Overseas countries and territories: Willem Ferwerda, IUCN Netherlands Committee, said the workshop concluded that:
the EC and its Member States should increase their efforts to assume their special responsibilities towards OCTs;
OCTs harbor a significant amount of the world’s biodiversity, and are of global importance in terms of the ecosystem services they provide, particularly in mitigating the effects of climate change;
there is a dramatic lack of proper EU funding and strategy, while OCTs also lack access to global funds; and
OCTs provide a huge potential added value for research and action on climate change and biodiversity.
He said recommendations to the EC and Member States include to:
develop a coherent framework for environment in OCTs, aiming among others at a sustainable management of important biodiversity areas, and also allowing joint efforts with Outermost Regions (ORs) as they are the entities with the most similar stakes within the EU;
ensure that adequate funding is given to environment and biodiversity in the OCTs, including improved access to European programmes for local bodies and NGOs in coordination with the local authorities, and an outsourced small grants facility;
develop joint research programmes focusing on the biodiversity of OCTs and ORs, and also strengthen joint efforts with regional partner countries; and
strengthen both the OCTs and the EU positions in the international debate on climate change, by making use of the worldwide and diverse network of OCTs and ORs to evaluate the interactions between ecosystems, climate change and local communities.
Among recommendations, he highlighted the need to:
develop a coherent EU policy framework regarding OCTs biodiversity management;
ensure that adequate funding is dedicated to environment and biodiversity in OCTs, including through improved access to EU programmes, and through an outsourced small grants facility;
develop joint research programmes focusing on the biodiversity of OCTs and strengthening joint research efforts with regional partner countries; and
strengthen the OCTs’ and European position in the international debate on climate change, making use of the worldwide network of OCTs to evaluate the interactions between ecosystems, climate change, and local communities.
Discussion focused on methods of implementing the recommendations, such as Strategic Environment Assessments (SEAs), coordination of work among NGOs, governments and indigenous peoples, protected areas, and proposals that emphasize specific actions on biodiversity, not just the environment.