The CAFTA-DR Environmental Cooperation Program activities are geographically diverse and multi-dimensional.  They involve the efforts of persons from many backgrounds and social and economic sectors.  Program activities…

• Are categorized by their primary objective under four major Program Themes.  Click here for more on activities under specific themes.

• May be regional or may differ from country to country, and may change from time to time depending on needs and priorities.  Click here for more on regional and country-specific activities. 

• Are implemented by governments and their various designated agencies and national institutions, educational institutions, contractors and non-governmental organizations. Click here for more on who is involved.

• Take place across the CAFTA-DR landscape—in cities, towns, rural and protected areas and marine environments.

• Are often multi-faceted, involving government and civil society, including NGOs, the private sector and the general public in complementary ways as participants and beneficiaries 

• Consist of one or a combination of types of activities designed to promote cooperation in environmental protection:
  
  
  • Training and Capacity Building…to improve institutional, professional and scientific skills
    
    
  • Assessments, Studies and Analyses…to develop effective frameworks and procedures, model laws and regulations and recommendations on best practices
    
    
  • Seminars, Conferences and Other Exchanges…to facilitate information dissemination and joint action among government, business, academic and nongovernmental organizations
    
    
  • Demonstrations, Publications and Facilitation of Linkages…to introduce or develop voluntary mechanisms to encourage compliance with norms and adoption of best practices
    
    
  • Outreach and Educational Programs…to promote public participation in environmental decision-making and enforcement

Theme - Institutional Strengthening
Theme - Biodiversity and Conservation
Theme - Market-Based Conservation
Theme - Private Sector Environmental Performance

Each Environmental Cooperation Program activity is categorized under one of four main “themes” reflecting the ECA’s objectives and areas of emphasis and Program experience to date.  Most activities are composite, however, with the result that, although reported under one “theme”, an activity may also contribute to achieving results under other themes.

• Theme Institutional Strengthening seeks to ensure that environmental laws and policies provide for and encourage high levels of environmental protection, that enforcement is effective and that the public has opportunities and the means to actively participate in environmental decision-making and enforcement.  
  
  Theme A activities concentrate on   
  
  
  • Laws and Policies.  Developing norms, procedures and models for environmental impact assessment, waste management, chemical and hazardous substance management, urban air quality and environmental claims
    
    
  • Enforcement.  Training officials, such as prosecutors, investigators, customs inspectors and judges; assisting laboratories; coordinating officials responsible for enforcing laws related the sustainability of fisheries; developing performance indicator
    
    
  • Public Participation.  Creating easy access to reliable information, providing forums, processes and procedures for public involvement; educating the public on how to engage in environmental decision-making 

  Click here for more on Theme A - Institutional Strengthening.

• Theme Biodiversity and Conservation focuses on protecting wildlife and habitat by combating illegal trade in endangered species and by promoting sustainable management of forests, protected areas, and other important ecosystems
  
  Theme B activities focus on
  
  
  • CITES Implementation.  Training and other capacity-building activities for officials responsible for implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
    
    
  • Wildlife Protection.  Support for animal rescue facilities, training of shrimpers to reduce by-catch of endangered turtles, public education on the economic and ecological importance of protecting wildlife
    
    
  • Ecosystem Management.  Preventing illegal logging, improving management of wildlife and ecologically important ecosystems

Click here for more on Theme B - Biodiversity and Conservation.

• Theme Market-Based Conservation promotes projects which generate income and, at the same time, conserve the natural resource base for continued and future income and economic growth.  The Program works with communities, small businesses and government to develop sustainable ecotourism and agricultural, forest and fishery product production within protected areas, biological corridor buffer zones and other ecologically important ecosystems.
  
  Among Theme C activities:  Production and marketing support for farmers, such as training in sustainable agricultural methods for banana, coffee and cacao production; training in best practices for collection and processing specialty coffee; technical assistance to improve market access through certification and product visibility

Click here for more on Theme C - Market-Based Conservation.

• Theme Private Sector Environmental Performance promotes the adoption of clean production methods and environmental management systems to improve a company’s competitive advantage by reducing resource consumption and waste.  The Program works with financial institutions, enterprises and clean production centers to develop and facilitate voluntary mechanisms for cleaner production and to provide incentives and high-profile recognition for companies using improved processes and technologies.
  
  Examples of Theme D activities:  Multi-sector roundtables on best practices; work with representatives of the private sector and governments to develop regional policies; technical assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises; assessments in pig, poultry and dairy sectors

Click here for more on Theme D - Private Sector Environmental Performance.

 

For additional information on the Environmental Cooperation Program to promote government, business and citizen action to protect, improve and conserve the environment in the CAFTA-DR countries, go to…

• News, for current developments

• Calendar, for major scheduled activities

• Newsletters, for periodic updates on recent events
  
  
• Outreach/Publications, for materials and published information by theme