Distr. LIMITED United Nations WG.29/4.Rev. Programme · UNITED NATIONS EP UNEP United Nations Environment Programme Distr. LIMITED UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.29/4.Rev. 1 3 July 2008 Original:

UNITED NATIONS EP

UNEP

United NationsEnvironmentProgramme

Distr. LIMITED

UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.29/4.Rev. 1 3 July 2008

Original: ENGLISH

Fourth Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) to the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider Caribbean Region

Gosier, Guadeloupe, France, 2-5 July 2008

REVISED DRAFT

ANNOTATED FORMAT FOR PRESENTATION REPORTS FOR THE AREAS PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE SPAW LIST

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Annotated Format is to guide the Contracting Parties in producing reports of comparable contents as requested in Article 19 (2) of the Protocol, including the information necessary for the adequate evaluation of the conformity of the proposed site with the criteria set out in the Protocol and in the Guidelines (Guidelines and Criteria for the Evaluation of Protected Areas to be Listed under SPAW).

CONTENTS

The presentation report shall include the following main information on: (i) identification of the proposed protected area (ii) site description (iii) its Caribbean importance (iv) the activities in and around the areas and their impacts (v) legal framework (vi) management measures (vii) human and financial resources available for the management and the protection of the site.

SUBMISSION OF REPORTS

The reports should be submitted to the SPAW/RAC two months before the meeting of STAC for SPAW in English, Spanish or in French.

Dossier should be compiled on A4 paper, with maps and plans annexed on paper with maximum size of an A3 paper. Contracting parties are also encouraged to submit the full text of the proposal in electronic form.

The requested annexes should be submitted on paper and, if possible, also in electronic form. They are following:

- Copies of legal texts (Annex 1)- Copies of planning and management documents (Annex 2)- Maps: administrative boundaries, zoning, land tenure, land use, and distribution of

habitats and species, as appropriate (Annex 3)- Existing inventories of plants and fauna species (Annex 4)- Photographs, slides, films/videos, CD-ROM's (Annex 5)- List of publications and copies of the main ones concerning the site (Annex 6)

UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.29/4.Rev.1 Page 1

1. AREA IDENTIFICATION

COUNTRY: Colombia

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVINCE OR REGION: San Andres Archipelago

NAME OF THE AREA: Seaflower Marine Protected Area

DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT: January 2005

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION : Describe its geographical boundaries, e.g. rivers, roads, geographical or administrativeboundaries (do not describe the co-ordinates here; please make a separate Annex with amap and a description of geographical co-ordinates as stated in the legal declaration of thearea.).

Seaflower is an open ocean MPA surrounding the inhabited islands and including the coastal and oceanic coral reefs of the San Andres Archipelago, Southwestern Caribbean (see Annex 1 for legal declaration and Annex 3 for maps). The MPA is divided into three administrative sections that comprise a sub-national network -- Northern 3,750,000 ha, Central 1,270,000 ha, and Southern 1,480,000 ha (CORALINA Accord 021/050).

SURFACE OF THE AREA (total):(in national unit) 65,000 km2 (in ha) 6,500,000 ha

LENGTH OF THE MAIN COAST (km):

N/A


2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (maximum 3 pages)Supply a summary of the information contained in sections 3 to 9

The San Andres Archipelago includes 3 small inhabited islands and a number of uninhabited small cays, atolls, banks, and reefs extending for more than 500 km in the Southwestern Caribbean. The largest island and center of government, San Andres (SAI), is about 800 km northwest of Colombia and 100 km east of Nicaragua. Old Providence and Santa Catalina (OPSC) are 80 km north of San Andres. The Seaflower Marine Protected Area (MPA) is part of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO 2000), which encompasses the total area of the archipelago. The MPA was designed to implement biosphere reserve objectives in significant marine and coastal ecosystems and includes the largest, most productive open-ocean coral reefs in the Caribbean.

The MPA includes 2,000 km2 of coral reefs, atolls, mangroves and seagrass beds, including: (i) the barrier and fringing reefs, lagoons, seagrass beds, and mangroves circling the inhabited islands; (ii) Courtown (ESE Cay) - a kidney-shaped atoll 6.4 km by 3.5 km; (iii) Albuquerque (SSW Cay) - a circular atoll with a diameter over 8 km; (iv) Roncador - an atoll 15 km by 7 km with a 12-km reef to windward and 30 km2 of live coral coverage; (v) Serrana - an atoll 36 km long and 15 km wide with a complex reef system 37 km by 30 km, with 75 km2 live coral coverage; and (vi) Quitasueño (Queena) - the archipelago's largest coral structure, 60 km long and 10 to 20 km wide with a 40-km reef wall and 496 km2 of live coral coverage (see annex for maps).

It contains the largest, most productive open-ocean coral reefs in the Caribbean. They are particularly complex due to exposure to currents, wave action, and other physical oceanographic factors and include extensive benthic habitats such as barrier reefs, reef lagoons, reef slopes, fore-reefs, deep coral plateaus, numerous seamounts, and deep coral reefs. Representative examples of other coastal and marine ecosystems found in the Caribbean region are found in the MPA, including mangroves, seagrass and algal beds, soft and hard bottoms, beaches, and the open ocean. As new scientific information becomes available, there is an increasing understanding of genetic and ecological connectivity in the Caribbean, and the role Seaflower plays in this, from both an ecological and an oceanographic perspective. The islands and atolls of the Seaflower MPA have a significant role in water circulation regionally, with the formation of the Yucatan current from the diverted Caribbean current, and the generation of the Colombia-Panama gyro (SE current).

Despite being located within the Western Caribbean Coral Reef Hotspot, one of the world’s top ten regions exceptionally rich in marine species and facing extreme threat, the significant tropical ecosystems of Seaflower have received little scientific attention, except for narrow targeted research. Available information does, however, indicate a wide diversity of fish and marine invertebrates. Seaflower exhibits the highest octocoral species diversity found in the Western Caribbean, and fish and coral diversity comparable to sites outside the Caribbean. Seaflower is also an important site for turtle nesting, seabird breeding and, being at the edge of the western flyway, it is a significant stopover site for 130 migrant bird species.

The MPA was created in response to a demand from the islander community -- that has depended on marine resources for their livelihoods for centuries -- for improved conservation of marine biodiversity and management to promote sustainable use. The major uses are subsistence, artisanal, and industrial fishing and recreation and tourism (diving, snorkeling, swimming, assorted water sports, marine tours, etc.). The 7th largest MPA in the world, Seaflower's design combined the best available biological and socioeconomic information with strong stakeholder ownership of the MPA's Integrated Management Plan (IMP). The MPA declaration and IMP resulted from a 5-year, highly participatory process led by the Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the Archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence, and Santa Catalina-

CORALINA, the regional autonomous representative of Colombia’s National Environment System (SINA) for the archipelago and MPA management authority.

To design and put the MPA in place, CORALINA received funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the World Bank with technical support from the Ocean Conservancy, Island Resources Foundation, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and others. From the beginning, the process was rooted in participation by all stakeholders -- especially those who live off the marine resources such as artisanal fishers and recreational watersports operators, along with other institutions with jurisdiction in the marine area -- who collaborated on decision-making. Participatory planning with key stakeholders resulted in MPA objectives, external boundaries, zoning, regulations, and the draft management plan (IMP). Following the national-level declaration of the MPA in January 2005, the three administrative sections were legally defined in April 2005. The participatory management structure began working in June 2005. Zoning plans for all three sections and the “umbrella” regulation stating what can and cannot be done in the MPA were formally approved in July 2005.

The resulting three sections of the Seaflower MPA comprise Colombia’s first official MPA, are recognized as a regional MPA system or network by IUCN-WCPA, and serve as a model as Colombia develops its national MPA system. The three sections are Northern 37,500 km2, Central 12,700 km2, and Southern 14,800 km2. It is also the first protected area in Colombia that is part of the National Protected Area System (NPAS) yet managed autonomously at the regional level; in this case by the regional environmental authority for the San Andres Archipelago, CORALINA.

The MPA takes an integrated, sustainable development approach to conservation and its five equal, integrated objectives are: 1) Preservation, recovery, and long-term maintenance of species, biodiversity, ecosystems, and other natural values including special habitats; 2) Promotion of sound management practices to ensure long-term sustainable use of coastal and marine resources; 3) Equitable distribution of economic and social benefits to enhance local development; 4) Protection of rights pertaining to historical use; and 5) Education to promote stewardship and community involvement in management. To help achieve these objectives, a strength of Seaflower’s management unusual in the MPA world is that CORALINA’s authority includes land and sea, allowing the agency to advance the cross-sectoral approach to marine resource management emphasized by the White Water to Blue Water Initiative, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).

Seaflower has a number of other innovative features in addition to its land-sea interface, community-based approach to decision-making, and position as the first official MPA in Colombia and the only protected area to be declared nationally but managed at the regional level. Within the country, Seaflower is also unique in its integrated, sustainable development objectives and enactment of multiple-use zoning to achieve them. The MPA has legally defined zones designated for: i) Artisanal fishing (traditional methods and users only); ii) No entry (research and monitoring only); iii) No take (non-extractive activities only); iv) Special use (as required to assure achievement of MPA objectives; e.g., ports, shipping lanes, cruise-ship anchorage, etc.); and v) General use. These zones were designed by the community and authorities using an ecosystem-based approach to assure the protection of ecologically important areas, and hence of biodiversity habitat and ecosystem services.

Another exceptional feature is the level to which the IMP and the MPA zoning combined best available technical and scientific expertise with indigenous knowledge. The Seaflower MPA has an International Advisory Board (IAB) of volunteer experts that includes internationally recognized MPA managers and scientists. These advisors worked in collaboration with CORALINA, other institutions, and the local community to help design zoning and management based on best practices of coastal and marine management from around the world. The IMP calls for continuing with this collaborative, interdisciplinary approach and level of community involvement in all phases of implementation, strengthening stakeholder participation in activities of management, enforcement and compliance, monitoring, research, and education.

Major threats derive from over-exploitation of marine resources, not only from artisanal and industrial fishing but also from uncontrolled subsistence gathering, especially in San Andres’ coastal waters. San Andres has the highest population density of any oceanic island in the Americas, with recent research revealing that the basic needs of over 40% of the population are unmet. Poverty and growing food insecurity have serious repercussions on the coastal and marine environment. Land-based pollution and unsustainable tourism practices such as poor diving techniques, groundings from watercraft, and overuse of selected sites, also impact biodiversity and ecosystem condition. Another factor is sedimentation from erosion and deforestation, especially in Old Providence where cattle raising on the steep hillsides is having a very detrimental effect on coastal and marine ecosystems. Since the MPA was established, biodiversity is also being progressively more affected by global drivers of biodiversity loss such as alien introduced species and climate change.

