The Nelson’s Dockyard National Park (NDNP) is set to host a pivotal public consultation this Wednesday evening, bringing together local residents and key stakeholders to deliberate on two comprehensive strategic plans. The dual-focused meeting will address both the newly drafted Natural Resources Management Plan and the NDNP Marine Spatial Plan, marking a significant step in the region’s climate adaptation efforts.
Scheduled for March 25th at Cobbs Cross Primary School from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, this joint consultation represents the latest in a series of engagement initiatives forming part of the broader Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Caribbean Project. This multinational climate resilience program is currently active across three Caribbean nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
In Antigua and Barbuda, the nonprofit organization Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) is spearheading project implementation within the NDNP in collaboration with the National Parks Authority (NPA). Technical expertise is provided by a specialist team from the Centre of Excellence of Oceanography and the Blue Economy (COBE) at the University of the West Indies, Five Islands campus, which has been commissioned to develop both strategic plans.
The Natural Resources Management Plan will establish critical priorities for managing terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems while formulating an updated governance framework. Concurrently, the Marine Spatial Plan will address pressing issues including pollution control, waste management strategies, designation of specific marine zones, and the balancing of conservation areas with fishing priorities and other marine activities.
This week’s consultation follows previous stakeholder engagements, including February’s Sustainable Fisheries and Land Management Workshop, which featured two community consultations. Kieron Murdoch, Communications Officer with IHO, emphasized the fundamental importance of community involvement: “Engaging the community continues to be an extremely important part of the work being done by everyone attached to this project. It’s vital to ensure that the results are informed by the experiences of those who live, work and operate within the National Park.”
The EbA Caribbean Project operates under the official title “Strengthening regional climate resilience and supporting green economic recovery through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and sustainable livelihoods in the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica.” Funded by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund with co-financing from Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) through KfW Development Bank, the project is implemented through a consortium including the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Oracabessa Marine Trust, and several regional conservation organizations.