Port of Spain, 8 December 2025 

Government representatives, scientists, civil society organizations, Indigenous knowledge holders and international partners from across the Caribbean and beyond gathered in Port of Spain from 2–4 December 2025 for the Second Caribbean Regional Trialogue on Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Ecosystem Management, hosted by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net), UNDP Trinidad and Tobago, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) and the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club.  

The event was convened with the support and participation of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, and honorably joined during its opening ceremony by  H.E. Dr. Christophe Eick, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Trinidad and Tobago - representing one of the major funders of BES-Net, the Government of Germany through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). Ugo Blanco, Resident Representative, UNDP Multi-Country office TT, and   Ms. Candice Ramsaran, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development.

The three-day Regional Trialogue brought together delegations from seven Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, to reflect on the region’s shared ecological challenges and co-develop integrated solutions that draw on science, policy, and practice.  

In his opening address, Ugo Blanco re-emphasized the critical importance of biodiversity: “If we lose our biodiversity, we lose the foundation of our economies, our food security, and our resilience to climate change. Our ecosystems are not ornaments; they are the backbone of tourism, fisheries, and coastal protection. Without healthy coral reefs, mangroves, and forests, our economies falter and communities suffer. Protecting biodiversity is not optional; it is a survival strategy for the Caribbean.”

H.E. Dr. Christophe Eick spoke on the importance of BES-Net and the Trialogue and the Government of Germany’s gratefulness to the implementing partners for their support: “This project supports policymaking and transformative on-the-ground actions in a total of 18 countries through targeted seed funds. It also extends capacity-building support and facilitates science-policy-practice triangular dialogues such as this one. We are grateful to UNDP for being the implementing organization and to the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago for being political partners for this project.” 

Delivering the feature address on behalf of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Candice Ramsaran noted, “We are under no illusion about the scale of the task before us. The Caribbean imports most of its food supply. Our coral reefs, which sustain tourism and fisheries, are increasingly vulnerable. Our communities are adapting to hotter temperatures, more intense storms, and new environmental health risks. These challenges demand integrated, coordinated action, rather than isolated interventions.” 

The Trialogue provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage with the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), including the 2024 Thematic Assessment Report on the Interlinkages among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health (known as the Nexus Assessment) and the Thematic Assessment Report of the Underlying Causes of Biodiversity Loss and the Determinants of Transformative Change and Options for Achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity (known as the Transformative Change Assessment), as well as broader knowledge base, including IPBES regional and thematic assessment reports. These knowledge products formed the scientific backbone of the event, guiding dialogues on ecosystem management solutions in a collaborative and regional context.  

Yuko Kurauchi, Programme Specialist, the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) noted, “The IPBES assessments addressed at this Trialogue could not be more timely, as the nexus approach has increasingly become a central theme in the lead-up to the seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled for late 2026 in Armenia. This evolution underscores that siloed responses are no longer viable; transformative solutions integrating interconnected sectors are essential for building resilience and equity, particularly for Caribbean countries facing compounded risks from climate change, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. BES-Net is honored to stand alongside leaders, experts, and knowledge holders in the region, fostering collaboration and co-creating solutions that strengthen regional cooperation and advance a nature-positive future across countries.” 

Participants explored the systemic challenges facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including climate-driven coral bleaching, the spread of invasive species, land degradation, declining pollinators, and economic vulnerabilities linked to food imports. They examined how nexus thinking in addressing biodiversity, food, water, health, and climate together can unlock more sustainable and equitable pathways for development in the Caribbean.  

The activities and co-created knowledge were leveraged by the delegations to jointly: 

• Contextualize global IPBES knowledge within the Caribbean’s unique ecological and socio-economic realities. 

• Promote integrated, cross-sectoral governance, acknowledging the interdependence of biodiversity, food systems, water, health, and climate. 

• Support transformative, long-term solutions to address underlying drivers of biodiversity loss.

• Co-develop national and regional sets of actions aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and informed by diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous and local knowledge.  

Delegates also visited Wasamaki Permaculture and the Pointe-à-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, observing practical examples of ecosystem restoration, agroecology, and community-driven conservation in Trinidad and Tobago. These site visits reinforced the importance of locally grounded, nature-based solutions that enhance both ecosystem health and community resilience. 

Together, the discussions and collaborative work carried out during the Trialogue reaffirmed the Caribbean’s shared commitment to strengthening regional cooperation for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Delegations highlighted the indispensable role of IPBES knowledge in guiding evidence-based policymaking and emphasized the importance of deepening its integration into national strategies, regional plans, and sectoral decision-making processes. 

As countries advance actions aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), participants underscored that integrated, nexus-based approaches, supported by science, Indigenous and local knowledge, and community leadership, are essential to building resilient ecosystems and societies across the Caribbean. The BES-Net Second Caribbean Regional Trialogue strengthened this foundation, paving the way for continued cooperation, innovative partnerships, and coordinated action toward a nature-positive future for the region. 

About the Organizers 

The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) aims to build capacity and commitment for biodiversity across the world by translating the latest Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) products into solutions that drive conservation on the ground. BES-Net is jointly implemented by UNDP, UNEP-WCMC, and UNESCO, and it is funded by the Government of Germany, through the International Climate Initiative, and SwedBio. 

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership 

skills, partnerships, and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work in Trinidad and Tobago is centered around four core development areas: Nature, climate change and energy transitions, governance and rule of law, inclusive growth and digitalization, and innovation.  

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP, provides community-level financial and technical support for environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods. 

The Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club (est. 1891) fosters scientific learning and conservation of the nation’s natural heritage. 

Contact Information 

UNDP Media Focal Points 

Solange Fletcher-Herbert – Communications Consultant  

Solange.fletcher-herbert@undp.com 

1-868-680-5263 

Jabarry Garnes – Communications Analyst  

Jabarry.garnes@undp.org  

1-868-272-2857