network in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Participants visited various gauging stations
to see equipment that had recently been installed. At
the water treatment plant in Jennings a rain gauge, a
clamp meter for discharge measurements in pipes, a
radar water level gauge, a staff gauge and a water
quality meter could be seen. A discharge measure-
ment with an inductive velocity meter was made. In
addition participants were able to visit the climate
station at Langley Park, where wind speed, wind run,
evaporation, sun radiation, humidity, temperature
and precipitation measuring instruments were in-
spected.
Workshop discussions revealed that the fi-
nancing of hydrometric systems is a major issue.
While investment for procurement of equipment is in
most cases financed by donors, operation and main-
tenance of the systems lack sufficient financial sup-
port and need proper strategies. In addition, there is
a need to increase awareness amongst decision
makers of the importance of hydrometric networks
and the value of the information which they generate.
The overall recommendation made by par-
ticipants was the formation of a comprehensive hy-
drometric network in the Caribbean. The importance
of hydrometric networks and data collection is to be
conveyed to the Ministers of the Council for Trade
and Economic Development (COTED) of the CARI-
COM, or a similar meeting. This effort should in-
clude recommendation of the establishment and op-
eration of hydrometric and climate data collection in
the environment policy of each member state. The
sustainable financing of hydrometric networks was
also discussed with participants putting forward
many suggestions.
,Y.CAN I B=Ii2 BK
DI i 'a Ir i\r irir'it'r wihili rulun tirei r'l inirirtr 11 |a
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Jamaica Demonstration Project
Manager Shares Experiences with
SOPAC
The GEF-IWCAM Regional Project was rep-
resented at the recent SOPAC (Pacific Islands Ap-
plied Geoscience Commission) Building Founda-
tion Programme Leadership Training Seminar on
Improving Water Planning Management by Ja-
maica's Demonstration Project Manager, Lisa Kirk-
land.
The seminar took place at the East West
Centre in Hawaii from July 14 24, 2009. Lisa par-
ticipated in the last week of the seminar at which se-
lected participants from the Federated States of Mi-
cronesia, Republic of Palau and the Republic of the
Marshall Islands were provided with useful informa-
tion and assistance towards adopting new, prag-
matic approaches to more effectively mobilize politi-
cal constituencies, increase knowledge and technical
competence, and facilitate, organize and coordinate
the development and implementation of integrated
water resources management plans.
Lisa made two presentations: 1) IWRM Plan-
ning in the Caribbean: Roadmap Process and Les-
sons Learned, and (2) Use of Monitoring and Evalua-
tion: IWCAM Demonstration Project in Jamaica.
The inclusion of local communities in water
quality monitoring exercises in all instances had
helped to educate the communities about natural
resources, to empower them and to get their support
for project activities. Seminar participants particu-
larly liked this approach and asked questions about
how they could do the same.
Lisa noted that it was interesting to see that
although there are cultural differences, the issues as
they relate to IWRM remain the same. These in-
clude the challenges encountered when engaging
stakeholders, obtaining political endorsement and
commitment, and coordination between different sec-
tors. Examples of how Caribbean SIDS were able to
overcome some of these hurdles were given. The
implementation of short term, on-the-ground activi-
ties which have provided tangible, quick results or
benefits to the community was one such example.
She also stressed the differences which ex-
ist from one island to another, and that it is not "a
one size fits all situation"; that differences should be
anticipated and highlighted.
One
of the
high-
lights
of the
semi-
nar
was
the
divi-
sion
of
par-
~h Puida -11 tifersh e
ticipants into two islands; with each island being
asked to come up with IWRM plans. This was fol-
lowed by role
play. It was nota-
ble that the vari-
ous aspects of
training which
had taken place
were actually in-
corporated into
Ihe plans which
wvvere produced.
The seminar
included a trip to
a Hawaii water-
shed which is
managed to pro-
r i ivide support for
II, c l as Ih,'l ~'r,,u ph1 school children
and to preserve
aspects of ancient Hawaii planting techniques.
The Demo Project Manager was very enthu-
siastic about the experience which she found to be
very educational and to have provided excellent net-
working opportunities.
11 inn'g 1III RII r'Ie plar iirAnri rPrr i'L' '
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
(Contmuedfrom page 1)
Vincent, is attempting to be more consultative in order to under-
stand the most pressing issues faced by communities and how best
to help resolve them while improving people's quality of life. In con-
trast to the approach used in the other participating countries where
consultations have been limited to one or two national consultations,
in St. Vincent, in addition to a national level consultation, four sepa-
rate community consultations were organized during the month of
August.
The four communities were:
Greggs located in the South Eastern St. Vincent in the Biabou
watershed. A tight knit community made up partly of Garifuna. Its
main economic revenue care from banana farming until the col-
Slrt I illtge inrlgruti a'ith./acelar. lapse of that market and the destruction of much of the crop from the
Ithe .er Moko disease. Today, dasheen (a root) is the main crop.
Chateaubelair one of the larger leeward coastal communities,
situated in the North West area of St. Vincent, in the Chateaubelair
watershed. It is home to two major tourist attractions, the Trinity and
Dark View Waterfalls. It is also close to the Soufriere Volcano, where
illegal farming takes place due to the fertile soil and remote location.