To address these threats, information gathered in 2009 found that the most pressing management needs were identified to be stronger enforcement and economic development for vulnerable groups; i.e., to establish effective enforcement and compliance structures that are collaborative (community-based), transparent, legitimate, fair, and based on accurate information; and to promote sustainable and alternative livelihoods to alleviate poverty and achieve financial sustainability to support long-term MPA management and generation of local jobs in conservation. These results are in accord with on-going consultations with MPA users in which they consistently identified their main concerns as the need for stronger enforcement to achieve conservation and MPA management objectives, and for the MPA to generate new economic opportunities to alleviate local poverty and improve quality of life.

To that end, CORALINA has developed a new project that has been approved by the GEF in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank. This project aims to strengthen MPA implementation and conservation of marine biodiversity in the Southwestern Caribbean by 2014. At the systems level, the Seaflower MPA is in itself a system of 3 MPAs that collectively sustains larger marine ecosystem functioning and incorporates 7 distinct sites, all of which represent a range of bio-geographic variation in its marine eco-region. As such, if sustainably implemented for the long term, this large MPA will provide substantial regional benefits to ocean conservation.


3. SITE DESCRIPTION

TYPOLOGY OF THE SITE:Terrestrial surface, excluding wetlands (ha):

N/A (only 0.01 % of the Seaflower MPA is terrestrial surface and is comprised of several tiny cays located in the midst of atolls and other protected coral structures)

Wetland surface (ha):

Mangrove swamps 250 ha

Marine surface (sq. km) under sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction:

The Seaflower MPA includes 65,000 km2. The territory is under the jurisdiction of the Colombian State, with the native community (known as raizales) having tenure rights under the Constitution (Art. 310) and subsequent regulations.

____________________________________________________________________

MAIN PHYSICAL FEATURES:

Geology /GeomorphologyGive a brief description of: (i) geological aspects (lithologic and tectonics); (ii) processesof sedimentation and erosion observable in the area; (iii) coastal geomorphology, and (iv)island system. Indicate bibliographical sources .

The Seaflower MPA includes a series of oceanic islands, barrier reef complexes, atolls and coral shoals, of volcanic origin, linked to the formation of the Nicaraguan Rise and the Caribbean Sea. It is characterized by 2 barrier reef complexes on the windward sides of the main populated islands of San Andres and Old Providence (linked to the smaller island of Santa Catalina by bridge), and a series of atolls and coral banks lined up in a NNE direction that extend for over 500 km. The Seaflower MPA includes Courtown (ESE Cay) - a kidney-shaped atoll 6.4 km by 3.5 km; Albuquerque (SSW Cay) - a circular atoll with a diameter over 8 km; Roncador - an atoll 15 km by 7 km with a 12-km reef to windward; Serrana - an atoll 36 km long and 15 km wide with a complex reef system 37 km by 30 km; and Quitasueño (Queena) - the archipelago's largest coral structure, a half-atoll, 60 km long and 10 to 20 km wide with a 40-km reef wall.

Geister and Diaz (1997) estimate that as the islands and atolls appear to be closely linked to the formation of the Nicaraguan Rise and the Caribbean Sea, the early pre-island history may date back to the late Cretaceous period. The islands, atolls, and banks are volcanic in origin, formed from the subsidence of volcanic basements and the capping of sea mounts by carbonates in Tertiary to Quaternary times. The San Andres Trough, a tectonic graben on the lower-Nicaraguan Rise (15° NNE), separates the archipelago from the Middle American continental shelf. The Trough itself is part of a regional tectonic pattern deemed remarkable for its fracture zones.

Because of its remote location within the Caribbean region, according to the 2004 World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Reefs at Risk analysis, the Seaflower MPA represents not only one of the most extensive reef areas in the Western Atlantic but also a particularly complex one due to its exposure to currents, wave action, and other physical oceanographic factors. Furthermore, the islands and atolls of the Seaflower MPA play a significant role in water circulation regionally, with the formation of the Yucatan current from the diverted Caribbean current, and the generation of the Colombia-Panama gyro (SE current).

____________________________________________________________________


Other interesting physical features: Such as hydrodynamics, volcanic formations, caves,underwater formations, etc ___________________________________________________________________________

Length of beaches (in km), including islands :

a) Length of sandy beaches: 2.4 km in length

b) Length of pebble or stony beaches: .8 km in length

c) Length, height and depth of active sand-dunes: 3.8 km2 in area with 2.5-3.5 m in height

FRESHWATER INPUTS

Mean annual precipitation (in mm) 1700 mm

Main water courses (permanent and seasonal): N/A

Estuarine areas : Existence and brief description:

The Seaflower MPA includes slightly over 250 ha of mangroves in 12 coastal, estuarine swamps. Four species – red, black, white, and buttonwood – are found. San Andres is the archipelago's largest island. In 1996, mangroves covered 161 ha. Following education, reforestation, and establishment of protected areas, total mangrove area has increased to close to 200 ha. The Hooker Bight/Honda Bay mangroves are the island’s largest wetland at 51 ha. This ecosystem is protected in the Old Point Regional Mangrove Park. Other mangrove forests are Cocoplum, Salt Creek, Sound Bay, Smith Channel, and Cove Seaside, all of which are protected.

In Old Providence and Santa Catalina mangroves covered a total area of 54 ha in 1996. With an area of 30 hectares, the Oyster Creek mangroves are the largest and most productive and form part of the only national park in the archipelago, Old Providence McBean Lagoon. Other small but productive stands of mangroves are Southwest Bay, Old Town, Manchineel Bay, Jones Point, and Santa Catalina.

Freshwater springs : Existence and brief description, including marine offsprings: N/A


BIOLOGICAL FEATURES (Point B of the Guidelines; ecological criteria)

Habitats: a brief description of dominant marine and terrestrial habitats:

The Seaflower MPA contains the largest, most productive open-ocean coral reefs in the Caribbean and includes complete extended coral reefs with all associated ecosystems and a high level of habitat representation. Other habitat types include mangrove forests, sea grass and algal beds, soft bottoms, beaches, and open ocean. These offer sea bird and sea turtle nesting sites; fish spawning, nursery, and aggregation sites; habitat for a number of threatened species; and demonstrated local and regional genetic and ecological connectivity.

Coral reef formations are particularly complex here as a result of their oceanic location and the heavy wave action and turbulence to which they are subjected as the result of high swells generated by the trade winds over a 2,000 km wave fetch (Geister and Diaz 1997). This is a major influence on coral reef morphology, sedimentology, and reef community structure. There are over 200,000 ha of coral; extensive and diverse benthic habitats include barrier reefs, reef lagoons, reef slopes, fore-reefs, deep coral plateaus, numerous seamounts, and deep coral reefs (Diaz et al. 2000). The MPA features rare and beautiful coral reef formations such as tall pinnacles, steep walls, extensive meander-like Montastrea lagoons, and ribbon reefs with high Acropora coverage.

Each site exhibits its own special characteristics. For example, the Old Providence and Santa Catalina reef complex, covering an area of approximately 25,500 ha, is one of the largest in the western hemisphere (Geister and Diaz 1997). The windward reefs of Courtown are considered to be a unique and unusual reef environment (Geister and Diaz 1997) due to the influence of strong waves and currents, turbulences and the presence of an intricate system of caves. Remote areas such as Roncador demonstrate high reef integrity with little anthropogenic influence. Unlike most Caribbean reefs, the dominant reef-building coral at Roncador is Montastraea franksi.

In regard to other habitats, there are 12 mangrove lagoons (covering over 250 ha) on San Andres, Old Providence and Santa Catalina, showing classic zoning patterns. They provide habitat, food and refuge to a wide variety of marine and coastal fauna and flora. Productive and healthy seagrass beds (estimated at over 2,000 ha) are also found primarily along the shores of these islands. They stabilize the sea bottom, help control erosion, and provide food, oxygen, and habitat for marine life. Algal beds, soft bottoms, beaches, and the deep ocean are other habitats found in the MPA. Sea turtle nesting occurs on the more isolated beaches. Deep sea areas are largely unexplored but are considered to be important for flows, connectivity, spawning aggregations, larval dispersal and maintaining marine food webs.

List of regionally important species (flora and fauna)List here ONLY those species protected by international agreements, particularly those species included in Annexes I, II and III of the Protocol, which are present in the area. Any other species may be listed if it is clearly considered of regional importance given its high representation in the area. Display the species under the headings Marine Plants, Terrestrial Plants, Invertebrates, Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals. For each species state:a) Its relative abundance as Common (C), Uncommon (U) or Occasional (O),b) Its global status as rare (r), endemic (e), and/or threatened (t), andc) Its status as an important resident population (R), or important for its breeding (B),

feeding (F) or migratory passage (M).

