Bahamas - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The islands of The Bahamas constitute one of the most extensive archipelagos of the world, comprising a chain of more than 700 islands, cays, and rocks, spread over approximately 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Out of all the threats identified for affecting biodiversity in The Bahamas, climate change is considered to have the greatest effect as 80% of The Bahamas’ landmass is within 1.5 meters (5 ft) of sea level rise and 90% of The Bahamas’ freshwater lenses are within 1.5 meters (5 ft) of the land surface making the groundwater resource fragile and highly vulnerable to contamination... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The Bahamas developed the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in 1999 as a guide to CBD implementation. The main goals of the NBSAP are to enhance the quality of life in The Bahamas, develop integrated comprehensive planning, conserve biological resources and diversity, promote public awareness and education and secure financial support for implementation of the mission... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The agriculture sector plan includes conservation and protection of the water resources through the development of an agricultural sector water policy and training in good agricultural practices, protection of agricultural land through the development of a land evaluation system and land zone maps, and preservation of agricultural biodiversity by establishing an ornamental research and development programme (e.g... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The Bahamas is a party to approximately 20 international agreements that deal with environmental and public welfare issues. From a national perspective, The Bahamas is actively involved in the following Conventions: the Ramsar Convention, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS)... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

Routine monitoring of the major beaches on New Providence Island has been ongoing since 1995; namely, Long Wharf, Arawak Cay, Goodman’s Bay, Orange Hill, Jaws Beach, Cabbage Beach, Sandy Port Beach, South Beach, Yamacraw Beach, and Montague Beach... More »