Please also see Chapter 8

Only a small area of the country contains forests. The present forest cover consist of the following:

a Pre-colonial exhibit of virgin forest

The Turners Hall Wood and the vegetative cover within the steeper deeper gullies that criss cross the island state. The Turners Hall Wood occurs at an elevation of 180-250 metres above sea level. It covers approximately 30 hectares and is classified as a three strata forest with more than 100 floral species of which 30 are trees, 30 are shrubs and the remaining 40 are herbs, climbers and epiphyts. Deforestation is prevented through the protection of the Soil Conservation Act, 1959, but due to the unique character and the endangered species present specific legislation is being considered as an additional instrument to control the removal and estruction of any of this vegetation.

a re-established forest

Approximately 39 ha of woodland was established as the Joes River Forest in the early 1960;s (given 1963) which is also within the Scotland District. It is the subject of teaching and research with established trails for Nature Walks and Recreation.

Wetland & Managrove Vegetation

The largest area of wetland on the island is the near forest vegetation at Graeme Hall, Christ Church, but pockets of mangrove occur along the leeward coastline. Three species of mangrove are present on mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) and button mangrove (Conocarpus erectus). These are 31.6 ha of swamp land at the Graeme Hall location and it has been identified as another area for Teaching and Scientific research.

Deforestation and the felling of trees anywhere on the island is controlled by the Trees (Preservation) Act 1981 and re-afforestation has been encouraged and promoted through the introduction of the Cultivation of Trees Act 1951. During the last two decades the Soil Conversation Unit have reduced soil erosion and land shippage on steep slopes of the Scotland District by the re-afforestation of extensive areas. Several community groups, by the use of funds supplied by the Government and which were source from the IDB.

International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification

Particularly in Africa

Convention : No information

The latest report to the Secretariat of the Convention was prepared in 19--.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

Barbados are presently reviewing the Convention to Combat Desertification with a view to signing the Convention at the Conference of Parties later in 1997

This chapter is not applicable to Barbados, as there are no mountain areas in the island.

A rural development programme is currently being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The following activities are envisaged, to:
- ensure food security by 1998;
- review land tenure and land-holding size;
- review international trade relations and agricultural production;
- improve farm productivity by minimizing ecosystem risks;
- enhance self-reliance of farmers and create farm employment opportunities;
- collect data and establish databases;
- strengthen land use and resource planning;
- establish agricultural national and local level planning bodies;
- establish land reclamation programmes for degraded land;
- collect and study plants useful for increased food production;
- share benefits and results of R&D in plant breeding;
- improve and implement plant protection and animal health services by the year 2000;
- make integrated pest-management (IPM) practices available to farmers and to create
IPM networks involving farmers, researchers and extension services by 1998;
- maintain the integrated plant nutrition approach by 2000;
- establish and maintain an institutional and human infrastructure to deal with soil
productivity by 2000;
- make available all necessary know-how and technology regarding soil fertility management.

-increasing emphasis is being placed on biological control agents
-as a means of reducing the use of toxic chemicals for pests and disease control
-improve and increase the capacity to monitor export and import crop and livestock products for nutrient quality, pest & disease infestation and the level of chemical residues.

There are no specific policies or strategies in place to promote the use of biotechnologies and there are no biotechnology risk assessments or risk management mechanisms. The University of the West Indies, the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are involved in biotechnology projects. The following are the most important:
- epidemiological enhancement of onions and peppers to increase resistance to heavy metal bactericides;
- development of biomarking to determine the specific identification of different varieties of flowering plants;
- tissue culture - production of large number of banana and plantain sucklings for dissemination to local (and external) farmers.

Currently the Environmental Division is working towards establishing a National Committee on Biosafety / Biotechnology. The scientists and experts included on the committee would be responsible for advising Government on biotechnology related issues as well as establishing guidelines pertaining to the safe import, handling, use, storage and disposal of genetically modified organisms.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Environment Division of the Ministry of Health and the Environment, is primarily responsible for this sector. Some legal elements are to be enforced by the Environmental Engineering Division of the Ministry of Health. There is only one law related to the use of biotechnology: the Pest Plant and Disease (Importation) Act, Cap. 226, prohibits imports of bacteria and the like, with the exception of specific cases for laboratory research purposes.

2. Major Groups: The NGO community initiated education programmes concerning biotechnologies.

3. Finance: See below.

4. Regional/International Cooperation: The projects mentioned under the "Status Report" have been supported by UNESCO, Barclays Bank International, Third World Academy for Science and the International Foundation for Science with approximately US$100,000 annually.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Signed in 1982. Ratified in 1993.

See also the attached tables on the next pages.

Barbados is planning a national policy on oceans and an integrated coastal area management programme which will be integrated into the National Sustainable Development Plan. The existing coastal zone/area management plan does not encompass all marine activities within the EEZ. Implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea has been difficult, due to an inadequate number of trained personnel and poor access to information, but precautionary measures are being taken with respect to marine and coastal activities. prior assessment of major activities with potentially significant adverse impact is not yet mandatory. The country participates in a systematic observation system but Coral Reef Monitoring is not yet done on a regular basis. Databases on meteorology, economic sectors and land-use planning are used by the Government, private sector and universities for integrated coastal management purposes; however, cumbersome data retrieval systems make access difficult. Among the data available are those concerned with resources and resource use, habitats, protected areas, marine degradation caused by land-based activities, coral reef ecosystems, and wetlands, including mangroves and sea grass beds. They generally do not cover cultural and socio-economic characteristics, marine degradation caused by sea-based activities or other spawning and nursery areas. Comprehensive assessments are made of the state of the environment of coastal and marine areas every five years.

SIDS: Tourism is Barbados' most important economic sector, contributing approximately US$ 679,517.50 (14.8% GDP) in 1995. It is estimated the 20,000 persons are employed directly and indirectly in the tourism sector. It should be noted that the true extent of the tourism industry has not been accurately defined, hence the unavailablity of precise statistics governing employment in the sector.

Standards currently exist for the following sub-sectors of the tourism industry:

- Accommodation - Barbados Tourism Authority (1995) - 15 and the Hotels, Apartments and Guest House (Registration and Classification Regulations)
- Restaurants - Health Service (Restaurants) Regulations 1969
- Travel agencies and tour operators - Travel Services Act - 1995
- Ground Transport (taxis, tour coaches etc. - Road Traffic Regulations
- Water sports (excluding diving) - Barbados Port Authority - Water Sports Regulations 1990
- Marine Transport - Shipping Act 1994-15
- Air Transport - Civil Aviation Act Cap 288A

The Ministry of Tourism is working with other relevant agencies towards developing standards for the dive sector, heritage and nature attractions. The Ministry of Tourism is currently finalising a comprehensive National Tourism Policy Document which should be submitted to Cabinet by mid-February, 1997. Special emphasis has been placed on resource conservation and preservation.

a Sustainable Tourism Master Plan which will feed into the National Sustainable Development Plan will also be developed in 1997.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Town and Country Development Planning Office has primary responsibility for ensuring integrated planning and implementation. This office is integrated fully in the national structure responsible for sustainable development. Steps have been taken in integrating disaster preparedness policies in national development planning. a new building code is being developed; the Flood Prevention and Soil Conservation Acts are being revised to take into account areas prone to landslides. Steps have also been taken in establishing or strengthening mechanisms nationally and regionally for rapid response to disaster. a comprehensive review of all national disaster plans will be undertaken shortly. Barbados is an active participant in the response mechanism coordinated by the Caribbean Disaster Response Agency (CDERA).

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The Ministry of Tourism continues to be proactive in its approach to Staff Development at all levels. We have developed and implemented an In-House Staff Development Programme, components of which are compulsory for all staff members. Additionally, the Ministry takes advantage of programmes offered by or through the Government Training Division. In terms of technical training, Ministry staff have recently participated in courses in Project Management, the Development of tourism in Rural Areas and Programme Budgeting. The staff has also been exposed to training related to computers. Further it is hoped that within the next five years technical staff will be trained or retrained in Tourism Planning, Environmental Imoact Assessment and Project Management, In term of the wider tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism through Sub-Programme a of its tourism Development Programme is currently conducting a study which will result in recommendations for career paths and training for private sector tourism entities.

3. Major Groups: No information.

4. Finance: Barbados has not received any multilateral financial assistance to implement SIDS-related activities. The tourism sector contributes 14% of GDP (gross domestic product) annually.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Development of Guidelines for specific effluent discharges is a step requiring international cooperation for the prevention, reduction and control of the degradation of the marine environment from land-base activities. Control of Foreign Based Vessels, Movement of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and Dumping of Garbage in the Caribbean Basin require international cooperation for sea-based activities. At present, sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources of the high seas and sustainable use conservation of marine living resources under national jurisdiction are under review. Barbados has actively participated in the following international cooperative scientific programmes: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), UNEP - Regional Seas Programme, Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution and international Coral Reef Initiative. The Government participates in Global Ocean Observing System, specially tide monitoring. At the national level, Barbados works closely with UN Organizations in activities such as, the OAS/GEF "Planning For adaption To Global Climate Change".

In the field of maritime transport, Barbados participates in the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Caribbean Region

(signed 9 February 1996, in Barbados). Barbados does not participate in any regional cooperation arrangements in the field of air transportation.

Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources in Barbados is presently being reviewed as a part of a comprehensive Water Resources Management and Water Loss Study which ends in March 1997.

The eighteen-month Government of Barbados sponsored Study using Inter-American Development Bank funding has reviewed the following:-

i. Existing and future resources development and utilization levels against available developable freshwater resources.

ii. Existing water protection zoning policy adequacy in light of increasing land use demands and use of agricultural chemicals

iv. Trends in water quality.

It is anticipated that out of this study will come recommendations on water conservation measures to implement revisions to exiting water protection zoning policy, controls on land use activities which may impact on water quality monitoring programmes as well as a Water Resources Development and Management Plan to the year 2016.

In addition, a request for funding for a project to look at Water Conservation and Management in the Hotel and Tourism Sector has been submitted to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This is a joint proposal from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health and the Environment and is expected to conduct Case Studies and provide training to the Hotel and Tourism Sector personnel on Water Conservation and Management during the period 1997 to 1998.

NATIONAL PRIORITY: HIGH

The Environmentally Sound Management of Toxic Chemicals has received national priority since 1993 when it was noted that the necessary systems needed to be put into place to address this issue.

To this end a Chemical Substances Technical Working Group (CSTWG) on the Management of Hazardous Substances was commissioned, comprising representatives from relevant agencies inclusive of private sector, workers union, academia and public sector. Under the aegies of the Environment Division of the Ministry of Health and the Environment.

Currently this body is addressing issues of legislation and safety guidelines to cover the imputation, transportation, storage, use and disposal of toxic chemicals and their wastes. Legislation is to be enacted January 1998 at the earliest. The issue of an Emergency Response Protocol is also being addressed.

Under a separate programme, Barbados is currently engaged in the management of Ozone Depleting Substances under the Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

Under a current 3 year project (1996-98) which seeks to implement the Montreal Protocol, Barbados has a country programme which has the phase-out of the use of ozone depleting substances by 2005 as an Article V country under this instrument.

The Environment Division with the assistance of the CSTWG where relevant considers and makes recommendations to the Government of Barbados regarding the country's position on internation instruments being developed or revised. Currently a committee is addressing the Internationally legally binding instruments for the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for certain Pesticides and Hazardous Chemicals in International Trade.

Similar efforts address Protocols or Amendments to the Principles governing the Interngovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

Basel Convention: signed in 1994. ratified in 1995.

The latest information was provided to the Basel Convention Secretariat in 1996.

The hazardous waste which is produced in Barbados is comprised of small quantities of several waste streams. This coupled with constraints of space have to be considered when addressing the most appropriate method of hazardous waste disposal. Currently Barbados is addressing disposal by shipment to a more developed country with the facilities to adequately dispose of hazardous wastes. Canada has consented to receive hazardous waste for disposal.

Barbados is involved at the regional level in the development of measures to address the Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes as governed by the Basel Convention. There is a Programme of Action developed in October in 1996 which will seek to meet the needs in this area e.g. training, technology transfer centre, regional mechanism for tracking and monitoring ships which contain hazardous wastes.

Sewage

The capital city Bridgetown has been sewered since 1981. The government has commenced construction work on the South Coast Sewerage Project. It has an overall value of approximately US$93.1 million. It involves the collection of sewage from within a 12 km coastal strip extending about km inland. The sewage will undergo primary treatment before being discharged to sea from a 1100m long outfall at a depth of 40m. Anticipated benefits from this project include:

prevention / reduction of diseases related to beach users (local and tourist)

protection and improvement of the coastal/marine environment

reduction of vector borne disease associated with wastewater

Improvement of the tourism product

The West Coast Sewerage Project is in the initial design phase to achieve the same benefits as the South Coast Sewerage Project. It will provide a sewerage system for a coastal strip which extends inland for approximately 300 m (0.3 km). a projected capital cost for the project is US$100 million.

Solid Waste

Over the past four years government has been executing an Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme. The total cost of the programme is US$65 million. Some of the anticipated outcomes of the programmes are:
i. Improved solid waste collection and disposal including the construction of a sanitary landfill with a life span of 20 years.
ii. Institutional strengthening.
iii. Legislation and enforcement reform.
iv. Waste minimization
v. Public education
vi. Pollution control

Barbados has no nuclear reactors and does not utilise large amounts of radioactive materials. The only sectors which do utilise minute quantities are health and research institutions in laboratories. The management of these quantities are under the Division of Health in the Ministry of Health and the Environment.

Of special mention however is having the concerns of Barbados and the region as a whole addressed as it relates to the transboundary movement of radioactive wastes from one developed country to another through the ecologically sensitive Caribbean basin.

The Government of Barbados has since 1992 issued statements to the effect that these be halted and that the Caribbean Sea be declared a nuclear free zone. It is noted that in the event of an accident which would result in release of the wastes that there is no capacity/capability within the region to deal with the fall-out.

CARICOM which represents eleven (11) English speaking nations of the region has issued a statement to the same in 1992 and renewed in 1995. a compensatory and liability fund should be established in the event of such a catastrophe there will possibly be some measures which can be taken. The Government of Barbados will be pursuing along with CARICOM partners how this issue can best be addressed through a legal instrument

Just under BDS $8million has been allocated for sustainable agriculture and rural development. There has been the imposition of an environmental levy on certain items as well as tipping fee for disposal of waste at landfills. Businesses engaged in recycling activities receive concessions. Effective January 1996 all new commercial buildings is being encouraged by allowing claims for corporation tax purposes for the cost of these saving devices. Individuals are allowed to make a claim on income tax for installation of water saving devices

No information

Barbados is not an ODA donor and does not receive ODA.

Barbados has successfully introduced solar water heating at both the domestic and commercial levels through tax rebates. Consideration is given both to tax relief for other energy conservation technology and joint ventures. The Government is encouraging the sole electric utility company to review alternative energy production facilities. At the national level, there are scattered databases in the private and public sector on information on environmental sound technologies. There is, however, neither a specialized unit to assist in transfer of the technology nor mechanisms to ensure quality assurance, nor work underway to develop basic criteria or general guidelines for assessing technology options.

Barbados has been quite successful in transferring technology, primarily through the private sector or joint private/public sector arrangements. There are no concrete measures taken to include environmentally sound technologies as an integral part of technology cooperation and technical assistance programmes. There are initiatives taken to increase the amount of foreign direct investment in environmentally sound technologies. Barbados is looking for investors for operating wind farms to generate electricity as well as the promotion of Barbados as a site for information technology-based operators. One current constraint is the lack of a suitable regulatory and legal framework which will permit the sole electricity-generating plant the opportunity to purchase electricity at fair market prices. The impact of government initiative and policies on the development, transfer and dissemination of environmentally sound technologies has been slow but increasing in effectiveness. Lack of adequate funding and of specialized units to assist in the transfer of technology to productive sectors are the main constraints. There is also a lack of coordination, since the environmental technology sector is dispersed throughout ministries and other institutions.

The Government has indicated interest in the Bolivar Programme which is geared specifically to economic business ventures with much emphasis on environmentally sound technologies. This programme was started in 1993 and involves countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. The Government has collaborated with the Latin America Energy Organisation (OLADE) with respect to sharing data and information relating to energy conservation, consumption, etc.

UPDATE: The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is spreading the solar water technology in the hotel sector.

a review of national policies related to the Science sector is not envisaged. There are no national targets related to the number of scientists or the number of women working in science. Brain drain is a minor problem in Barbados, and there is no significant brain drain form science to other sectors within the country. There is no effective mechanism in place to transfer knowledge and expertise from universities to the private and public sector.

The Ministry for Education and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, are primarily responsible for this sector. The Principal of the University of the West Indies or his nominee is a member of the National Council for Sustainable Development; the Director of the Marine and Environment Resources Management Programme of the University serves as a technical adviser to the Council. There is no specific legislation in place covering the Sciences.

NGOs with particular interest in science, environment and development are: Barbados Environmental Association (BEA); Barbados National Trust; Barbados Museum & Historical Society, the Future Centre Trust, and the National Council for Science and Technology.

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG TERM SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY:

INTER AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK/UWI Research and Development Projects
US $145,000- Microbiology
$170,000- Computational Physics
$125,000- Solar Drying

Primary and secondary schools study environmental health, safe drinking water, sanitation, recycling, energy efficiency and ecosystems. Steps have been taken to foster opportunities for women in non-traditional fields and to eliminate gender stereotyping in curricula. Education in Barbados is compulsory up to the age of 16. There is co-education, and both child care facilities and maternity benefits are available. The majority of teachers are women.

a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable development

The school curricula have been reviewed and revised to adequately address environment and development as a cross-cutting issue at all school levels; there is also a single national curriculum. One of the priority areas for reorienting education towards sustainable development is the development of a teachers' training manual. There are pre-service and in-service training programmes available for teachers, administrators, educational planners, and non-formal educators in all sectors concerning the nature and methods of environment and development education. Environment and development concerns have been introduced in teacher training programmes and teachers are trained through various in-service programmes and workshops.

b) Increasing public awareness

Awareness-raising programmes/activities include television programmes, demonstration projects in the areas of tree planting and beach clean-up. There are also National Debushing and Clean-Up Campaigns.

c) Promoting training

UN agencies and organizations have supported educational programmes on environmental and sustainable development issues. For example, UNESCO provided funding for training of teachers in physics and environmental studies as well as for a workshop on human development strategies with regard to structural adjustment and education policy.