SPECIES Rel. Abundance Global STATUS Local STATUS(C) (U) (O) (r) (e) (t) (R) (B) (F) (M)

MARINE & COASTAL PLANTS

Syringodium filiforme C t RThalassia testudinum C t R

Halodule wrightii U t RRhizophora mangle C t (R) (B)Avicennia germinans C t (R) (B)Laguncularia racemosa C t (R) (B)Conocarpus erectus C t (R) (B)Sesuvium portulacastrum U t RSuriana marítima U r R

Tournefortia gnophaloides C r R

Coccoloba uvifera U r R

Chysobalanus icaco U r R

Coccothrinax argentata (jamaicensis) O e, t R

Acoelorraphe wrightii O e, t R

Tillandsia dayilirifolia U t R

Crossopetalum rhacoma U t R

Cedrela odorata O t R

INVERTEBRATESMolluscaStrombus gigas C t (R) (B)Strombus costatus C t (R) (B)Strombus gallus O t RStrombus pugilis U t RCassis flammea U t RCassis tuberosa U t RCittarium pica U t (R) (B)Charonia variegata U t RCrustaceaPanulirus argus C t (R) (B)Gecarcinus ruricola C t (R) (B)Gecarcinus lateralis C t (R) (B)Cardisoma guanhuumi C t (R) (B)Mithrax spinosissimus U t RCarpilius corallinus U t R


HARD CORALSAcropora cerviconis U t RAcropora palmata U t RAgaricia agaricites C t RAgaricia fragilis C t RAgaricia humilis C t RAgaricia lamarcki C t RAgaricia tenuifolia C t RColpophyllia amarantus U t RColpophyllia natans C t RDendrogyra cylindrus C t RDichocoenia stokesii U t RDiploria clivosa C t RDiploria labyrinthiformis C t RDiploria strigosa C t REusmilia fastigiata U t RFavia fragum U t RIsophyllastrea rigida U t RIsophyllia sinuosa U t RLeptoseris cucullata U t RMadracis decactis U t RMadracis mirabilis U t RManicina areolata U t RMeandrina meandrites U t RMillepora alcicornis C t RMillepora complanata C t RMontastraea annularis C t RMontastraea cavernosa C t RMontastraea faveolata C t RMontastraea franksi C t RMussa angulosa O t RMycetophyllia danaana U t RMycetophyllia fero1 U t RMycetophyllia lamarckiana U t RPorites astreoides C t RPorites porites C t RScolymia sp U t RSiderastrea radians C t RSiderastrea siderea C t RSolenastrea bournoni U t RStephanocoenia mechelinii U t RStylaster roseus U t ROCTOCORALSGorginia ventalina U t RAntipathes spp. U t RECHINODERMATADiadema antillarum U t R, BMARINE FISH


Epinephelus itajara U t MEpinephelus striatus U tEpinephelus drummondhay U tEpinephelus guttatus U tEpinephelus inermis U tEpinephelus nigritus U tEpinephelus niveatus U tHypoplectrus providencianus C t R , BMycteroperca bonaci U t BMycteroperca tigris U t BMycteroperca microlepis U t BMycteroperca venenosa U tPagrus pagrus tLachnolaimus maximus U t BLutjanus analis RLutjanus cyanopterus RScarus guacamaia U t RHippocampus reidi O t RCarcharhinus perezi, U t MRhizoprionodon porosus, U t MGinglymostoma cirratum, U t MGaleocerdo cuvier, U t MSphyrna mokarran U t MBalistes vetula C tThunnus obesus U t MThunnus thynnus U t MFRESHWATER FISHPoecilia veti-providentiae U e R, BGambusia aestiputeus U e R, BAMPHIBIANS

Leptodactylus insularis U e R, BREPTILESCaretta caretta U t BEretmochelys imbricata U t BDermochelys coriacea U t BChelonia mydas U t BKinosternon scorpioides albugulare U t (R) (B)

Anolis concolor U e R, B

Anolis pinchoti U e R, B

Mabouya mabouya pergravis O e R, B

Sphaerodactylus argus andresensis O e R, B

Iguana iguana rhinolopha U t R, B

Ctenosauria similis C t R, B

Amaiva amaiva fuliginosa U t R, B

Coniophanes andresensis O e R, BBIRDS Puffinus lherminieri U t (R) (B)


Pelecanus occidentalis U t MFregata magnificens C t (R) (B)Sula dactylatra U t (R) (B)Sula leucogaster C t (R) (B)Casmerodius albus (= Egretta alba) C t MEgretta caerulea C t MEgretta tricolor U t MNycticorax nycticorax C t MNycticorax violaceus C t MPlegadis falcinellus U t MPandion haliaetus U t MFalco peregrinus U t MFalco columbarius U t MGallinula chloropolus U t MFulica caribaea U t MAnous stolidus C t R;BSterna fuscata C t R;BSterna hirundo C t MSterna maxima C t MSterna sandvicensis U t MSterna antillarum U t MNumenius phaeopus hudsonicus C t MCalidris alba C t MHimantopus mexicanus U r MLeptotila jamaicensis neoxena O e R B Coccyzus minor abbotti U e R BAnthracothorax prevostii hendersonii C e R BMimus gilvus magnirostris U e, t R BIcterus leucopteryx lawrencii U e, t R BVireo caribaeus C e (R) (B) (F)Dendroica coerulescens O t MMAMMALSArtibeus jamaicensis coryi U e, t R BMolossus molossus U e,t R, BMARINE MAMMALSStenella attenuata O t MTursiops truncatus C t M


Flora: Description in a few sentences of the main plant assemblages significant in the area:

The Seaflower MPA features 3 seagrass species and 4 mangrove and associated species; including red, white, black and buttonwood mangroves. Native beach vegetation includes The greatest diversity of marine flora occurs within the algae, with Seaflower supporting at least 163 species. Native beach vegetation includes trees such as sea grape, mahoe, and beach almond; shrubs including sea purslane, bay cedar and sea lavendar; grasses and trailing vines.

Fauna: Description in a few sentences, which are the main fauna populations present in the area :

Seaflower MPA contains some of the largest, most productive and diverse coral ecosystems in the region. With respect to scleractinian coral species, Seaflower supports 48 documented species (of approximately 60-70 species known to exist in the Caribbean). There are at least 54 species of octocorals, including 3 black coral species and 11 undescribed species, with possible high endemism. A total of 44 species of octocorals was identified at Old Providence alone, the highest species diversity in the western Caribbean according to Sanchez et al. (1998). The highest gorgonian density in the Colombian Caribbean (up to 22 colonies per m2) was recorded in 2003 at Roncador (Heinemann et al. 2004).

Seaflower has documented just over 300 fish species, of which there is one known endemic fish. A total of 124 sponge species have also been documented. Little research has been conducted on other invertebrates such as molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, and tunicates. Of data available, there are at least 2 zoanthid species, 2 anemone species, 3 sea jelly species, 17 echinoderm species, 23 crustacean species, 28 mollusc species, 1 tunicate species and 5 annelid species. The mangroves are home to an endemic mud turtle, and beaches provide nesting sites for 4 marine turtle species.

The Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (which includes the Seaflower MPA) has been classified a secondary Endemic Bird Area and declared an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Of the 155 total bird species, 21 are classified as shorebirds and 22 as seabirds (see Annex 4).


HUMAN POPULATION AND USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES (Point B of the Guidelines; Cultural and Socio-economic criteria).

Human population

a) Inhabitants inside the area:

N/A

PermanentSeasonal number (additional to permanent)

Description of the population:

Number Date of data

Main human settlements and their populations

b) Inhabitants within the zone of potential direct impact on the protected areaNumber: 71,600 Date of data: 2005

Permanent Seasonal number (additional to permanent): 350,000 tourists annual average (2005)

Description of the population:

San Andres’ inhabitants fall into three primary subgroups: the first consists of native islanders, who descend from English settlers, African slaves, and West Indians from other islands (1600-1900s); the second includes migrants from mainland Colombia and their descendants (since 1950); and the third is made up of a small number of other immigrants, mainly from the Middle East, Central America, and Europe. The native islander population, legally known as raizales, has an indigenous culture that is often in conflict with newer, externally introduced systems. This group was granted legal protection as a national ethnic minority (a group with a culture distinct from the dominant society) by the 1991 National Constitution.


Main human settlements and their populations:

San Andres 65,600

Old Providence 4,850

Santa Catalina 150

Current human use and developmenta) Briefly describe the current use of the area by subsistence, artisan, commercial and

recreational fishing, hunting, tourism, agriculture and other economic sectors.

The main uses of the MPA are artisanal, subsistence, and industrial fishing and recreation and tourism (diving, snorkeling, swimming, assorted water sports, marine tours, etc.).


b) Enter how many of the users depend on these resources, seasonality:

Socioeconomic studies are presently being carried out to identify and update user groups. Little is known at the present time but data available are included in the table below.

ACTIVITY AND CATEGORY Estimated No. of users Seasonality

FISHINGSubsistence Commercial, local Commercial, non localControlled recreational Un-controlled recreational Other

Artisanal fishing cooperatives – 4Fishing associations - 4Registered artisanal – 700 (390 classified as active)

Registered industrial - 80

Year-round

TOURISMRegulated Unregulated Indicate the type of tourismTourism facilities

Dive shops – 12 (30 employees)Boat and jet ski rentals – 8Tour boats – 6 (45 employees)Launch cooperative – 1Hotel watersports – 13

“Sun, sand, and sea tourism” Tourists – 350,000 annual average (+90% use MPA)

Year-round

FOREST PRODUCTSSubsistence Non-timber commercial, local Non-timber commercial, non-localTimber commercial, local Timber commercial, non-local

N/A

Agriculture Stockbreeding Aquaculture

N/A

EXTENSIVE STOCK GRAZINGSubsistence Commercial, local Commercial, non-local

N/A

OTHER ACTIVITIES


Traditional economic or subsistence usesName any environmentally sound traditional activities integrated with nature, which support the well being of the local population. E.g. land, water use, target species, if closed seasons or closed zones are used as management techniques.

Artisanal fishers traditionally used fishing methods and practices that were in general sustainable. They have lobbied to limit industrial fishing to selected sites in the Northern Section only and to ban the use of destructive industrial methods such as long lines and drag nets in the entire MPA.

However, the sheer number of users and growing poverty now mean that even traditional methods contribute to overfishing. Consequently, MPA management measures include closed seasons for key species such as lobster and conch, protection of spawning sites and aggregations, size limits and quotas, and bans on fisheries of threatened and endangered species such as sea turtles, sharks, etc. in addition to the use of no-entry and no-take zones to balance use with conservation.


4. BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE SITE

This section aims at stressing the importance of the site in sustaining the natural resources of the nation and the region, as set in Art.4 of the Protocol.

PRESENCE OF REPRESENTATIVE TYPES OF COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS/HABITATS (Art. 4 para. 2(a)Name the type of habitats considered of Caribbean representativeness and their estimated cover (ha).

• Coral reefs – 218,850 ha• Mangroves – 250 ha• Seagrass beds – approximately 2,000 ha • Algal beds – 4,310 ha• Beaches – 2,940 ha

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PRESENCE OF HABITATS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO ENDANGERED, THREATENED OR ENDEMIC SPECIES (Art. 4 para. 2(b)A critical habitat is an area essential to the conservation of species concerned and in particular to those species included in Annexes I, II and III of the Protocol. E.g; undisturbed sand beaches where marine turtle nesting occurs; coastal lagoons where threatened fish or bird species feed or breed, nursery areas for some endangered or commercially extinct locally fishes, etc.

Name the habitat types and the species linked to it.

