When we picture the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, much of what we envisage is a luxurious sun, sea and sand getaway, especially since the country has one of the highest GDPs in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. Given this imagery, it easy to assume that there are little to no challenges faced by a population of less than 400,000 people. Upon closer observation of … [Read more...] about Visualizing Hazards and Services – An integral Tool for Decision Making in Small Island Developing States
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
This flood was a disaster!
This is the standard phase we hear or say after seeing the results of a river’s strong swell. Floods that affect cities, forcing thousands of families out of their homes, floods in which they lose the majority of their belongings, floods in which economic activity is suspended and, as a result, income is diminished: These effects all form part of the dynamic of ecosystems, and … [Read more...] about This flood was a disaster!
Natural Capital Accounting for Evidence-Based Policy
Natural capital accounting (NCA) broadens our standard measures of economic performance (e.g. GDP) by taking stock of the very foundation of wealth- a nation’s environmental resources. In the last decade, we have witnessed a surge in activity in this space with significant advances in the transdisciplinary science of measuring the environment’s contribution to wealth and … [Read more...] about Natural Capital Accounting for Evidence-Based Policy
A NEW THRUST FOR CARIBBEAN COASTAL CAPITAL
There is a growing awareness of the benefits and value of Caribbean coastal environments and marine biodiversity (coastal capital). For example, coral reefs alone provide an annual net economic value between US$3.1-4.6 billion from fisheries, dive tourism and shoreline protection. Nonetheless the region faces challenges related to the sustainable use of its natural resources, … [Read more...] about A NEW THRUST FOR CARIBBEAN COASTAL CAPITAL
Five Shades of Blue (Economy)
Recently I was having an intense conversation with a friend about the strong need for Caribbean islands to develop their economies as blue economies, insisting that it is critical for governments to make this transition as quickly as possible. I thought we had a common understanding of what the term blue economy meant until he asked if it was about the fishing industry. That … [Read more...] about Five Shades of Blue (Economy)