LocationsSaint Vincent and the Grenadines Advances National Plan to Halt Biodiversity Loss by 2030
October 27, 2025
Thirty-six representatives from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector participated in the validation workshop held at Beachcombers Hotel on 23 October.
KINGSTOWN – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has validated its draft National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026-2030, positioning the country to implement the global Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. Thirty-six representatives from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector participated in the validation workshop held at Beachcombers Hotel on 23 October.
The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) hosted the workshop in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF EAS) Project, financed by the Global Environment Facility.
The NBSAP establishes 14 national targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. These targets align with global commitments while addressing local priorities including agricultural land protection, marine resource management, and sustainable tourism development. The plan operates through three coordinated systems: high-level government coordination, sectoral integration across ministries, and stakeholder co-management involving communities and the private sector.
Participants validated the proposed targets through breakout sessions examining spatial planning, protected area management, biodiversity finance, biosafety protocols, and monitoring systems. Key priorities identified include:
- Land and Marine Planning: Integrating conservation into land use decisions while protecting agricultural productivity and fishing livelihoods.
- Biosafety and Indigenous Knowledge: Establishing regional harmonization on biosafety, protecting indigenous seed varieties, and strengthening public awareness.
- Gender and Youth Engagement: Developing mentorship programs and supporting community-led conservation initiatives.
- Implementation Capacity: Strengthening data collection systems, inter-agency coordination, and creating incentives for civil society and private sector participation.
Following Cabinet approval, implementation of the NBSAP will begin in early 2026 and will be coordinated by the SDU with support from national agencies and international partners.
This initiative reinforces Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' commitment to regional environmental cooperation while protecting the natural resources that sustain agriculture, fisheries, and tourism - sectors vital to national prosperity and community livelihoods.
About the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support Project
The Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF-EAS) project is designed to mobilise funding and support so that countries can meet the new biodiversity targets. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the GBF-EAS project is working to fast-track readiness and early actions. The project is country-led with joint implementation support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat and the GEF. It provides financial and technical support package that focuses on four components: alignment with national biodiversity strategies and action plans, national monitoring systems, policy and institutional coherence, and biodiversity finance. View the GBF-EAS Project brochure.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org/barbados or follow at @UNDPBarbadosEC.
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