• Complete coral reef and associated ecosystems including corals, mangroves, and seagrass beds -- over 300 fish sp including 43 Red List sp and 1 endemic; over 84 sp of echinoderms, molluscs etc; 124 sponges

• Corals -- 48 scleractinian coral sp including 32 Red List sp; 54 octocoral sp

• Mangroves – 4 mangrove, sp; 155 bird sp including 85 migrants using coastal habitats, 21 shorebirds, 22 seabirds, at least 1 endemic sp and 9 subspecies

• Seagrass beds – 3 seagrass sp, feeding sites for green (EN) turtles

• Algal beds -- 163 macroalgae

• Beaches – Land crabs, native flora, and nesting sites for green (EN), hawksbill (CR), leatherback (CR) and loggerhead (EN) turtles


PRESENCE OF PRODUCTIVE ECOSYSTEMS OR NATURAL RESOURCES that provide economic or social benefits and upon which the welfare of local inhabitants is dependent. (Art. 4 para. 2(c) of the Protocol and B. Cultural and Socio-Economic Criteria (a and b) of the Guidelines)

Name the habitat types and the economic or social benefit to local inhabitants linked to it.

• Coral reefs – fisheries, biodiversity, habitat, coastal protection, beach production, carbon sequestration

• Mangroves - fisheries, nurseries, biodiversity, habitat, coastal protection, water quality

• Seagrass beds – food and habitat, oxygen production, coastal protection, water quality, seabottom stabilization

• Algal beds - fisheries, food and habitat, beach production, oxygen production, water quality

• Beaches – tourism, recreation, habitat, coastal protection

OTHER RELEVANT FEATURES (Art. 4 para 2(d) of the Protocol and B. Cultural and Socio-Economic Criteria (b and c) of the Guidelines)

Educational Interest ;

E.g. particular values for activities of environment education or awareness

The MPA provides ample opportunities for environmental education and to build awareness of the significance of marine ecosystems and conservation. One of the major successes of MPA management to date is the variety and extent of its on-going education, outreach, and public involvement programs. First, all management decisions integrate scientific knowledge with indigenous knowledge, which requires bringing scientists and community together on a regular basis. The MPA also employs community promoters, who are well-known to the community and bring together management, scientists, and stakeholders, facilitating grassroots interaction in any number of ways. Informal public meetings are a regular feature of MPA management, with open dialogue encouraged.

There are many activities to share information, educate the wider community, and build stewardship and an environmental consciousness. These include the creation and management of public document centers to make information widely available to the community; information management systems; island-wide, diverse meetings and events targeting all stakeholders, ages, and levels of the wider community; media campaigns; local, national, and international presentations; introduction of formal school curricula on coastal and marine ecosystems; and the production of a variety of publications for children and adults, general outreach materials, and peer-reviewed articles.

Collective learning initiatives are also developed with local people and scientists through partnership research, advisory groups, community-based monitoring, expert training, etc. For example, community-based monitoring programs in place include ReefCheck, RECON,

COSALC, and REEF. Other examples of joint activities include hiring community and volunteers to support research expeditions, community clean-ups, volunteer inspectors, and an adopt-an-ecosystem program (beaches, mangroves, etc.).

Other activities have included training authorities and institutions (coast guard, navy, fisheries, etc); stakeholder on-island training courses in marine conservation and sustainable use in fisheries, tourism, farming; stakeholder off-island training (e.g., fishers to Jamaica, divers to Bonaire) with on-island expert follow-up; program of artisanal fishers training children in traditional methods; PADI training for traditional fishers and youth; and a variety of programs for children and youth (children’s clubs, marine stewards, etc).

Scientific InterestExplain if the site represents a particular value for the research in the field of naturalsciences.

The MPA offers great value for research related to marine conservation, MPA management effectiveness, ecosystem services, and climate change impacts on tropical marine ecosystems, among others. Representative examples of coastal and marine ecosystems from the Caribbean region are found in the MPA, including coral reefs (atolls, barrier and fringing reefs, coral heads and patches, lagoons, etc.), mangroves, seagrass and algal beds, soft and hard bottoms, beaches, and the open ocean. Habitats of endangered species like sea turtles are included, as are sea-bird colonies and spawning aggregation sites.

Multiple coral, benthic, beach, algal and pelagic sites are conserved in all three MPA sections (Northern, Southern and Central), while mangroves and seagrass beds are found and protected in two (Southern and Central). Planning took into account replication so each section includes entire ecosystems with tidal, sub-tidal, and other near-shore waters; off-shore reefs, banks, cays, and atolls; and the open ocean connecting them. The three sections are contiguous to minimize fragmentation and “edge effect.” Conservation zones are sizeable and dispersed to maximize resilience. Although Seaflower has not been subject to high levels of scientific study, information gathered to date indicates outstanding biological value and significant marine biodiversity. Local and regional ecological connectivity has also been demonstrated and was integrated into the design of the MPA’s conservation zones.

Recent studies reinforce the importance of Seaflower in terms of biological connectivity, not only within the site but regionally. For example, a study of zoanthid connectivity (Acosta et al. 2008) at Seaflower indicated high genetic diversity but no isolation by distance. Moderate to high values of gene flow were detected at both local and regional scales. It has been hypothesized that because of the presiding current patterns in the area these reef populations could act as an important source of larvae for the Western Caribbean. The work of Pizarro (2006) on larval dispersal of 2 of the most important Caribbean reef building corals (Montastraea annularis and M. faveolata), in Seaflower, also indicated that connectivity within the Seaflower reef areas is likely, as is planulae providing a source for reefs in Nicaragua, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica. Marquez et al. (under revision) has also demonstrated the importance of connectivity in the Seaflower MPA, in a study of the population genetics of the queen conch, Strombus gigas, in Seaflower and continental Colombian reefs. Three stocks were differentiated: northern areas of Seaflower, southern areas of Seaflower and San Bernardo Island/continental Colombia. One of the principal results was the demonstration of gene flow between Roncador and the continental Colombian islands.

As new scientific information becomes available, there is an increasing understanding of genetic and ecological connectivity in the Caribbean, and the role Seaflower plays in this, from both an ecological and an oceanographic perspective. The Seaflower MPA has already acknowledged the importance of this in the design of its multiple-use zoning system. To ensure connectivity, conservation zones include integrated ecosystems; for example, a section of barrier reef along with its corresponding lagoon, seagrass beds, and mangroves in a single no-take zone to encompass the full spectrum of species and genetic diversity. In global terms, research on and conservation of the Seaflower MPA’s ecosystems is also vital to close the gap in knowledge and biodiversity protection and management that exists between the southeastern Caribbean islands and Belize, as well as in the southern marine area of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

Historical and archaeological featuresName and briefly describe any outstanding historical features, monuments or sites.

N/A There may be shipwrecks and other submerged sites of interest but these are unknown at the present time.


Aesthetic InterestName and briefly describe any outstanding natural features, landscapes or seascapes(example: the presence of pristine sites for their use as reference sites)

The MPA contains the largest, most productive open-ocean coral reefs in the Caribbean, extending for more than 500 km along the Nicaraguan rise. The reefs are particularly complex due to exposure to currents, wave action, and other physical oceanographic factors and include extensive benthic habitats such as barrier reefs, reef lagoons, reef slopes, fore-reefs, deep coral plateaus, numerous seamounts, and deep coral reefs.

The Old Providence barrier reef alone is 32 km long and covers an area of 255 km2, making it one of the largest reefs in the Americas and is in comparatively pristine condition (Geister, 1997). Even more pristine are the little studied, sizeable atolls, cays, and banks of the Northern Section, especially Roncador, an atoll 15 km by 7 km with a 12-km reef to windward and 30 km2 of live coral coverage; Serrana, an atoll 36 km long and 15 km wide with a complex reef system 37 km by 30 km, with 75 km2 live coral coverage; and Quitasueño (locally known as Queena), which is the archipelago's largest coral structure, 60 km long and 10 to 20 km wide with a 40-km reef wall and 496 km2 of live coral coverage (see Annex 3 for maps).

Main cultural featuresIndicate if the area has high representative value with respect to the cultural heritage, due to the existence of environmentally sound traditional activities integrated with nature, which support the well-being of local populations such as indigenous communities.

The local raizal community identified the establishment of a multiple-use MPA as the preferred approach to address the problems caused by open access to resources, including diminishing resources, user conflicts and political and social marginalization. The archipelago has a long social and economic history distinct from that of mainland Colombia. Indigenous islanders (now known as raizales) descend from European (mainly English) settlers and Africans (slaves and runaway slaves from other islands) who came to the islands in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The islands’ remoteness meant that for centuries the community had a high degree of autonomy and self-determination, depending on and managing the marine resources until the latter half of the 20th century.

The raizal identity is inextricably linked with the marine environment. In a study carried out during MPA planning, nearly 99% of raizal respondents considered traditional fishing essential to their identity as islanders, and as many said that the archipelago’s marine territory was their patrimony and belonged to them by historical right. This sense of ownership and belief that their well-being as a people is linked with the health of the marine environment contributed significantly to the almost universal support for MPA conservation (97% in favor of marine reserves and 96% agreement that marine conservation would benefit them) (Howard et al. 2003).


5. IMPACTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING THE AREA (Article 19 (2)(h) of the Protocol)

IMPACTS AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE SITE

Exploitation of natural resourcesAssess if the current rates of exploitation of natural resources within the area (sand, water and mineral exploitation, wood gathering, fishing, grazing...) are deemed unsustainable in quality or quantity, and try to quantify these threats, e.g. the percentage of the area under threat, or any known increase in extraction rates.

Fisheries are known to be over-exploited. Research has been carried out on queen conch and some species of reef fish as well as on sea and shore birds, which are sometimes exploited for their eggs. Limited studies are currently being done but more research is needed to improve the quality and availability of scientific information and data to better inform MPA management. In 2009, especially significant was the study that was done on queen conch and information gathered from monitoring of fisheries by the Secretary of Fisheries, but carrying out more research is an urgent need.

Threats to habitats and speciesMention any serious threats to terrestrial, marine or coastal habitats (e.g. fragmentation,desiccation, disturbance, pollution) or to species (e.g. disturbance, poaching, fishing andhunting, introduced alien species...) within the area.

Major threats from use and practice within the MPA derive from over-exploitation of marine resources, not only from artisanal and industrial fishing, but also from uncontrolled subsistence gathering. These activities are negatively affecting Seaflower’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Unsustainable tourism practices such as poor diving techniques, groundings from watercraft, and overuse of popular sites, also impact biodiversity and ecosystem condition.

