Caribbean Regional Implementation Committee (CRIC)

2006 Accomplishments and Scientific Highlights

Annual Report

2006

The Caribbean scientific community has agreed on specific needs in the region regarding marine biodiversity, both in an immediate and in 5-6 year term: exploration of unstudied habitats, coordination of field studies, new inventories of species, management of specimen collections, expansion of taxonomic expertise, production of electronic databases, and establishment of a regional network of collaboration, information exchange and fund raising. In this regard, together with several National and Regional Implementation Committees (NRICs), the Census International Secretariat in Washington DC has initiated an effort with the World Bank/Global Environment Facility and its affiliates to obtain significant long-term funding for capacity building in eligible regions on the basis of Centers of Excellence. The main goal of the CRIC will be to build support of this initiative as well as to become more closely involved with the official national government biodiversity systems associated with the Convention of Biological Diversity including the designated Political and Operational Focal Points of the GEF (Global Environmental Facility), as well as to keep up the current links with CoML projects and establish new ones. The CRIC aims for more resources and a better management, knowledge and understanding of marine biodiversity in a coordinated and integrated way for the Caribbean region within the umbrella of the Census of Marine Life.