The main socio-economic activities are farming and fishing.
Spring Village located on the leeward side of St. Vincent, in a
.* valley to the south of Chateaubelair. It is in the Cumberland Water-
shed, one of the largest watersheds in St. Vincent. The farming of
root crops and citrus dominates.
Vermont Village located in the South Central part of St. Vincent, in
the Buccament watershed. This watershed is extremely important as
~I c'rrnt I lly 1imnorilgr m i t&IAifi it supplies water to Kingstown, which covers about 40% of the popu-
lation. It is also home to the Vermont Nature Trail, a popular tourism
destination.
Major issues identified:
* 'brown' water supplied by CWSA
* soil erosion leading to heavy sedimentation of river water
* landslides
* deforestation
* solid waste pollution in waterways and on beaches
* flash flooding
* damming of waterways as a result of debris and the overgrowth of elephant grass
* water pollution by pesticides and fertilizer runoff (sometimes pesticide containers
are washed out in or near streams)
* water pollution by pig pens located near rivers affecting downstream users
* poor and unsustainable land use practices (e.g. illegal farming in the hillsides)
* bush fires .Spring I illagE: Iirev e Rohertpoi /hoyn
* armadillos unearthing tree root systems np fel S. I inCn',l 1 'm rrhl, ndI glv,
www.iwcam.org
IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Perceived Barriers to Change:
* unemployment
* migration
* political division
* religious differences
* poor communication
* financial difficulties and limited resources
* lack of proper solid waste management
* CBO's need for training in management and record keeping
* a lack of effective local government
* poor enforcement
* lack of cooperation and poor communication amongst stake-
holders
* lack of education
* getting people to come to meetings
* selfishness
* illegal farming
* improper and uncontrolled river bank uses
The four communities identified these needs or solu-
tions:
* education and public awareness (e.g. impacts of deforestation)
through cultural programs and creating environmental groups.
* need for legislation regarding littering as there are no regula-
tions concerning this issue and enforcement of that legislation.
* incentives for people to stop littering such as recycling pro-
grams, more bins for trash and more frequent cleaning of gut-
ters
* training in better farming practices (contour drains) and agro-
forestry
* community exchanges between farmers
* provision of seeds with training on planting techniques
* capacity building for CBOs
* reforestation and river bank stabilization.
* more consultations to keep people involved in finding solutions
to problems
1Iu&'uh'I 5: '\II'gi>1
Significantly, participants noted that they
had learned that the protection of land, forests
and water services is essential and that there are
linkages between land and water.
1iIhig d uoIiuIuIIii lprerL't'f'r
"This process of consultation has helped the GEF-IWCAM project gain the attention of four different
communities as well as national level stakeholders regarding IWRM and land and water issues. It
needs to build on this by quickly implementing a participatory process that addresses the priority land
and water issues identified by the communities. Community members have shown their willingness to
participate and CBOs exist on the ground ready to partner with GEF-IWCAM but they need information,
support, coordination and capacity building."
Agathe Sector, Natural Resources Consultant.
www.iwcam.org
IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Going Global: Sharing IWCAM
Experiences in Paraguay
%Si11
As the GEF-IWCAM Project moves forward, sharing
experiences, lessons learned and good practices at the national,
regional, and global levels becomes more and more important.
The staff of the Project Coordinating Unit, demonstration project
managers, and others involved with the project are dedicating a
significant amount of time to preparing papers, presenting at
conferences, and exchanging information with others through a
variety of fora.
This is why the GEF-IWCAM Technical Coordinator,
Sasha Beth Gottlieb, found herself in Asuncion, Paraguay in late
June and early July 2009. Sasha travelled to Paraguay to par-
ticipate in two events organized by the United Nations Educa-
tional, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's
(UNESCO) International Hydrological Programme (IHP): The VII
Meeting of National Committees and Focal Points of UNESCO
International Hydrological Programme for Latin America and the
Caribbean and the Conference Ecohydrology in the context of
Global Change.
At the former, she presented on the activities of the
GEF-IWCAM Project and sought out opportunities for collabora-
tion with the UNESCO IHP Centres and other partners present.
In the latter, Sasha shared the experiences of the
project in its work on indicators, including the indicators assess-
ment, development of an IWCAM indicators template, and then
the application of that template in Barbados, through the upcom-
ing development of a land and water information system which is
being undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Food
and Agriculture Organization and the Government of Barbados.
The presentations from these meetings can be found
at www.iwcam.orq.
The River and Public Health
"Public education and awareness; community mobiliza-
tion ...most needed."
Wenn Gabriel, St. Lucia's Chief Environmental Health Officer,
St. Lucia Water Week, May2009
Participating Country Focal Points, Demonstration Projects and others are invited to submit articles. Please contact
Donna Spencer at dspencer@cehi.org.lc
Contact Information:
IWCAM Project Coordination Unit
P.O. Box 1111, The Morne, Castries, Saint Lucia
Tel: (758)-452-2501/1412; Fax: (758)-453-2721
E-mail: dspencer@cehi.org.lc
www.iwcam.org
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