In addition to the local drivers, marine ecosystems have been increasingly affected in recent years by global drivers of biodiversity loss including introduced species (e.g., lion fish) and climate change. National policies and economic drivers also cause impacts. Over-exploitation of resources results from poorly regulated international and national high-intensity, commercial fisheries that provide little local benefit, adding to the archipelago’s already weak economic situation and lack of food.

____________________________________________________________________________

Demand by an increased population and infrastructuresAssess whether the current human presence or an expected increase in visitation (tourism, passage of vehicles and boats) and any human immigration into the area, or plans to build infrastructures, are considered a threat.

A major local driver of the anthropogenic threats to marine conservation is population pressure on resources and ecosystems. San Andres has the highest population density of any oceanic island in the Americas and one of the highest in the world, with recent research revealing that the basic needs of over 40% of the population are unmet. The steady influx of migrants from the Colombian mainland has led to extreme competition for scarce resources, particularly in San Andres. Poverty, un- and under-employment, and growing food insecurity have serious repercussions on the coastal and marine environment. The annual addition of an average 350,000 “sun, sand, and sea” tourists adds to these pressures.

Furthermore, a high level of resentment is felt by native islanders (raizales) because of the take-over of their traditional sea area and the depletion of marine and coastal resources by poor migrants from the mainland of Colombia, continental exporters, and the tourist industry, which is run by non-natives. The raizal people feel additionally marginalized because their native language, (English), religion (Protestantism), and customs are rarely adopted or respected by newcomers. Exploitation of coastal and marine resources by non-raizales adds another layer of threat through the loss of cultural links, traditional knowledge, and indigenous management practices.

Historic and current conflictsMake a brief statement of any historic or current conflicts between users or user groups:

The main activities are artisanal, subsistence, and industrial fishing, and marine tourism and recreation. Major impacts derive from over-exploitation of marine resources, not only from artisanal and industrial fishing, but also from uncontrolled subsistence gathering. This leads to occasional conflicts between artisanal fishers, subsistence gatherers, and recreational users when competing for the same resources, especially in the crowded San Andres coastal waters (Southern Section).

Issues also result from the international and national high-intensity, commercial fisheries. The lack of local benefit, regulation, and over-exploitation lead to conflicts between commercial and artisanal fishers. Issues are the increasing difficulty of access to collective fishing grounds by artisanal fishers, failure to respect or acknowledge traditional fishing rights and sea tenure by industrial fishers and authorities, over-fishing including exploitation of endangered species and juveniles, and neglecting to enforce regulations on legal and illegal industrial vessels.

Failure and weakness of marine authorities -- including conflicts between national

institutions and MPA users, underpinned by the local community’s reluctance to grant national authorities legitimacy over what raizales regard as their traditional territory -- exacerbate the situation. There are conflicts with authorities related to militarization of archipelago waters and weak enforcement.

In regard to the former, smuggling through the region, mainly of drugs but also of weapons and humans, has increased the military presence. Although major abuses of power do not occur, the resulting atmosphere intimidates and alienates artisanal fishers and can be detrimental to the expansion of marine and dive tourism. Language and cultural differences between raizal fishers and continental military personnel exacerbate these conflicts. In regard to enforcement, there are issues on both sides. Conflicts between resource users and authorities emerge from the users’ failure to respect MPA zoning and general regulations that prohibit extraction of sand, capture of endangered and threatened species, and use of certain fishing gears. Users can also fail to comply with size limits, closed seasons, and quotas for key commercial species. On the other hand, a main complaint of MPA users is the failure of authorities to consistently and impartially enforce zoning and regulations.


IMPACTS AND ACTIVITIES AROUND THE SITE

PollutionName any point and non-point sources of external pollution in the nearby areas, includingsolid waste, and especially those affecting water up-current.

Although water quality is improving from better managed waste disposal on land, there is still non-point source pollution in coastal waters from uncontrolled dumping of solid waste, discharge of liquid waste, and runoff of contaminated storm water directly into the sea and mangroves or as carried by gullies.

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FishingName any type of fisheries that is not regulated or the regulations that are not efficientlyenforced, in the nearby areas, including finfish, lobster, shrimp and sea turtle.

The main fisheries include reef fish, finfish, spiny lobster, and conch. All are regulated using a variety of methods such as quotas, closed seasons, size limits, and closed areas but enforcement is weak. Catching of sea turtles, shark, and other highly threatened or endangered species is prohibited but again enforcement and compliance must be strengthened. ___________________________________________________________________________

Other external threats, natural and/or anthropogenicBriefly describe any other external threats to the ecological, biological, aesthetic orcultural value of the area, such as regulated exploitation of natural resources, seriousthreats on habitats or species, increase of human presence, significant impacts onlandscapes and cultural values, pollution problems, any sectoral development plans andproposed projects that are likely to influence the area in question, etc.

Land-based human activities also continue to threaten Seaflower’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Land-based pollution and unsustainable tourism practices such as poor diving techniques, groundings from watercraft, and overuse of selected sites, also impact biodiversity and ecosystem condition. Another factor is sedimentation from erosion and deforestation, especially in Old Providence where cattle raising on the steep hillsides is having a detrimental effect on costal and marine ecosystems.

As explained in the prior section, a major local driver of these threats is population pressure

on resources and ecosystems. San Andres has the highest population density of any oceanic island in the Americas, with recent research revealing that the basic needs of over 40% of the population are unmet. Poverty and growing food insecurity have serious repercussions on the coastal and marine environment.

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Sustainable development measureComment whether the area is covered by an integrated coastal management plan, orbordering upon a zone under such a plan. Are there other opportunities for sustainabledevelopment provided for in the neighbouring areas?

An integrated coastal management plan has not yet been developed for the archipelago, but discussion is underway with CORALINA and MPA management involved. The idea is that such a plan would be developed in collaboration with stakeholders and all relevant authorities, alongside the territorial land-use and ordering plans and the MPA Integrated Management Plan (IMP), but progress is slow.____________________________________________________________________________________________


6. EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AND TRENDS*The foreseeable development and trends of the site do not appear in the list of common criteria for the choice of protected marine and coastal areas that could be included in the SPAW List, as established in the Protocol and "the Guidelines and Criteria for the Evaluation of Protected Areas to be listed under SPAW". Moreover, this is not always easy to assess and it is necessary to have knowledge about the site, which is not always available to all managers of protected areas; thus, it is not obligatory to fill in the boxes in this section 6.

However, the assessment of this foreseeable evolution and trends constitutes a dynamic supplement to the static knowledge of the site, as it appears in Sections 3, 4 and 5 above. Moreover, it is of significant importance for the definition of the objectives and the management plan of the site.

It thus appears desirable to bringing out the main outlines at least in respect to the following points:

EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AND TRENDS OF THREATS TO AND PRESSURES UPON THE AREADeal briefly in succession with:- The demographic development in and around the site- The development of economic activities (other than tourism and recreation) within the

area- The development of local demand on tourism and recreation- The development of tourism pressure on the area

In keeping with the above guidelines, the information provided in this section is speculative and is being discussed within the context of what could be expected to happen without proper MPA management. In this regard, all of the threats explained in earlier sections would be expected to continue and worsen without adequate links between policy and practice and the implementation of integrated terrestrial and marine management by all authorities, both national and regional/local.

Enforcement of legislation pertaining to immigration from the mainland of Colombia (control of in-migration by the Office of Circulation and Residence Control-OCCRE) is not under the jurisdiction of MPA management and will require substantial funding, training, and political will locally and nationally, which has to date not been forthcoming. This would mean that pressures from the already extreme population density would increase. Also likely to increase are commercial fishing and the low-quality mass tourism, which will worsen as the condition of ecosystems declines. Given the small size of the islands and its limited resource base and narrow economy, new economic activities are not foreseen unless developed as part of specific programs designed to create alternative livelihoods and reduce the pressure on coastal and marine ecosystems from the present economy.

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS IN THE AREAMake a brief statement of potential use conflicts between the users or group of users of the site.

The conflicts discussed in prior sections would be expected to continue and increase if conservation is not effective and accompanied by economic alternatives, equitable sharing of benefits, population control, and just enforcement. The islands are beset with social problems related to poverty and the growing lack of availability of the natural resources needed to sustain life such as food (the main source of protein has traditionally been fish and seafood) and fresh water. The level of actual physical violence resulting from these conflicts would be expected to increase. The new GEF project includes training and activities of conflict resolution for MPA staff and resource users but the effectiveness of such a program cannot be foreseen.

*By expected development and trends are meant the development, which is thought most likely to occur in the absence of any deliberate intervention to protect and manage the site.


EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AND TRENDS OF THE NATURAL LANDENVIRONMENT AND LANDSCAPES OF THE AREA: as expected arising from theevolution of the pressures.

N/A

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EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AND TRENDS OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENTAND SEASCAPES OF THE AREA: as expected arising from the evolution of the pressures.

Again, without effective, environmentally just implementation of the MPA, coastal and marine ecosystems would be expected to degrade along with their productivity and ability to provide the range of ecosystem services essential to maintain life on such small islands including combating climate change. At the systems level, the Seaflower MPA is in itself a system of 3 MPAs that collectively sustain larger marine ecosystem functions and that incorporates 7 distinct sites, all of which represent a range of bio-geographic variation in the marine eco-region. It was recognized as a regional Caribbean MPA network in the recent IUCN publication on global MPA systems (2009) and, as such, if properly implemented will provide substantial regional benefits to conservation.

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7. LEGAL FRAMEWORK (Articles 3, 4, 5 et 6 of the Protocol and Para. C of the Guidelines)

LEGAL STATUS

Historical background of the protection of the site ____________________________________________________________________________

Legal texts currently ruling the protection on the siteEnter the national conservation category, the dates and the present enforcement status ofthe legal instrument declaring the protection of the area. Consider both the land and themarine areas of the site. Include the full text(s) as an annex.

The MPA was declared in 2005 by the Minister of Environment, Housing, and Territorial Development (Resolution 107/05) (see Annex 1). The same year, three management sections and multiple-use zones (five zone types) were designated by CORALINA in Accords 021/05 and 025/05, respectively. Artisanal fishing zones were established by the San Andres Department fishing authority (Junta Departamental de Pesca) in Accord 004/05. Zoning agreements were signed with stakeholders prior to legal designation.

MPA declaration:- Minister of Environment, Housing, and Territorial Development Resolution 107/2005 –

declared the Seaflower MPA - CORALINA Accord 021/2005 – defined the MPA Northern, Central, and Southern

administrative sections

Other relevant national laws include : - Congressional Law 99/1993 – defined the national environmental framework,

establishing CORALINA and declaring the San Andres Archipelago a Biosphere Reserve- Congressional Law 165/1994 – defined the National Biodiversity Policy- Congressional Law 136/1994 - declared mangroves protected areas throughout the nation- Minister of Environment Resolution 1426/1996 – declared the archipelago’s coral reefs

special management areas

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ObjectivesName in order of importance the objectives of the area as stated in its legal declaration

The mission of the Seaflower MPA is to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of coastal and marine resources in the archipelago, while enhancing equitable benefits for the local community. This is achieved through the 5 linked objectives, which were agreed on by the community and codified in Accord 021 (Article 2):

Objective 1: Preservation, recovery, and long-term maintenance of species, biodiversity, ecosystems, and other natural values including special habitats. Objective 2: Promotion of sound management practices to ensure long-term sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.Objective 3: Equitable distribution of economic and social benefits to enhance local development.Objective 4: Protection of rights pertaining to historical use.Objective 5: Education to promote stewardship and community involvement in management.

Indicate whether the national protection regime arises from international treaties enforced or from implementation measures of treaties (Art. 5 of the Protocol).

Relevant international conventions and policies implemented through the Seaflower MPA include:

- Millennium Development Goals, especially numbers 1 (eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and 7 (ensure environmental sustainability)

- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Jakarta Mandate - ILO Convention 169 on the rights of indigenous peoples (national law 21/91)- Seville Strategy & Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves- Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider

Caribbean Region (national law 56/86) and Protocols (SPAW 1990, LBS 1999)


INTERNATIONAL STATUS

International categoryMention if an area, or part of it, has been designated and on what date, with an international conservation category (e.g. Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar site, World Heritage Site, etc.)

- Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO 2000, national law 99/93- Important Bird Area, Birdlife International 2004- World Heritage Site, tentative list 2008, nomination in process

PREVIOUS LEGAL BACKGROUND AND LAND TENURE ISSUESBriefly mention if the area or part of it is subject to any legal claim, or to any file open inthat connection within the framework of an international body. Describe the land tenure regimes within the area, and append a map if existing.

N/A The marine territory of the San Andres Archipelago is under the jurisdiction of the Colombian State, with the native community (known as raizales) having tenure rights under the Constitution (Art. 310) and subsequent regulations.

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LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR MANAGEMENT (Article 5 of the Protocol)

Basic regulationsMention the provisions, which apply to the area concerning the implementation of Article 5 of the Protocol.

The basic regulations that apply to all zones are listed below. Note that each type of zone also has specific regulations as appropriate for the zone type such as no-entry, no-take, or artisanal fishing.

− All general regulations in force in the marine area of the San Andres Archipelago are also in force in the MPA.

Throughout the MPA, it is prohibited to:

− Take, move, possess, sell, trade, damage, disturb or otherwise alter corals, mangroves, seagrasses, sand, sand dunes, or their parts and products, without authorization. − Anchor on corals.− Anchor within 300 meters of a mooring buoy.− Operate or anchor a vessel in a manner that causes or is likely to cause damage to corals, mangroves, seagrasses, the seabed, or any other part of the MPA. − Operate a vessel in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger the life, health, or property of authorities or other users of the MPA, including volunteer inspectors and others supporting enforcement. − Dump or discharge any substance from land, sea, or air without authorization.− Dredge, drill, deposit, erect, install, attach, or detach structures, or otherwise alter the seabed without authorization, including aquaculture or research equipment like cages and transects. − Take, damage, move, possess, sell, or trade historical or cultural resources without authorization. − Introduce or release any exotic species of plant or animal or restock native species without authorization.− Damage, remove, or otherwise alter buoys including mooring buoys, markers, or scientific equipment without authorization. − Take, damage, disturb, or possess any species under international, national, or local protection; including marine species defined as threatened or endangered. − Use or possess explosives. − Fish with noxious substances.− Take, possess, sell, or trade fish or other marine life for private aquariums or the commercial aquarium trade. − Harvest eggs or disturb any animal or nest found in beaches, mangroves, cays, coastal areas, and marine waters during periods of breeding, incubation, estivation, migration, or spawning; including but not limited to sea turtles, boobies, other sea and shore birds, and groupers. − Do any activity requiring authorization without proper authorization from the designated authority (ies).

Legal competenciesMention in which way do the legal provisions clearly establish the institutionalcompetencies and responsibilities for the administration and conservation of the area, andif being the case, their co-ordination means, including those between land and seaauthorities.

Management of the Seaflower MPA is under the jurisdiction of the Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the Archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence, and Santa Catalina -- CORALINA. In addition to MPA management authority, CORALINA also has jurisdiction on land.

Resolution 107/2005 from the Ministry of Environment, Housing, and Territorial Development, which declared the Seaflower MPA, stated that the National Natural Park System is responsible for administration and environmental management of areas already declared national parks (Old Providence McBean Lagoon) and that the remainder of the MPA is administered and managed by CORALINA. It also clarifies that this declaration does not affect responsibilities of other institutions at national, departmental, and municipal levels. Institutions with jurisdiction over fisheries include the Departmental Fishing Board, of which CORALINA is a member; INCODER; and the Secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries (also members).

Other legal provisionsDescribe any other relevant legal provisions, such as those requiring a management plan,the establishment of a local participation body, binding measures for other institutions oreconomic sectors present in the area, allocation of financial resources and tools, or anyother significant measures concerning the protection and management of the area or itssurrounding zones.

- Draft Seaflower MPA Integrated Management Plan (IMP), Parts I (background), II (management), and III (operations) completed and under participatory review by stakeholders and technical experts

- Key Species Conservation Action Plans (shore and sea birds, lobster, sharks, and conch)- Seaflower MPA management structure in place, including Stakeholder and Institutional

Advisory Committees with formal agreements 2005

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8. MANAGEMENTArticle 6 of the Protocol state that each Party shall adopt and implement planning, management and enforcement measures for Protected areas. Through paragraph D of the Guidelines, the Parties also agree that the sites included in the SPAW List must have a management framework and a research and monitoring programme that allows for assessing the effectiveness of the management scheme.

INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL

Authority/Authorities responsible for the area (management body) Guidelines Paragraph D.I.(b)

The management authority is the Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the Archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence and Santa Catalina-CORALINA, which was created by Congressional Law 99/93 (national environment framework law) and represents the National Environment System (SINA) in the San Andres Archipelago.

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Other participants in the management bodySuch as other relevant stakeholders and local communities, as stated in section D.III. ofthe Guidelines.

Decisions are guided by and consulted with the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) and Inter-Institutional Committee (IIC).

Participants in other committees or bodiesSuch as a scientific committee, advisory board or a body of representatives from the localstakeholders, the public, the professional and non-governmental sectors.

There is a special advisory committee that is not involved in general management but meets annually and can be consulted at any time for scientific and technical advice – the International Advisory Board (IAB). Advice can be solicited from the IAB by CORALINA, MPA staff, or at the request of the SAC or IIC.

MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

Management framework (D.I in the Guidelines)State if there is a management framework or management plan and include the documentsas an annex.

- Draft Seaflower MPA Integrated Management Plan (IMP), Parts I (background), II (management), and III (operations) completed and under participatory review by stakeholders and technical experts

Formulation and approval of the management frameworkMention how the management framework was formulated, e.g. by an expert team and /orunder consultation and/or participation with other institutions or stakeholders. State the


legal status of the management framework, whether it is officialized, and how, and if it isbinding for other institutions and sectors involved in the area.

The national-level MPA declaration resulted from a 5-year, highly participatory process led by CORALINA. The Seaflower MPA and Integrated Management Plan (IMP) were developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, especially those who live off the marine resources such as artisanal fishers and watersports operators, along with other institutions with jurisdiction in the marine area. Not only were stakeholders consulted and involved every step of the way, but they had final decision-making power; meaning that they reached consensus and signed formal agreements on MPA objectives, zoning, and management structure.

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Zoning and objectives. (Para. D(I)(c) of the Guidelines.)Briefly state if the management framework provides for different zones to allocatedifferent management objectives of the area (e.g. core and scientific zones in both landand sea, fishing zones, visitation, anchoring, gathering, restoration zones, etc.) and in thiscase the surface area in ha of these zones. Include a map as an annex.

In keeping with objectives, the MPA is zoned for in-situ conservation and sustainable use (see Annex 3). Zoning supports diverse aims like protecting ecologically critical sites and entire ecosystems, controlling access, reducing conflicts between user groups, maintaining and recovering fisheries, promoting tourism and education, and improving research and monitoring. There are five zone types:

1) No-entry, with use restricted to research and monitoring (11,600 ha); 2) No-take, allowing a variety of non-extractive uses (221,400 ha); 3) Artisanal fishing, for use by traditional fishers only (201,500 ha); 4) Special use, for specific uses like shipping lanes, large-vessel anchorage, ports, and

marinas or uses with the potential to generate conflict like heavily used water sports areas (6,800 ha); and

5) General use, where minimal restrictions apply to preserve MPA integrity and promote marine conservation.

These zones were designed by the community and authorities using an ecosystem-based approach to assure the protection of ecologically important areas, and hence of biodiversity habitat and ecosystem services. Zoning criteria included representativeness, connectivity, key habitats, ease of demarcation, likelihood to foster compliance, and the potential to effectively meet MPA objectives.

Specific zoning objectives were designed with input from experts and local stakeholders to guide the zoning process and ensure that the zoning plan, taken in its entirety, satisfied the criteria and achieved MPA objectives within each of the MPA’s three sections; i.e., the principle of multiple–use zoning is to implement different types of zones serving different purposes that, when taken as a package, allow the achievement of seemingly contradictory

objectives at a systems level. The zoning objectives followed the integrated, systems-based approach of the larger MPA objectives and were: i) Species protection, ii) Habitat protection, iii) Recovery of degraded and overexploited populations, iv) Minimizing adverse socioeconomic impacts, v) Sustainable consumptive and non-consumptive uses of the resources, vi) Conflict resolution, vii) Equity & tenure, and viii) Ease of demarcation for management, compliance, and enforcement. Zoning alternatives for each MPA Section were evaluated by the MPA project team, technical experts, and primary stakeholders to ensure that, as a package, each alternative met objectives and satisfied the criteria.

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Information and knowledge available. (Para D(I)(d) of the Guidelines)

a) Briefly describe the extent of knowledge of the area, considering at least specificmaps, main ecological processes, habitat distribution, inventories of species and socio-economic factors, such as artisan fishing. Assess the state of knowledge in each field(low, medium, satisfactory).

The state of knowledge in each of the above-mentioned areas varies considerably from site to site given the size of the MPA. The MPA has a great deal of information available about some areas, such as the coastal waters of the inhabited islands, but little to none about areas that are more remote, generally because of inadequate funding and lack of infrastructure such as vessels. Sufficient socioeconomic information is also lacking and stronger monitoring protocols need to be developed. In regard to biophysical monitoring, there are many diverse programs and protocols in effect, which could be restructured and streamlined to improve efficiency of analysis and information management.

To generalize for the MPA as a whole, knowledge available:- Specific maps - satisfactory- Main ecological processes - low- Habitat distribution - satisfactory- Inventories of species – low to medium- Socioeconomic factors, such as artisanal fishing - low

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b) Quote the main publications, information on traditional, scientific, technical and management knowledge that have been used to set up planning, management and enforcement measures.

Note that a complete literature review with annotated bibliography is presently underway (see Annex 6 for available publications). Some of the main publications and used are:

Acosta, A., Manrique, N., Varela, M. and Ruiz, M. 2008. Zoanthid connectivity at different spatial scales. Poster presented at 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Fort Lauderdale.

Díaz, J.M., Barrios, L.M., Cendales, M.H., Garzón-Ferreira, J., Geister, J., López-Victoria, M., Ospina, G.H., Parra-Velandia, F., Pinzón, J., Vargas-Ángel, B., Zapata, F.A., and Zea, S. 2000. Áreas marinas de Colombia. INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Ser. Publicaciones Especiales, 5: 175p.

Geister, J. and Diaz, J.M. 1997. A field guide to the oceanic barrier reefs and atolls of the Southwestern Caribbean (Archipelago of San Andres and Providencia, Colombia). Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium 1: 235-262.

Heinemann, D., Appeldoorn, R., Dahlgren, C., Herron, P., Prada, M. and Sanchez, J. 2004. Expedition Report – 2003 joint Ocean Conservancy – CORALINA rapid ecological assessment of the Northern Banks of the Archipelago of San Andres and Old Providence, 29pp.

Howard, M., Connolly, E., Taylor, E. and Mow, J. 2003. Community-based development of multiple-use marine protected areas: promoting stewardship and sharing responsibility for conservation in the San Andres Archipelago, Colombia. Gulf and Caribbean Research. Vol. 14, 2: 155-162.

Howard, M. Taylor, E., Baine, M., and Nicholson, D. 2009. Integrating poverty alleviation with marine conservation in the Seaflower Marine Protected Area, San Andres Archipelago, Colombia. Proceedings of the International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC) 2009.

Márquez, E., Landínez-García, R.M. and Ospina-Guerrero, S.P. (Under revision). Genetic structure of populations of Queen Conch Strombus gigas from the Southwest Caribbean based on microsatellite analysis. Marine Biology.

Pizarro V. 2006. The importance of connectivity between coral populations for the management of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve. Newcastle University, Dissertation, 172 pp.

Sanchez, J.A., Diaz, J.M. and Zea, S. 1998. Octocoral and black coral distribution patterns on the barrier reef complex of Providencia island, Southwestern Caribbean. Caribbean Journal of Science 34: 250-264.

Weinig, C. 2009. State of the World Heritage Marine Network. Report produced as part of a WH internship, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 40pp.

Zea, S. 2001. Patterns of sponge (Porifera, Demospongiae) distribution in remote oceanic reef complexes of the Southwestern Caribbean. Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc 15(97): 579-592.


Contents of the management frameworkState the degree of detail in the framework by entering YES or NO in the following list ofpotential contents: __________________________________________________________

Detailed management objectivesZoningRegulations for each zoneGoverning body(s)

Management programmes as:

AdministrationProtectionNatural resources management

Tourism and visitation Education and training Research and monitoring

Services and concessions Fund raising activities Periodic revisions of the MF

Existin ginMYES NOYES NOYES NOYES NO

YES NOYES NOYES NO

YES NO

YES NOYES NO

YES NO

YES NOYES NO

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURESBy Article 6 of the Protocol the parties agree to adopt and implement planning, management and enforcement measures for protected areas to ensure the effective implementation of the measures set out in Article 5.

Boundaries and signingBriefly state if the boundaries of the area and its zones are adequately marked in the field,both on land, in the sea, and at the principal points of access.

External MPA boundaries have been legally declared at the national level and are known by authorities and the majority of stakeholders. Maps, posters, and other informational materials have been produced and distributed to advertise the boundaries. However, national and international navigation charts have not yet incorporated the boundaries, so demarcation can be improved. Some no-entry, no-take, and special-use zones have been demarcated with buoys in the Southern and Central Sections but demarcation is still lacking at many sites. Maps and educational materials such as posters and flyers have also been produced illustrating zoning. ____________________________________________________________________________

Institutional collaborationName the different national and local institutions or organizations with legal

responsibilities or involved in the protection and surveillance of land and sea zones, andany measures or mechanism through which their co-ordination is pursued.

The MPA has a solid legal framework in place. Jurisdictions and enforcement roles overlap somewhat, especially in regard to fisheries (as is the case in many locations), but so far institutions working locally on the ground function reasonably smoothly together. Compliance and enforcement will be improved in the future through formal agreements and collaborative programs with community groups and authorities that apply an innovative, cooperative enforcement approach (including an Outreach Ranger program being set up as part of the new GEF project). A program of Volunteer Inspectors is operational and will be strengthened.

Meetings are underway with the Navy, Coast Guard, and US marine enforcement agencies of NOAA and the Coast Guard to strengthen joint operations, including provisioning Colombian authorities with technology and vessels. Inter-institutional enforcement agreements are being drafted, and collaborative programs are being designed to integrate stakeholders (especially artisanal fishers and watersports operators) into enforcement. Stakeholders such as fishers and watersports operators are very eager to be involved in collaborative enforcement activities, if funding and training were to be available. The outreach rangers will also be trained and added to MPA staff.

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SurveillanceConsider the adequacy of the existing protection means (human and material), and yourpresent ability to survey land and sea uses and accesses.

Human and material resources need to be substantially strengthened to improve surveillance. As mentioned in earlier sections, this is a main focus of the new GEF MPA project. ____________________________________________________________________________

EnforcementBriefly consider the adequacy of existing penalties and powers for effective enforcementof regulations, whether the existing sanctions can be considered sufficient to dissuadeinfractions, and in the field staff is empowered to impose sanctions.

See answers above in regard to capacity.

Legal procedures are well-defined with graduated penalty structures and an education-based approach. Lawyers and managers are very accessible to the public. However, legal procedures are too complicated and bureaucratic, needing to be simplified and streamlined to become more efficient and effective.

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IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM. (Paragraph D.IV of the guidelines).

Public awareness and education programmeMention if the management framework has public awareness and education programmesfor users, decision-makers and the public (Guidelines paragraph D.IV(b)) and in this casebriefly describe the main thrust of the programmes.

CORALINA has consistently invested significant budget and efforts in education about marine ecosystems and conservation, with the MPA being a priority. However, the lack of secure budget and staff (the MPA is not yet financially self-sustainable) can reduce effectiveness of the education process when education and outreach become project-driven. Programs need to be integrated into a comprehensive plan that progresses from theory to action to properly address the needs, levels, and responsibilities of diverse stakeholder groups. See prior answers for more detail on the many education, outreach, and training programs.

Because outreach and community-wide education are among CORALINA’s most developed programs, environmental awareness has steadily improved. However, awareness is not enough. Compliance is not as high as it should be, there are many violations in spite of the growing awareness, and the community needs to become more pro-active in regard to

conservation, instead of solely relying on CORALINA. Shared responsibility is challenging considering the pressure of daily needs exacerbated by the declining quality of life and growing poverty, but is still a major goal of MPA education. ___________________________________________________________________________

Monitoring programmeMention if the management framework has a research and monitoring programme thatallows for the effectiveness of the management scheme to achieve the conservation goals.(Guidelines paragraph D.IV(c)).a) Is there a monitoring programme?

YES NO

b) If NO, are there plans to start one, and when?

c) If YES, briefly describe the main thrust of the monitoring programme with regard to the conservation goals. Assess as low, medium, satisfactory, its adequacy and present level of development :

Extensive ecological monitoring (ecosystem condition, key species) is carried out and some socioeconomic monitoring has been done. Presently the MPA participates in CARICOMP, COSALC (regional beach monitoring), and the national SIMAC program. SocMon training has been received, with monitoring carried out once. Community-based monitoring programs include REEF, RECON, and ReefCheck.

As part of the new GEF MPA project, monitoring protocols/programs will be streamlined and redesigned in 2010. The idea is to ensure that MPA management measures and effectiveness are informed by relevant, up-to-date monitoring and analyses; performed by trained personnel; and developed within an adaptive, question-based context. Activities will include monitoring ecological, socioeconomic, and management effectiveness. Methods to monitor the success of education and outreach will also be developed. Integrating indigenous and technical knowledge is central to the Seaflower approach, so participatory monitoring programs are in place and will also be strengthened.


d) If YES, who is/are carrying out the monitoring programme ?

Technical monitoring –- both ecological and socioeconomic -- is being carried out by CORALINA staff. Data gathered in community-based monitoring programs supplements the available information.

d) If YES, briefly describe how the monitoring programme will be used in reviewing themanagement framework.

Monitoring protocols/programs will be reviewed and redesigned in 2010 to strengthen and improve the support monitoring provides for management and the evaluation of management effectiveness itself.

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EVALUATION

Briefly describe the indicators set up to measure the management success (Guidelinesparagraph. D.II). (Indicators may, for instance, supply information about species status,condition of the ecosystem, land-use changes, extraction of natural resources; sand, water,game, fish, visiting, adherence to the provisions of the management plan, etc.)

Biophysical, socioeconomic and governance effectiveness indicators have been identified in a participatory process, however only few are being measured. See prior comments about the need to evaluate and streamline the many existing monitoring programs and protocols, as well as shifting to a question-based approach to best provide information needed to adequately support adaptive management. This also applies to evaluation. Information management and analysis also need to be improved, with results disseminated to stakeholders. Although consulted presently in an informal way, stakeholders will be formally incorporated into the new evaluation process to improve the transparency, responsiveness, and accountability of MPA management.

