Nicole Bornales

NATURE CONSERVANCY CARIBBEAN CHALLENGE: A CASE STUDY The hotspots are the world’s most biologically rich areas hence recognized as important ecosystems. They are not important only for the rich biodiversity but equally important for the human survival as they serves as homes for more than thousands of living creatures of the world’s populations. Caribbean holding one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine regions. Home to iconic wildlife and vulnerable coastal communities, the region’s once abundant ocean, coasts and coral reefs have suffered alarming declined. With regards to this declination of biodiversity, the TNC together with its global partners launched Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI). The ultimate goal of this initiative project is to protect the breathtaking beauty that makes Caribbean a unique paradise and to sustain the resources that are present in that region and also to save those who lives there. The islands hotspots comprises a total of 30 nations and territories of up to five thousand islands from one hundred to hundred thousand kilometers. Being a region that is mainly a chain of islands and surrounded by sea, it became also a home to sixteen European overseas entities related to United Kingdom, Netherlands and France. Being blessed with a very high cultural and socio-economic diversity, it is not surprising that the region’s population has increased, this is due to the seasonal influx of tourists. The majority of the population in the Caribbean particularly in urban area are living close to coast, resulting the Tourism associated with constructions and other service industries to become the major economic activity in most parts of the region. This gave rise to the presence of threats among the populations of the wide biodiversity of Caribbean. The perceived threats includes habitat destruction and fragmentation due to agricultural, urban, tourism and commercial developments, overexploitations of living resources and pollutions particularly in marine environment. Issues related to the conservation and management of the biodiversity rich areas of Caribbean are very crucial. The complexity, deepness and versatility of the topic ‘Sustainable Development of Caribbean’ entails the involvement of a large variety of interest groups. The engagement of various stakeholders particularly Caribbean’s inhabitants and tourists is essential in order to cater for the implementation of sustainable development in the region. So far there are fifty new marine coastal protected areas that has been designated in Caribbean. The recent status aims to conserve at least twenty percent of their nearshore marine and coastal environments in national marine protected areas by 2020 and to get forty million tourists who visit the region to help donate to the cause. The actuality of sustainable development issues of Caribbean asks its populations to take coresponsibility on the topic. Therefore, organizations that are present in the region are required or even enforced to examine their practices and determine their long-term social and environmental impacts, as well to innovate the business models, products and services that are present in the region in an attempt to find sustainable solutions for the problems they may cause. One of the approaches applied in related decision-making processes is the col-elaboration with stakeholders, particularly those who have an interest in the resources of Caribbean, either as individuals or as community or representative of a group. This includes any group or anyone who can be affected or is affected by the achievement of the conservancy’s objectives. The overall purpose of stakeholder engagement is to drive the strategic direction and operational excellence for Caribbean, and to contribute to the kind of sustainable development from which the region, its populations and wider society can benefit from. According to Mark Tercek (2016) “The Nature Conservancy works with a range of stakeholders to accomplish conservation objectives and the CCI encompasses this view by working with partners, companies and governments who have a common goal of protecting the Caribbean. CCI has an opportunity to enhance marine and costal conservation awareness throughout the region, expand and further improve the sustainable management of marine protected areas in Caribbean, as well as create sustainable financing mechanisms to fund long term conservation efforts.” Apparently, eleven countries and territories have joined the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI): The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Caribbean before known for its richest marine biodiversity, and lives and livelihoods throughout the region directly depend on healthy marine and coastal resources. But today, these resources are increasingly threatened by unsustainable development, pollution, overfishing and climate change. Coral reefs, which provide marine habitat and protect coastlines, are dying rapidly and several species of commercially important fish are overexploited. Devastating tropical storms in recent years have made evident the dangers that island communities face, particularly in the Caribbean where 70% of the population lives along coastlines. “The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, and helping make cities more sustainable” (Winters, 2016). The framework of this study is to identify the problem of Caribbean facing right now and what are the best solution to overcome this problem. The researcher wants to emphasize the importance of this study because according to Natural Geographic Society (1996). Conservation is the practice of caring for these resources so all living things can benefit from them now and in the future. Don Charles (2013) stated that “Caribbean region is highly dependent upon tourism. However, in order to continue to use tourism as a means of economic advancement, sustainable practices must be adopted”. So, it is very crucial to study about this issue since Caribbean main resource is the environment the researchers need to identify some of the best solution in order to secure the main resources in Caribbean and how this place become sustainable again. Tercek M. (2016). The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved October 4, 2020 from https://www.caribbeanchallengeinitiative.org/get-involved/cci-partners/465-the-natureconservancy Winters R. (2016). Vulnerable Coastal and Marine Areas in the Caribbean Receive Landmark $42 Million Endowment. Retrieved October 5, 2020 from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/-/en/Vulnerable-Coastal-MarineAreas-Caribbean-Receive-Landmark Natural Geographic Society (1996). Conserving the Earth. Retrieved October 5, 2020 from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/conservingearth/#:~:text=plants%2C%20and%20animals.,Conservation%20is%20the%20practice%20of%20caring%20for%20these%20resources%20so,quic kly%20after%20they%20are%20used. Charles D. (2013). Sustainable tourism in the Caribbean: The role of the accommodations sector. Retrieved October 5, 2020 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/-_Sustainable_tourism_in_the_Caribbean_The _role_of_the_accommodations_sector PROPOSED SOLUTIONS: Stakeholders are inhabitants, business owners and tourists with a vested interest in Caribbean's region. All of these individuals are affected by the initiative on sustainability efforts, and those efforts affect society as a whole and the global environment. Because enterprise is increasingly linked to the local economy and developing global, stakeholders also include citizens of another regions with developing economies. These individuals are ultimately affected by multinational corporations' business strategies and sustainability efforts, as environmentally sound practices improve water quality and natural resource reserves. Consumers should be empowered and encouraged to make informed, sustainable and healthy choices. They are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their acquisitions and should be educated towards a more sustainable consumption behavior. The participation of consumers is, hence, paramount to ensure a more sustainable and inclusive development. Consumers, visitors and tourists, and the inhabitants of the region and even the neighborhood regions need to be empowered for them to play their role as agents for change in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This can only happen when appropriate laws, policies and institutions are in place and all stakeholders, particularly businesses and consumer groups, participate in upholding consumer protection in the Caribbean’s region. Households and individuals of Caribbean are worried about the future because of the increased environmental issues and problems. Transforming consumption patterns and also production system have become one of the most important change movements to achieve sustainable development. Sustainable consumption and production take strength from each other. Sustainable production is based on green marketing approach. Green marketing approach aims to protect environment when producing goods and services to meet consumer needs and wants. So, consumers can find eco-friendly products in the market easily. Although buying green products involves half of the sustainable consumption, buying second hand products or reducing consumption are also important patterns in sustainable consumption. Excessive consumption causes many negative environmental and psychological outcomes that responsible consumers prefer to buy green products or they keep other sustainable consumption patterns. There is really a need to set the term of sustainable consumption as a consumption type as the usage of services and related products which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the usage of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations of the region. Focusing on building a sustainable workforce in places of Caribbean such as in businesses, is a must if the region aims to connect and produce results authentically and successfully. The region’s sustainability typically looks at its impact on the community locally and globally, but sustainability starts with the people behind the scenes. It unites them to create a better work culture, work-life balance and contributions to visitors and the world. Sustainable development is the process in which a community develops attitudes and ongoing actions that strengthen its natural environment, economy and social well-being.