Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one of the most effective tool for protecting ecosystems and species, increasing resilience to climate change, enhancing ecosystem services and supporting economic development. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), through its Target 3, calls for the conservation and management of 30% of coastal and marine areas through MPAs and “other effective conservation measures” (OECMs) by 2030. Global coverage of MPAs currently stands at approximately 8% at planetary scale and the international community is therefore confronted with a significant challenge in achieving the 30x30 target. Such challenges include improving scientific knowledge, inclusive governance, effective monitoring and control of these MPAs, the technical and human capacities of MPA managers, and funding. To meet these challenges, regional networking initiatives and capacity building programs to support MPA managers, as key players to reach the Target 3, are currently being deployed in several marine regions and have proved their interest. Examples include the MedPan network in the Mediterranean, the RAMPAO network in West Africa or the WIOMPAN network in the south-Western Indian Ocean, supported by the Varuna regional program involved in the island territories of the south-west Indian Ocean.

The Caribbean region is home to exceptional marine biodiversity, and a dynamic of effective creation and management of marine areas is underway, as evidenced during the Immersed in Change Conference in Costa Rica, June 2024, which showcased innovative initiatives such as El Corredor Biologico del Caribe, the different national systems of protected areas in Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, etc. Yet, countries are collectively expressing a need to share experience, capitalize on best practices and build skills at a regional scale. Strengthening regional networks of MPA managers, such as the one being set up by the SPAW-RAC, in the framework of the Cartagena Convention, can help meeting with these expectations, but will require resources to ensure that they are operational and sustainable over the long term.

Drawing inspiration from MPA managers networks already implemented around the world, this event aims to:

• Provide an overview of the main existing networking initiatives around MPAs in the Caribbean;
• Address their articulation and the possible synergies between them;
• Promote the emergence of regional cooperation programs for their operationalization;
• Focus on MPA managers needs to design capacity building actions through peer-to-peer exchanges and capitalize best practices in marine regions and to allow them to carry the “voice” of Caribbean MPAs.

The event will bring together representatives of the different stakeholders involved in MPAs in the Caribbean, such as country representatives, national agencies, MPA managers and their networks, IGOs, NGOs, as well as funders and other supporting partners. The discussions that will emerge from this event should initiate the construction of a roadmap for the Caribbean MPAs, matching with the corresponding means of operationalization and maximizing the chances of achieving Target 3 of KM-GBF. It aims giving a greater visibility to the Caribbean area and the crucial role it plays in achieving Target 3 at the global level.