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Management effectivenessAs stated in section D.V. of the Guidelines, assess as very low, low, moderate, satisfactoryvery satisfactory, and comment as needed on the following aspects:

a) Effectiveness of the conservation and management measures on biophysical featureswith regard to this objectives;

Little is known at the present time; however, based on evidence available the assessment would be low in some areas and moderate in others.

Results of research and monitoring since 2006 revealed that the condition of most resources has remained the same, while a few have improved or others have even declined, since the establishment of the MPA. For example, in regard to species, a spiny lobster stock analysis showed a fishery that is presently stable but at high risk of over-exploitation, and surveys of seabird colonies revealed reductions in numbers. As for ecosystems, monitoring showed that coral condition has remained generally the same, but the condition of some popular reef sites for divers and tourists has declined as have some seagrass beds. Exceptions are mangrove coverage that has grown and queen conch populations that show signs of recovery, both as the result of effective regulation, management, compliance and enforcement, and education.

Since 2005, MPA budget and staff have been insufficient and inconsistent. Nonetheless, CORALINA has made a significant effort to address management objectives through key activities. One of the ways this was achieved was through pilot projects; e.g., ecosystem recovery after Hurricane Beta, training in red algae culture, queen conch management, and action plans for remote cays. On-going efforts, often linked or shared with other CORALINA projects that support MPA management, have included monitoring, training, education, and community consultation as well as groundwork with other institutions to improve fisheries and enforcement.

Zones have been mapped and policies to reduce over-fishing, land-based sedimentation, coastal population, and adapt to climate change impacts have been developed. But the lack of financial resources has impacted CORALINA’s ability to achieve MPA objectives and reduce threats. To date the MPA has been unable to slow the decreasing quality of life and growth of poverty in the islands linked to increasing costs of living, unemployment, crime, and ineffective immigration controls. Therefore, a main thrust of the new GEF project is to achieve financial sustainability and eliminate dependence on grants and outside funding.

b) Quality of involvement by the public, local communities, economic sectors, scientific community:

The level and quality of involvement of the local stakeholders, national and departmental institutions (most notably, DIMAR, the Coast Guard, Ministry of Environment, Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Park, and Secretary of Fisheries and Agriculture), and the international scientific community has been high.

However, as mentioned above, because of challenges, especially those related to weak enforcement and growing poverty, stakeholder satisfaction has declined somewhat recently. But considering the extremely high rate of support at the time of the MPA declaration (over 90% of primary stakeholders were in favor) support remains higher than in many sites; still the community’s frustration is understandable. It is essential to address their concerns about enforcement, introduce sustainable and alternative livelihood

programs to improve their well-being and diversify the economy, strengthen their involvement in management and decision-making, build capacity, and achieve long-term MPA financial sustainability to improve effectiveness of MPA processes, outputs, and outcomes.

Conflicts between some users have been reduced, and communications between stakeholders who have been actively involved in the process from the beginning is much improved. However, the introduction of new users and the growing poverty and hunger contribute to new conflicts over resources. Considering CORALINA’s attention and commitment to these aspects, it is fair to say that much of the progress that has been made in MPA implementation is linked to consensus-building and the inclusion of the local culture and traditional practices, which has contributed to the quality of involvement and participation.

Progress has also been made in improving benefit to marginalized users such as artisanal fishers; e.g., improved access to traditional fishing grounds, zones for their exclusive use, training in improved methods, and involvement in management and decision-making contributing to empowerment. Such advances have contributed to the growth of stewardship and promoted continuing involvement and local MPA ownership.


9. AVAILABLE RESOURCES

HUMAN RESOURCES (Article 6.2(i) of the Protocol)

Available staffAssess the adequacy of the human resources available to the management body, in numberof employees and training level, both in central headquarters and in the field. Indicate ifthere is staff training programmes.

There is no permanent MPA staff at this time, with personnel dependent on short-term, grant-driven contracts. The Seaflower MPA was the major outcome of a 5-year GEF-World Bank project funded from 2000-05. Funding for MPA implementation has lacked consistency since the end of the project, so MPA staff has concentrated on management aspects of education, monitoring, and some ad hoc research. CORALINA personnel in projects related to the MPA have also supported priority management functions such as education, biophysical monitoring, mapping, and targeted research.

A team to carry out the new MPA GEF-funded project to strengthen implementation of the Integrated Management Plan (IMP) will lead to the creation of permanent staff by 2014, including substantial staff training. Many CORALINA staff and MPA team members have already received extensive training in MPA management through activities and programs of CaMPAM, UNEP, UNESCO, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, US government-NOAA, and other significant regional programs as well as through the generosity and technical support of many NGOs.

Permanent field staffAnswer YES or NO on the current existence of the following FIELD staff categories.YES, enter the number of staff either permanent or part-time in that category.

YES/NO NUMBERPermanent/Part-time

Field Administrator YES NO

Field Experts (scientific YES NO CORALINA staffmonitoring)Field Technicians YES NO CORALINA staff(maintenance, etc)

Wardens YES NO

Of which marine wardens YES NOGuides YES NOOthers YES NO CORALINA staff – lab, GIS,

educators, promoters, communications, administration, etc.

If

Additional supportBriefly describe if the area currently has the advantage of other external human resourcesin support of its objectives, either from other national or local institutions, volunteerprogrammes, non-governmental organisations, academic or international organisations.Mention if there are any significant changes in prospect for the near future.

In addition to the on-going support of the International Advisory Board (IAB), the MPA receives substantial technical support (voluntary or in partnership) from many international scientists and managers from around the world. National and local institutions such as DIMAR, the Ministry of Environment, Coast Guard, and Secretary of Fisheries support MPA management within areas related to their jurisdictions. Local volunteers, although, few in number at the present time, provide substantial support, as do the many community members who take part in meetings and consultations. All of these collaborations and others will continue and expand as the IMP becomes fully operational over the next few years. ____________________________________________________________________________


FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENTBy Article 6 of the Protocol the Parties agree to adopt measures or mechanisms to ensure the financing of the Specially protected areas (Art. 6.2(f)), and the development of an appropriate infrastructure (Art.6.2(i)). Paragraph D of the Guidelines call upon the Parties to provide the areas with adequate management means.

Present financial meansNote if the basic financing is ensured: a core funding for basic staff, protection andinformation measures. Who provides the core funding? Briefly assess the degree ofadequacy of the present financial means for the area, either low, moderate, satisfactory;e.g. the implementation of the management plan, including protection, information,education, training and research.

The MPA has no regular, secure sources of income at this time. Since the conclusion of the project to establish the MPA in 2005, there has been no annual budget specifically for MPA management and implementation and no money has been received from national or departmental government. MPA priorities such as monitoring and education have been carried out through projects primarily funded by the Environment Ministry’s Environmental Compensation Fund (Fondo de Compensación Ambiental). The amount spent on activities related to MPA management averaged US $158,000 yearly for 2006-08. The estimated annual operating budget needed to fully implement the IMP is US $750,000, which is expected to be self-financed by 2014.

Additionally, several short-term grants for MPA programs were received in the last few years. Mainly these were from the NOAA Coral Conservation Fund and the White Water to Blue Water Initiative. These allowed ad hoc research and management actions to be carried out.

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Expected or additional financial sourcesBriefly describe any alternative sources of funding in use or planned, and the perspectivesfor long-term funding from national or other sources.

As mentioned, CORALINA has just secured a new project with funds from the GEF and IDB, along with support from a number of technical partners. This project will begin in 2010. The 5-year work program has been carefully designed to ensure long-term management sustainability, freeing Seaflower from technical and financial constraints.

A key component of the new project is to achieve financial sustainability to provide the funds for all MPA mechanisms, programs, actions, and benefits to be realized over the long-term. This will be achieved by identifying the range of operational and capital needs, putting in place a package of diverse, feasible, flexible income-generating mechanisms, and training staff and stakeholders in financial management, control, and operations by 2014, at which time the MPA is expected to be 100% self-financed.

The general goal of the new project is to fully implement the MPA’s Integrated Management Plan (IMP). The project’s specific objectives are: 1) to implement effective adaptive management in collaboration with stakeholders and in accordance with the IMP; 2) to design and implement sustainable financial mechanisms for the long-term funding of MPA management; 3) to render key economic activities in the archipelago compatible with the objectives, guidelines, and regulations set out in the IMP and associated plans; and 4) to implement a management-oriented monitoring and analysis system that supports adaptive management and informed decision-making.

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Basic infrastructure and equipmentAnswer YES or NO to the following questions.

YES/NOOffice and/or laboratory in the field YES NO

Signs on the main accesses YES NOGuard post on the main accesses YES NO

Visitors information centre YES NO

Self guided trails with signs YES NOTerrestrial vehicles YES NOMarines vehicles YES NO

Radio and communications YES NO

Environment awareness materials YES NOCapacity to respond to emergencies YES NO

Comment on basic infrastructure and equipment:Although available as indicated through CORALINA, availability of infrastructure, equipment, and management can be limited by the breadth of CORALINA’s responsibilities. Little equipment is owned by or reserved only for the MPA. CORALINA has a dry lab and excellent GIS capability, which is available to the MPA. There are several launches. Diving equipment includes 5 sets, 19 tanks, and a compressor. There is an MPA office in a well-chosen location in San Andres. Poor internet service has tended to inhibit research and communication with other MPAs, off-island partners, etc., but the major national initiative to provide a fiber-optic cable to San Andres is expected to greatly enhance communications.


10. CONTACT ADDRESSES (name(s), position(s) and contact address(es) of theperson(s) in charge with the proposal and that complied the report)

Name: Elizabeth TaylorPosition: General Director, CORALINA Contact information: [email protected]

Name: Marion HowardPosition: Environmental adviser, CORALINA Contact information: [email protected]

Name: Martha Ines GarciaPosition: Senior marine biologist, CORALINA Contact information: [email protected]

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11. SIGNATURE (S) ON BEHALF OF THE STATE (S) PARTY/PARTIES MAKING THE PROPOSAL

12. DATE March 31, 2010

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Distr. LIMITED United Nations WG.29/4.Rev. Programme · UNITED NATIONS EP UNEP United Nations Environment Programme Distr. LIMITED UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.29/4.Rev. 1 3 July 2008 Original: