1. Grenada Biodiversity Legislation Project Team includes Professor John Knechtle, Sandra Nichols, Justin Sobion, and Keith Friday Sandra Nichols

2. Introduction  Grenada contacted OECS for assistance in drafting a biodiversity coordination framework bill  Intent of the project was to provide an institutional structure for coordinating all aspects of biodiversity in Grenada and implement MEAs  Grenada contacted OECS for assistance in drafting a biodiversity coordination framework bill  Intent of the project was to provide an institutional structure for coordinating all aspects of biodiversity in Grenada and implement MEAs

3. Process  Reviewed academic literature  Reviewed requirements of MEAs  Reviewed relevant model and draft laws  Included gaps identified such as listing certain species and giving authority for co-management arrangements  Consulted technical agency personnel, ministries, other stakeholders  Considered how to work within existing legal structure of Grenada  Reviewed academic literature  Reviewed requirements of MEAs  Reviewed relevant model and draft laws  Included gaps identified such as listing certain species and giving authority for co-management arrangements  Consulted technical agency personnel, ministries, other stakeholders  Considered how to work within existing legal structure of Grenada

4. Approach for New Legislation  Wanted to improve coordination and sharing of information  Reinforce existing authority  Avoid creation of duplicative institutions by folding these new authorities into existing structures  Wanted to improve coordination and sharing of information  Reinforce existing authority  Avoid creation of duplicative institutions by folding these new authorities into existing structures

5. Originally proposed two laws  Environment and Biodiversity Coordinating Committee  One structure to build on the existing Environmental Committee based in the environmental unit  To coordinate CITES, CBD, St. George’s Declaration, Biosafety etc.  Environment and Biodiversity Coordinating Committee  One structure to build on the existing Environmental Committee based in the environmental unit  To coordinate CITES, CBD, St. George’s Declaration, Biosafety etc.

6. Second Bill  Another structure to build on the existing committee based in the physical planning department currently responsible for national land use planning and EIA  Decided that EIA provisions belong as amendment to the Physical Planning Act and thus that PAs should be included in the coordinating committee for other biodiversity issues  This Act does not need to determine who the Protected Areas Authority is, only where the national-level PA responsibilities should be -- Land Use Division of Ministry of Ag?  Another structure to build on the existing committee based in the physical planning department currently responsible for national land use planning and EIA  Decided that EIA provisions belong as amendment to the Physical Planning Act and thus that PAs should be included in the coordinating committee for other biodiversity issues  This Act does not need to determine who the Protected Areas Authority is, only where the national-level PA responsibilities should be -- Land Use Division of Ministry of Ag?

7. Structure of the EBCC  Meant to include all authorities with an interest in biodiversity  Focus on including technical personnel with hands-on knowledge  Subcommittees for certain aspects of diversity  PA committee  Scientific Subcommittee (required by CITES)  Potential for others  Meant to include all authorities with an interest in biodiversity  Focus on including technical personnel with hands-on knowledge  Subcommittees for certain aspects of diversity  PA committee  Scientific Subcommittee (required by CITES)  Potential for others

8. Biodiversity Responsibilities Generally  EBCC will coordinate all aspects of biodiversity  EBCC will develop a strategy and plan for meeting the requirements of the Act and MEA requirements  Make recommendations on legislation as needed  Authority to promulgate regulations  EBCC will coordinate all aspects of biodiversity  EBCC will develop a strategy and plan for meeting the requirements of the Act and MEA requirements  Make recommendations on legislation as needed  Authority to promulgate regulations

9. Biosafety  Living (genetically) modified organisms -- LMOs  Oversight and policy development role  Living (genetically) modified organisms -- LMOs  Oversight and policy development role

10. Data Management  EBCC will direct the gathering of information to meet MEA requirements  And gather information on:  Watersheds  Wildlife (includes plants & animals) populations and habitats  Educate the public  EBCC will direct the gathering of information to meet MEA requirements  And gather information on:  Watersheds  Wildlife (includes plants & animals) populations and habitats  Educate the public

11. Protected Areas  The more authority granted to resource department-level institutions (I.e. forestry, fisheries etc., as a committee or independently), the more they can accomplish regardless of political buy-in  I.e. if one ministry can approve the PA system plan, cabinet cannot hold it up  I.e. if agencies have authority to delegate management, they can choose co- management arrangements  The more authority granted to resource department-level institutions (I.e. forestry, fisheries etc., as a committee or independently), the more they can accomplish regardless of political buy-in  I.e. if one ministry can approve the PA system plan, cabinet cannot hold it up  I.e. if agencies have authority to delegate management, they can choose co- management arrangements

12. Protected Areas  Opportunity to preserve and most-actively protect and manage biodiversity  Also, tourism and development  Decisions regarding protected areas are entwined with decisions regarding other MEA obligations  Our approach is for the PA system to be one of the coordinating roles of the EBCC with management by resource agencies  Opportunity to preserve and most-actively protect and manage biodiversity  Also, tourism and development  Decisions regarding protected areas are entwined with decisions regarding other MEA obligations  Our approach is for the PA system to be one of the coordinating roles of the EBCC with management by resource agencies

13. Protected Areas Cont’d  Committee would coordinate national, long-term planning for PAs  Would set standards for management plans  Set compliance and enforcement procedures and standards  Committee would coordinate national, long-term planning for PAs  Would set standards for management plans  Set compliance and enforcement procedures and standards

14. Species Management  Listing and recovery planning for species  Setting standards for permitting  Oversight of permitting  Listing and recovery planning for species  Setting standards for permitting  Oversight of permitting

15. Trade in Species  Species listed for protection by the CITES secretariat  Control of trade of species for conservation purposes  Permitting, registration  Species listed for protection by the CITES secretariat  Control of trade of species for conservation purposes  Permitting, registration

16. Compliance and Enforcement  Directing research and monitoring  Oversight of policy and legislative recommendations for enforcement  Oversight of policy and legislative recommendations for penalties and offenses  Directing research and monitoring  Oversight of policy and legislative recommendations for enforcement  Oversight of policy and legislative recommendations for penalties and offenses

17. Questions for Discussion related to PAs  Which institution should be responsible for the management planning nationally?  Should the same institution manage and plan for each PA?  Which ministry should host the EBCC?  Should we organize an event to educate Cabinet about these issues?  Which institution should be responsible for the management planning nationally?  Should the same institution manage and plan for each PA?  Which ministry should host the EBCC?  Should we organize an event to educate Cabinet about these issues?

18. Thank You Sandra Nichols, Staff Attorney The Environmental Law Institute Washington, DC Nichols@eli.org Sandra Nichols, Staff Attorney The Environmental Law Institute Washington, DC Nichols@eli.org