ANTIGUA AND ANTIGUA AND BARBUDABARBUDA

Update on Work Plan, Biodiversity inUpdate on Work Plan, Biodiversity in Antigua and Barbuda and Inter-Agency Antigua and Barbuda and Inter-Agency

MeetingsMeetingsforfor

Environment StatisticsEnvironment Statistics

Environment Division&

Statistics Division

RECOMMENDATIONS OBJECTIVES UPDATE

1. Build a working relationship with various stakeholders

To compile data and determine data gaps

Completed

2. Incorporate the participation of all relevant data providers specifically in the field of environment statistics in statistics related activities

To create a greater awareness and appreciation of the data compiled

Continued collaboration with Statistics Division

3. To find personnel to manage environment statistics within the division

To dedicate the necessary time and effort into collecting reliable environmental data

Environment Division has the responsibility for environment statistics

Update on Work Plan Recommendations and Objectives

Recommendation 1 Build a working relationship with various stakeholders

Meetings have been held with -Forestry Unit (2012)-Lands Division (2013)-Fisheries Division (2012)-Statistics Division (2012 & 2013)

Recommendation 2 Incorporate the participation of all relevant data providers specifically in the field of environment statistics in statistics related activities Statistics Division in collaboration with the Environment Division tries to invite the various stakeholders to meetings whether on one on one or in a group setting to drive home the importance of data collection and the urgent need to fill data gaps.

Recommendation 3 To find personnel to manage environment statistics within the department The Statistics Division and the Environment Division have no control over the operations of the various stakeholders. However, the decision has been taken that the Environment Division will lead the collection and compilation of data for environment statistics and forward the data to the Statistics Division.

Initiatives organized by the Environment Initiatives organized by the Environment Division Division

1. Drafting of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)meetings held during 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter of 2013focused on developing NBSAP targets and indicators

Initiatives organized by the Environment Initiatives organized by the Environment Division ContinuesDivision Continues

participation of various stakeholders to include: National Parks Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment (MoALHE), Ministry of Tourism, Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), MEA focal points, Small Grants Program (SGP) Next meeting scheduled for 3rd Quarter 2014

Initiatives organized by the Environment Initiatives organized by the Environment Division Division

2. Greenhouse Gas InventoryGHG team organized to collect data on waste, land use, energy and industrial sectorsParticipation of APUA, NSWMA, MoALHE and NODSWorkshop held in December 2013 and include participation from: above agencies, AHTA, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health

Initiatives organized by the Environment Initiatives organized by the Environment Division Division

3. Vulnerability, Impact and Adaptation (VIA) studiesCaribSave team was contracted by the UNEP to conduct a VIA study in the water, agriculture and health sectorsThe team met with various agencies to collect the relevant dataWorkshop held in January 2014 and an update was presented to stakeholders including: NODS, EAG, Red Cross, APUA, Fisheries, MoALHE, Port Authority, Small Gas Programs, Statistics DivisionThe final report should be completed by the last quarter of 2014

Initiatives organized by the Environment Initiatives organized by the Environment Division Division

4. The Environment Division is in the process of developing an Environment Atlas for Antigua and Barbuda which will focus on Environmental Statistics.Completion date is expected to be the end of 2014

Way Forward for Biodiversity in Way Forward for Biodiversity in Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda

The two focal points from the Environment and Statistics Division continues to work to achieve objectives for this project

Conduct a meeting with Permanent Secretary of: Agriculture, Health, Tourism, Trade, Commissioner of National Parks, President of EAG, Coordinator of PROMIS, Director of National Parks Barbuda, Director of NODS, Manager of APUA, ABHTA, Chief Environment Officer, Chief Statistician to bring awareness to where the country is at as it pertains to this project.

Way Forward for Biodiversity in Way Forward for Biodiversity in Antigua and Barbuda ContinuesAntigua and Barbuda Continues

Resend the eleven thematic worksheets with metadata and methodologies to the relevant agencies before the end of the second quarter

Schedule an Inter-Agency Meeting for the 4th quarter to present the data compiled and have discussion outlining the importance of quality checks, validation of data, accuracy of data and timeliness of data

Use the Environment Cadet Program to sensitize young persons on the importance of Environment Statistics

Challenges Challenges

Lack of human resources (staffing)The data manager at the Environment Division is

doing other duties/activities Lack of financial resourcesStakeholders commit at meetings to submit data

but after it’s a different storyFilling data gapsData sharingUnavailable metadata for some indicators

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