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Having invested 2.7 million euros in 27 grantees in the Caribbean region, as well as establishing and strengthening the Caribbean Protected Areas Gateway (CPAG), BIOPAMA¡¯s impact in the region was on full show during the gathering in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. A total of 71 protected and conserved areas have been strengthened through the two phases of BIOPAMA since its inception in 2012.

¡®BIOPAMA has not only improved the management of protected areas but has also contributed to the resilience of ecosystems and communities that rely on them, with a strong emphasis on youth, women, indigenous peoples, farmers and fishermen.?In laying the foundation for progress towards achieving 30x30, the impacts of BIOPAMA will be consolidated and expanded upon through our Act30 initiative.¡¯ Rodrigo Flores Guti¨¦rrez, Regional Programme Manager, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥.

The event invited participants to reflect on the impact of BIOPAMA, and its relevance to the wider needs of biodiversity conservation in the Caribbean region, through a two-phased approach.

The first phase saw the grantees ¨C representatives from 20 of the 27 grantee organisations ¨C share experiences with their grant experiences. A highly participatory methodology draw on shared challenges and opportunities for innovation in the granting process. Despite the diverse geographies represented within the grantee projects, from Guiana Shield rainforest to pristine coral reefs and culturally significant coastal monuments, grantees found commonalities in accessing sustainable funding, communicating their work, and full integrating the needs and support of local communities.

¡®BIOPAMA has been one of the EU's biggest investments in biodiversity, and its impact in supporting local conservation leaders in the Caribbean over the last 12 years is clear for all to see. We're looking forward to continuing to work with Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥, CPAG and the region's conservation community over the coming years'. Reflected Quentin Peignaux, Programme Officer for Environment and Biodiversity at the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, The Eastern Caribbean States, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM.

The latter two days of the workshop saw grantees joined by government focal points, representatives of donor agencies, and persons from regional and international institutions, from 14 countries across the region. This expanded format enabled grantees to share their learnings and impacts with policy makers, in the process highlighting the success of the BIOPAMA approach. In sharing a seat at the table, grantees and policy makers were able to share an equal footing in broader conversations on integrating local integration into national and global conservation goals.

¡®Having key individuals representing Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥, European Union and other important international, regional and local organizations involved in conservation be a part of this BIOPAMA Legacy workshop was inspiring. Working in Haiti with migratory marine megafauna, I realise the significance of collaborating with all levels of conservation management to share knowledge, best practices and to build relationships¡¯, said Jamie Aquino, President and Founder of Haiti Ocean Project.

The role of the Caribbean Protected Areas Gateway (CPAG), established and supported through BIOPAMA, was also showcased in the build-up to major policy events at a regional and global scale in the coming weeks. Since its foundation, CPAG has played a significant role in leading on data collection and dissemination, capacity building and policy in the region. This role will continue to inform progress towards global biodiversity goals, as well as providing a networking hub for the region¡¯s conservation actors and policy makers.

¡®Personally, I found the workshop was really hands-on and unique in its methodology and facilitation. Learning about innovative financing arrangements of some organisations, as well as how BIOPAMA grants provided critical support for so many organisations in the region during the Covid Pandemic, really emphasises the importance of available supportive mechanisms for crucial conservation efforts.¡¯ Said Dr Raquel Thomas, Director, Resource Management and Training at Guyana¡¯s Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development. ¡®Iwokrama is very grateful to the BIOPAMA programme and associated partners for the support? and opportunity to share our efforts with our regional colleagues at this workshop.¡¯

The BIOPAMA programme comes to a close at the World Conservation Congress in October 2025. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ and the EU, alongside CPAG and other regional partners, will continue their close collaboration on biodiversity conservation in the Caribbean through a new initiative to be launched at this years CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia.