Grenada Advances Towards Protecting People and Nature with the Launch of its National Ecosystem Assessment Report
- News
Known as the ‘Spice Isle’, Grenada’s people and economy are closely intertwined with nature. Rich in cultural and biological diversity, this island state is committed to safeguarding nature and its contributions to human well-being and sustainable development.
The Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment Report was officially presented to key decision-makers, stakeholders and members of the wider public at a launch ceremony in Grande Anse, Grenada on October 26, 2023. Using the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) methodology, Grenada proudly stands to have undertaken a national ecosystem assessment. The report sheds light on the trends, status and drivers of change of invaluable ecosystems and their services that are integral to the well-being of the people of Grenada.
At the launch, Ms. Carla Bengoa, Programme Officer at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), spotlighted in her remarks, the collective commitment of more than 72 experts of multiple disciplines involved in the assessment process, emphasising that their efforts helped to create an understanding of the biodiversity and ecosystem services that define Grenada’s diversity and culture. The Grenada ecosystem assessment team is comprised of economists, anthropologists, climate change specialists, biologists and other natural resource management specialists. Relevant literature and data, as well as local and indigenous and knowledge was utilised to produce the assessment.
In 2019, the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment set out to provide a detailed analysis and critical evaluation of the impacts of habitat destruction, climate change, overharvesting, ocean acidification and pollution on the island’s ecosystems. Implemented by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) on behalf of the Government of Grenada, this project also provided tools, data and knowledge to integrate the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services into policymaking to build the island’s resilience to profound changes in global, regional and local environments.
The Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment Report 2023 was developed with support from the National Ecosystem Assessment Initiative (NEA) hosted by UNEP-WCMC, in partnership with UNDP, UNESCO and the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net). Financial support for the NEA Initiative is being provided by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection.