Global Environmental Change and Food Systems – Caribbean
The Caribbean (GECAFS)
Geographical coverage
| Geographical scale of the assessment | Regional |
|---|---|
| Country or countries covered | Guyana, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name |
The assessment primarily include member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) |
Geographical scale of the assessment
Regional
Country or countries covered
Guyana, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name
The assessment primarily include member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Conceptual framework, methodology and scope
Assessment objectives
Investigate how global environmental change affects food security at regional scale;
Determine options to adapt regional food systems to cope with both global environmental change and changing demands for food
Assess how potential adaptation options will affect the environment, societies and economies
Engage the international global environmental change and development communities in policy discussions to improve food security.
Mandate for the assessment
Caribbean Community
Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment
Other (please specify)
Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS)
URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted
www.gecafs.org
System(s) assessed
- Marine
- Coastal
- Inland water
- Forest and woodland
- Cultivated/Agricultural land
Species groups assessed
Broad food groups that support Caribbean food security
Ecosystem services/functions assessed
Provisioning
- Food
- Water
- Medicinal resources
- Raw materials
Regulating
- Moderation of extreme events
- Regulation of water flows
- Erosion prevention
Supporting Services/Functions
- Nutrient cycling
- Soil formation and fertility
- Primary production
Cultural Services
- Recreation and tourism
Scope of assessment includes
Drivers of change in systems and services
Yes
Impacts of change in services on human well-being
Yes
Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed
Yes
Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment
No
Timing of the assessment
Year assessment started
2002
Year assessment finished
Ongoing
If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish
2015
Periodicity of assessment
Unknown
Assessment outputs
Report(s)
?http://www.gecafs.org/publications/documents/GECAFSCARIBSPIS.pdf
?http://www.gecafs.org/publications/Publications/GECAFS_Report_2_Caribbean_Scenarios.pdf
Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)
?http://www.gecafs.org/publications/Publications/GECAFS_Caribbean_Brochure_A4_version.pdf
Journal publications
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901109000367
Training materials
Other documents/outputs
Tools and processes
Tools and approaches used in the assessment
- Scenarios
- Stakeholder consultations, Response options
Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component
Scenarios developed together with a group of regional experts and stakeholders over the course of two Caribbean scenario workshops. The objectives of this workshop were: • To update participants on the latest GECAFS developments; • To familiarize participants with the concepts, purpose and methodology of scenarios/plausible futures development; • To discuss and agree on the main uncertainties for the region with respect to food systems and GEC developments; • To develop focal questions for the Caribbean GECAFS scenarios and begin the scenario development process.
The main outcome of the first Caribbean scenario workshop was the identification of a set of key driving forces that affect Caribbean food system in the context of GEC. In the second workshop, participants refined and detailed the assumptions of how the key endogenous driving forces identified in the first workshop would unfold in each scenario.
Key stakeholder groups engaged
Multiple stakeholders were involved in the exercise including including atmospheric, environmental and social scientists; political advisors both governmental and from policy relevant institutions; from national, regional and international organisations including those with wealth of experiences in scenario development and stakeholder engagement.
The number of people directly involved in the assessment process
10-100
Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge
- Resource experts (e.g. foresters etc)
Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment
www.gecafs.org/publications/Publications/GECAFS_Report_2_Caribbean_Scenarios.pdf www.gecafs.org/publications
Assessment reports peer reviewed
No
Data
Accessibility of data used in assessment
Policy impact
Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions
Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment
No
Lessons learnt for future assessments from these reviews
Capacity building
Capacity building needs identified during the assessment
Skills in Scenario Development
Actions taken by the assessment to build capacity
Workshops
