PISLM

Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management


Born out of a need to forge a strategic partnership in support of combating and degradation in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) was formulated based on a decision made at the Caribbean Sub-Regional Workshop on Land Degradation held in Trinidad and Tobago in February 2004. The PISLM was formulated as part of the Technical Programme of the Caribbean SIDS Programme – an initiative that was recommended at the 14th Session of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) held in Panama in November 2003.

The development of the PISLM was spearheaded by a Sub-regional Task Force which suggested the establishment of a support unit to coordinate the activities of the PISLM, and in this regard the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was nominated to host the support unit. More specifically, the Task Force identified the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD), located in Trinidad and Tobago, as being the best possible entity for hosting the support office for the PISLM.

CNIRD is currently the only non-governmental regional entity which participates actively in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) meeting and negotiations. The Task Force meeting in May – June 2005 in Barbados, sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Mechanism (GM), has further contributed to the definition of the operational modalities of the Task Force and to the development of a work programme for the PISLM, which includes south-south cooperation, in specific thematic areas, with other countries in the LAC region such as Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Dominican Republic. Due to institutional and political changes in the various countries and organizations of the region thePISLM has not been fully functional. Furthermore, following the XII Regional Meeting held in Trinidad from July 29th to August 3rd, 2007, a panel was convened under the Chairmanship of the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), led by the GM/UNCCD, and kick started during a Regional Workshop on Land Degradation held in Trinidad and Tobago in February 2004, is an expression of the translation of the aims of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) into tangible deliverables. Forged among a number of institutions, the Partnership Initiative has a number of partners including the UNEP, FAO, GM/UNCCD, UNCCD Secretariat, CARICOM Secretariat, UWI, Civil Society (including RIOD), GTZ and Caribbean SIDS.

The PISLM consists of a series of commitments and action-oriented coalitions focused on deliverables, intended to translate political commitment into action. The PISLM serves as a mechanism to facilitate exchange of experiences and good land management practices between participating countries. Furthermore, the initiative serves as a mechanism for stimulating the replication of various approaches, tools and methodologies throughout the region.

Basic Evolution of PISLM

  1. Aug-Sept 1977
    United Nations Convention on Desertification (UNCOD), Nairobi, Kenya Desertification addressed as a worldwide problem for the first time and a Plan of Action to Combat Desertification (PACD.)
  2. 1992 
    United Nations Convention on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Evolution of Agenda 21 and call for the establishment of a Convention to Combat Desertification.
  3. 1994 
    Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS, Barbados SIDS Programme of Action (SIDS/POA) developed as a key global strategy geared towards the implementation of Agenda 21.
  4. 1996 
    United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) enters into force, Secretariat, Bonn, Germany Enters into force (90 days after 50th ratification was received.)
  5. Oct. 2002 
    GEF Operational Program on Sustainable Land Management (Opt #15), Beijing Catalyzed a high financial demand for Sustainable Land Management activities.
  6. Nov. 2003 
    14th Session of the Forum of the Ministers of the Environment for LAC.
  7. Feb. 2004
    Caribbean Sub-regional workshop on Land Degradation, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Formulation of the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) as part of the Caribbean SIDS Programme and the establishment of a Sub-Regional Task Force for the PISLM.
  8. May-June 2005
    Task Force Meeting for the PISLM and Extended Task Force Meeting of Participating Agencies and Latin American Countries for Enhancing South-South Cooperation between LAC-Caribbean SIDS, Barbados The establishment of a Support Office to coordinate the activities of the PISLM; Formalizing of the Institutional Arrangements and Relations of the PISLM; The definition of the operational modalities of the Task Force; Draft Operational Guidelines for a PISLM Support Office; Review of the Components of the Partnership Initiative; The development of a work programme for the PISLM.
  9. Aug. 2005 
    X Regional Meeting of LAC country Parties of UNCCD, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.Decision 1 (b) (2) – recognize that the process within the PISLM in the Caribbean represents the conceptual framework of the Caribbean Sub-Regional Action Programmes (SRAP) for the coordination of new and existing initiatives.