Caribbean Islands 

The biologically and culturally diverse Caribbean Islands biodiversity hotspot is a complex region composed of 12 independent nations and several British, Dutch, French and U.S. overseas territories. As a result of its geography and climate, it is one of the world's greatest centers of unique biodiversity.

This archipelago sustains an exceptional array of ecosystems ranging from montane cloud forests to cactus scrublands, and hosts dozens of highly threatened species, including two species of solenodon (giant shrews) and the Cuban crocodile. 

The combination of a high population growth rate and high population densities, massive seasonal influxes, increasing urbanization of the population, monetary inequity and poverty, and the increasing cost of major import goods has led to unsustainable demand for land and natural resources to the detriment of the hotspot’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

Our support will focus on six biodiversity conservation corridors and the highest priority sites for conservation; many of which are coastal and dependent on the health and resilience of the adjacent marine environment.  

With the majority of Caribbean people living close to the shoreline, coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, beaches, lagoons and cays, are essential not only for biodiversity, but for buffering coastal communities from the effects of storms, providing a basis for recreational and tourism industries, as well as nursery habitat for commercial species.

Guided by a CEPF ecosystem profile developed with stakeholders, our five-year investment strategy in the Caribbean focuses on 45 key biodiversity areas and six biodiversity conservation corridors identified for housing the highest priorities for conservation in the region.

We expect to launch the award of grants later this year, beginning with the appointment of a regional implementation team.

The key biodiversity areas and conservation corridors are located in the following countries currently eligible to receive CEPF funds: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, the Bahamas and Barbados will be priorities for CEPF investment because of their eligibility to receive GEF funds specifically.

Biological importance, threat, ecosystem services value and the impact that civil society could have in the region are the deciding factors that identify sites as high priority areas for CEPF support.

Composing the $6.5 million investment strategy for the hotspot are five strategic directions. Each project must link to one of these strategic directions in order to be approved for funding:

1.    Improve protection and management of 45 priority key biodiversity areas.
2.    Integrate biodiversity conservation into landscape and development planning and
       implementation in six conservation corridors.
3.   Support Caribbean civil society to achieve biodiversity conservation by building local
      and regional institutional capacity and by fostering stakeholder collaboration.
4.   Provide strategic leadership and effective coordination of CEPF investment through a
      regional implementation team
5.   Provide emergency support to Haitian civil society to mitigate the impacts of the 2010
      earthquake

The fourth strategic direction is designed for the regional implementation team to provide leadership and effective coordination of CEPF investment. 

This portfolio also includes special emergency support to Haitian civil society to mitigate the impacts of the 2010 earthquake. This support was approved separately by the Donor Council in March 2010 and has been incorporated as a fifth strategic direction.

Maps of CEPF Key Biodiversity Areas and Corridors for Investment

Dominican Republic

Haiti



Jamaica

St. Vincent and the Grenadines



Antigua and Barbuda



Bahamas



Barbados

Grenada



St. Lucia

All documents pertaining to the Caribbean may be found on the documents page for the region.