Contents
1. Introduction
The objective of the present Ecoregional Assessment (ERA) exercise was to identify a set of areas of biodiversity significance in the Greater Caribbean Basin which, if conserved, would ensure the persistence of that region's biodiversity. Therefore, an ERA process was initiated by using TNC's step-wise, conservation planning framework. This framework was applied to ecoregions - large areas of the earth's surface that have similarities in faunal and floral composition due to large-scale, predictable patterns of solar radiation and moisture.
Although it was planned to adopt the ERA planning methods developed and tested primarily in the continental US, The Nature Conservancy modified this approach to best fit the needs of the Caribbean and address the multiple challenges involved with conservation planning in this region. This approach was firmly grounded in the field of conservation biology and served to meet four general conservation planning objectives that must be satisfied in order to maintain biodiversity and ecological integrity on the long run. These objectives were:
- To ensure representation of all native ecosystem types and sequential stages across their natural range of variation;
- To maintain viable populations of all native species in natural patterns of abundance and distribution;
- To maintain ecological and evolutionary processes, such as disturbance regimes, hydrological processes, nutrient cycles, and biotic interactions;
- To design and manage the system to be resilient to short-term and long-term environmental change and to maintain evolutionary processes.
2. Methodological Planning Sequence
The applied ecoregional conservation planning sequence, which culminated in the identification of a set of areas of biodiversity significance and associated strategies for conservation those areas, included the following nine steps:
- Creation of an enabling environment by building effective partnerships;
- Identification and mapping of biodiversity conservation targets for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine realms;
- Collection and management of existing data and identification of information gaps;
- Establishment of conservation goals;
- Assessment of existing conservation areas for their biodiversity values;
- Analysis of conservation target viability and human induced impacts;
- Assembly, design and mapping of a portfolio of conservation areas;
- Identification of priority conservation areas for the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine realms;
- Promotion of accessibility and usage of tools and data;
The Greater Caribbean ERA database is an open architecture design, enabling new data and information about targets, their viability, threats and goals to be easily added to improve analysis. Therefore, the Greater Caribbean Ecoregional Assessment should be considered a 'living plan', as it will continually be updated as new information becomes available. In addition, the completed database and tools are freely available via the internet and can be used by a series of stakeholders for conflict resolution and collaborative conservation work depending on user needs and values. In this way, the assessment supports the development of a state-of-the-art conservation blueprint, enabling sound, pragmatic conservation decisions, and the cultivation of strategic partnerships with local organizations - a key to achieving lasting conservation results. It is hoped that this ecoregional database and tools will collectively illuminate a common vision for the Greater Caribbean Basin to protect the region's irreplaceable terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity and provide tools and information necessary to achieve this ambitious vision.
Results of the MARXAN terrestrial assessment for the Greater Caribbean Basin
Results of the MARXAN freshwater assessment for the Greater Caribbean Basin
Results of the MARXAN marine assessment for the Greater Caribbean Basin
3. Interactive Maps
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