Saint Lucia s Resilient Ecosystems Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan 2020 2028.

Saint Lucia s Resilient Ecosystems Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 10 years between 2020 and 2028. The goal of the Resilient Ecosystems Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan is to build resilience of natural capital to the impacts of climate change while harnessing biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services to reduce vulnerability.
The national policy, institutional, legislative framework in the fields of biodiversity conservation, invasive alien species, genetically modified organisms, forests, land use, protected area and access and benefit-sharing will be strengthened to improve natural resources management for securing ecological resilience and ecosystem based adaptation to climate change. Environmental research, information generation, knowledge management and monitoring systems will be developed for adaptation to climate change. High quality biodiversity and ecosystem data will be collected and data storage systems will be developed to monitor changes in the conservation status of individual species, enhance protection measures and support ecosystem based adaptation and other climate adaptation efforts. Public awareness will be raised on the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems, their biodiversity and services for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Sustainable management of critical ecosystems, including the conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of resources, will be strengthened for building resilience to climate change. Ecosystem integrity will be enhanced for the sustainable supply of essential ecosystem goods and services to society. Ecosystem-based adaptation and disaster risk reduction will be strengthened through the use of ecosystem-based solutions for climate change related hazards. The implementation of the impact mitigation measures included in environmental and social impact assessments will be strengthened through appropriate monitoring and enforcement by relevant agencies and developers to reduce environmental degradation and climate change compounded risks. Environmental standards will be developed for key terrestrial and marine ecosystems separately and criteria will be established to guide development activities in these ecosystems to reduce the compounded risk of environmental degradation and climate change. The protection of wetlands, including mangroves, in public and private land will be regulated in the most effective management and a Mangrove Management Strategy will be developed to ensure that these ecosystems continue providing essential services. All forests and marine ecosystems will be mapped and zoned to enable the monitoring of changes due to climate change. Moreover, biodiversity mapping tools will be generated for mapping species, vulnerable areas and hazards, including climate change-related hazards and accounting for species which are endangered, at risk, recovering and thriving. Water quality standards and monitoring protocols will be developed to guide mariculture projects taking climate change into account. Reforestation programmes will be expanded, prioritising the reforestation of critical watersheds to minimise soil erosion and runoff and promote sustainable livelihoods with increasing climate variability. The habitats will be protected to enhance species resilience to climate change. Pollution control and waste management will be strengthened to minimise harm on terrestrial, freshwater, marine and ocean ecosystems and protect their ability to cope with climate change.
The implementation of the Resilient Ecosystems Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan will be assessed using the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan of the National Adaptation Plan 2018-2028.