Evaluation of Caribbean experiences in participatory planning and management of marine and coastal resources

This technical report from the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) reviews and draws lessons from recent experiences in participatory planning and management of marine and coastal resources in the Caribbean. The specific areas examined include protected areas (PAs), coastal zone management (CZM), and ecotourism (ET). The review is limited to the insular Caribbean, but the authors believe this region to be representative, and that the lessons drawn from this experience could be widely applicable. A general survey of experiences was undertaken, and scientific experiences of PAs, CZM and ET considered to be the most representative were selected for in depth analysis. Brief case studies of these experiences are presented in separate appendices in the report. The case studies include experiences from Gulf of Paria Fisheries Management Project, Trinidad; St. LuciaÆs Protected Areas System Plan; Samanß Bay Biosphere Reserve Planning, Dominican Republic; Environment and Coastal Resources Project, the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) countries; the Windward Islands (Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) Nature and Heritage Tourism Project; La Parguera Fisheries Reserve, Puerto Rico; Ecotourism in the Carib Territory, Dominica; Soufriere Marine Management Area, St.Lucia; Negril Environmental Protection Area, Jamaica; and Pointe de Sable National Park, St. Lucia. The report examines the concepts of participation in the context of PAs, CZM and ET, and the evolution of regional experience from the 1970s and onwards. Experiences up to date are reviewed and evaluated. Finally, a synthesising analysis provides lessons learned from the combined experiences