Description

Countries of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) including coastal and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are blessed with an abundance of natural assets. These beautiful, yet fragile ecosystems support many endemic species and are ringed by coral reefs and mangrove forests which provide food and shelter for marine life as well as food and livelihoods for humans. The islands in the WCR face special challenges unique to SIDS. These challenges include small land mass (a greater proportion of which is coastal land), poorly developed waste management infrastructure, vulnerability to extreme weather events, and the location of the majority of their populations within 10 kilometres of the ocean.