The status of biodiversity and bioprospecting efforts in the Caribbean subregion

Introduction Biodiversity, as the name implies, is the term used to describe the differences that exist between and among the various species of organisms on the planet earth. Biodiversity can be measured on a worldwide basis, on a regional basis, on a national basis, as well as on a zonal basis. The interactions of these various species provide the basis for sustaining life, human life in particular. On that basis then, it is of utmost importance that the biodiversity of any area be preserved and this can only be done by a proper understanding of the organisms, their relative positions and in…

International Rivers and Lakes Nº 35

CONTENTS I.Notes on NAFTA’s Environmental Implications II. US-Mexican transboundary water issues: public and private sector entities participate in round tableIII.Colloquium on Regulatory Expropriations in International LawIV. Great Lakes: Donors pledge US $140 million for Nile basin projects, 29 June 2001V. Toronto newspaper concerned about U.S. interest in Canadian water VI. Debate on piping Canadian water to the American SouthwestVII. Mexican water debt coming due VIII.India: Water release into Pakistan rivers IX. UK Water Industry Says: 'Climate Change Threat Urgent' X.…

International Rivers and Lakes Nº 36

CONTENTS I.Water pollution: European Commission versus Portugal.II. Bolivia, Potosí: NGO Protests against Legalization of Water Export.III.Canada: A primer on water policy and trade issues.IV. Unprecedented action to protect the Danube River and the Black Sea.V. Mexican desert state and US farmers fight for water.VI. War for water: Suez CEO Launches Appeal.VII. Globalization: NGO Warns of Mass Water Sell-Off.VIII.The case of community water law.IX. German federal and regional ministers of environment against new Czech dams.X. The Commission on Environment of the European parliament …

Sustainable development: Latin American and Caribbean perspectives

This publication is a result of a Regional Consultative Meeting on Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean held at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile, 19-21 January 2000. The partners in the organization of this meeting were ECLAC, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Fifty-four participants, representing governments from the region at the senior policy-m…

Assessment of the damage caused by flood rains and landslides in association with hurricane Michelle, october 2001: implications for economic, social and environmental development

Preface This study was prepared for the Government of Jamaica following the significant physical damage and economic losses that the country sustained as a result of flood rains associated with the development of Hurricane Michelle. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) submitted a request for assistance in undertaking a social, environmental and economic impact assessment to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on 14 November 2001. ECLAC responded with haste and modified its work plan to accommodate the request. A request for training in the use of th…

Caribbean SIDS Prepare for Johannesburg 2002 - The World Summit on Sustainable Development

Trade, environment and development: implications for Caribbean countries

Introduction Trade and development issues have been the focus of economists, policy makers and international organizations for decades. However, environmental concerns have only come to the fore within the last couple of decades largely as a result of the work of scientists on, for example, climate change and loss in biodiversity as well as the lobbying activities of environmental groups, such as Greenpeace. The linking of environment to trade only gained international prominence since the negotiations for the Canada-United States Free Trade Area in the 1980s. However, although enviro…

Debt for nature: a swap whose time has gone?

Abstract This paper purports to review the performance of the Debt for Nature Swap (DNS) Programs in light of their dual objectives of lowering deforestation rates as well as the cost of debt servicing. It evaluates the performance of private and Public DNS and inquires whether such swaps have made any significant dent on the debt and deforestation problems besetting many developing countries. It also assesses the prospects for such swaps in the future. We argue that since the prospects for DNS are limited, a more conducive solution for the deforestation problem in many developing countries ma…