ACS hands over Executive Summary Reports for the Sandy Shorelines Project

The Association of Caribbean States handed over the Executive Summary Reports project entitled "Climate Change Impact Assessment on the Sandy Shorelines of the Caribbean: Alternatives for Its Control and Resilience”, also known as the Sandy Shorelines Project, on September 29, 2023. This initiative that was established in collaboration with the Korean Institute of Ocean Sciences (KIOST), under the framework of the Grant Agreement with the Korean Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to foster collaboration for the conservation and rehabilitation of Caribbean shorelines. 

The loss of land due to eroding shorelines, the consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, communities, and the deterioration of conditions for providing a quality tourism product, which for many of these states is their main source of income, are challenges that have been a constant cause for concern and discussion at the various summits of heads of state of the ACS. Data has been collected for the purpose of conducting research, promoting beach conservation initiatives and advocating policies and initiatives that support coastal protection. The information gathered will be shared with the public using a geographic information system that will be continuously updated. Members States that took part in this endeavour included Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago.

On behalf of the ACS, the Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Environment and Caribbean Sea, Ana Leticia Ramirez Cuevas, officially handed over the corresponding Executive Summary Reports of the project to the representatives of the Republic of Panama and the Institute of Marine Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (IMA) at the ACS Secretariat Headquarters.

Representing Panama, the First Secretary for Diplomatic Affairs, Ms. Joyra Castillo, was present and expressed the pleasure of the Government of Panama to have been part of this regional project since 2017. She stated that for Panama, it was an honour to have been able to cooperate through this project to study the impact of climate change on the Caribbean shorelines.

The ceremony was also attended by the Focal Point and Representative of the IMA, Mr. Christopher Alexis, who explained that the institute has been monitoring the dynamic nature (erosion and accretion rates, coastal processes) of selected beaches and bays of Trinidad and Tobago since 1988 under its Coastal Conservation Project.

Mr. Alexis noted that the Sandy Shorelines Project initiative is consistent with the mandate of the IMA, which collects, analyses and disseminates data and information relating to economic, technological, environmental, social and legal developments in marine affairs in general, and formulates and implements specific programs to achieve its overall objectives.