Codrington Lagoon National Park (CLNP), located in Codrington Village Barbuda, is in the preliminary stages of development. However, due to current economic conditions, there is a lack of adequate financing to ensure the continued development of the national park. As a result, the national park is in jeopardy of being left unattended.  There are a number of species of international importance in the national park. These species face extinction if adequate financing and human resource capacity is not developed for the effective management of the national park. The national park also faces threats from over fishing, indiscriminate development, invasive alien species and natural disasters. << Read less

Develop infrastructure for the Codrington Lagoon National Park, build capacity among staff to implement management activities in the park, and re-establishing natural protective barriers from natural disasters around the park.

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Although the national gap assessment has not yet been completed (currently in progress), it has been identified that the species within the Codrington Lagoon National Park are of global importance and need of protection and adequate management. The National park hosts the largest Frigate Bird nesting site in the Caribbean and, as such, is a critical part of the chain of life for this species. Birds tagged from this colony have been spotted as far as South America.

Additionally, the national park hosts a number of West Indian Whistling Ducks, a species that is endangered in the Caribbean. A number of other species of flora and fauna are hosted within the boundaries of the national park, which covers approximately 18km2. Some of these have important economic value for the country. For example, the island of Barbuda has a large fishing industry that depends heavily on the sale of lobster and fish to neighbouring islands. The Lagoon is a nursery for the development of these species. Without effective management of the national park, the sustainability of this industry and the livelihood of local communities of Barbuda will be seriously threatened. << Read less

There is currently a move to utilize renewable energy technology as a means of ensuring sustainable financing for the Codrington Lagoon National Park. Additionally, throughout the life of the project, the government will provide in-kind financial support to the project to the tune of USD750,000.00. This support will primarily entail the use of government paid employees, government offices and other resources to implement the project as well as provide technical assistance.

Barbuda is a very close and engaging community. In light of this, the project will be executed through the use of a stakeholder board which represents the relevant stakeholders in Barbuda. These will include representatives from the Fishermen association, the small business association, the taxi association and the local government authority and agencies.  All persons will be engaged at all stages of the project’s implementation to ensure effective participation and buy-in from all concerned. << Read less

This project is integrally linked with the national priorities of the newly developed National Environment Management Strategy.

Goal 1.1: To establish and strengthen national and regional systems of protected areas integrated into a global network as a contribution to globally agreed goals
Goal 1.2: To integrate protected areas into broader land- and seascapes and sectors so as to maintain ecological structure and function
Goal 1.4: To substantially improve site-based protected area planning and management
Goal 1.5: To prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of key threats to protected areas
Goal 2.2: To enhance and secure involvement of indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders
Goal 3.2: To build capacity for the planning, establishment and management of protected areas
Goal 3.4: To ensure financial sustainability of protected areas and national and regional systems of protected areas
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