The Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program (CMBP) is a USAID-funded initiative aimed at reducing threats to marine-coastal biodiversity in priority areas in the Caribbean. The program’s overall objective is to achieve sustained biodiversity conservation, maintain critical ecosystem services, and realize tangible improvements in human wellbeing for communities adjacent to marine protected areas (MPAs).
The CMBP focuses on high biodiversity ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds. The Caribbean is one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine regions, with over 12,000 marine species, 10% of the world’s coral reefs, and 13,000 plant species. The region is home to nearly 44 million people from 37 different countries and territories, spanning many diverse origins, languages, and cultures.
A healthy economy and a sustainable future for the Caribbean are not possible without thriving marine and coastal environments. Clean beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and nature-based recreation support the tourism industry, the cornerstone of the Caribbean economy. However, fishing can have adverse environmental impacts due to overharvesting, habitat destruction, and the use of unsustainable fishing methods and gears.
The CMBP’s research in 2016 and additional interviews with partners and a review of secondary materials have identified key findings related to gender and participation in the program’s activities. Artisanal fishing is the most common income-generating activity in all the seascapes, and while most women involved in fisheries are poor, there are also women in the fishing supply chain with lucrative businesses.
Women in the seascapes participate mainly in post-harvesting fishing activities, such as processing, marketing, or preparation of by-products for sale. However, there appears to be gender bias in access to financial resources, which can impact access to sustainable equipment and gears as well as investment in sustainable income-generating activities. Misconceptions about the capacity of the sea to self-replenish have shaped men’s attitudes and behaviors towards fishing practices.
Women have shown overwhelming interest in sustainable alternative income-generating activities, and programs to support such initiatives are likely to assist in reducing dependency on fisheries. Interviews with key informants have also indicated that domestic violence is prevalent in some seascapes, and attention to personal safety may take precedence over environmental concerns.
The CMBP’s Gender Assessment Report (GAR) has identified specific recommendations to increase awareness and support environmental conservation practices through effectively establishing gender-sensitive program activities. The report concludes that the CMBP should devise ways to collectively include women in its environment conservation programs, particularly those with lucrative businesses in the fishing supply chain.
The GAR has also highlighted the importance of addressing gender-based violence within an environmental conservation context. Partnerships with not-for-profit organizations may be helpful in addressing this issue. The CMBP’s Action Plan will be implemented to increase awareness and support environmental conservation practices through effectively establishing the proposed gender-sensitive program activities.
The CMBP’s focus on high biodiversity ecosystems and its efforts to reduce threats to marine-coastal biodiversity in priority areas in the Caribbean are critical to achieving sustained biodiversity conservation and maintaining critical ecosystem services. The program’s work in addressing gender-specific issues and promoting sustainable alternative income-generating activities will also contribute to tangible improvements in human wellbeing for communities adjacent to marine protected areas in the targeted seascapes.