ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA Update on Work Plan, Biodiversity in Antigua and Barbuda and Inter-Agency Meetings Antigua and Barbuda and Inter-Agency Meetings for Environment Statistics Environment Division & Statistics Division

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

Initiatives organized by the Environment Division 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 3 rd Quarter 2014

Initiatives organized by the Environment Division 2. Greenhouse Gas Inventory GHG team organized to collect data on waste, land use, energy and industrial sectors Participation of APUA, NSWMA, MoALHE and NODS Workshop 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 Division 3. Vulnerability, Impact and Adaptation (VIA) studies CaribSave team was contracted by the UNEP to conduct a VIA study in the water, agriculture and health sectors The team met with various agencies to collect the relevant data Workshop 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 Division The final report should be completed by the last quarter of 2014

Initiatives organized by the Environment 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 Antigua 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 Antigua 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 4 th 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 Lack of human resources (staffing) The data manager at the Environment Division is doing other duties/activities Lack of financial resources Stakeholders commit at meetings to submit data but after it’s a different story Filling data gaps Data sharing Unavailable metadata for some indicators

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