Press Release - Barbados Advocate - June 5, 2020 Celebrating World Environment Day - Biodiversity The GEF Small Grants Programme Barbados is proud to host a Week of Activities in celebration of World in Environment Day (WED). GEF SGP has invested heavily in Barbados with regards to the Environment. David Bynoe the National Coordinator for Gefsgp Barbados launched this week’s activities and noted that, “GEF SGP has facilitated an investment of US$7,916,303.31‬ for 85 environmental projects spread across Barbados within our last two operational phases. This year, World Environment Day focuses on Biodiversity, which embraces the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and 15. SDG 14 addresses life under water and SDG 15 life on land. Therefore, it is fitting that GEF SGP acts as a conduit to facilitate immersion of the public of Barbados in marine and terrestrial biodiversity.” To achieve this, GEF SGP has used innovative approaches within the context of COVID 19 to immerse the public in biodiversity through virtual tours, Facebook Live talks, and direct interaction with environmental experts on topics of relevance. SGP’s WED week of activities caters for everyone and touches areas that are critical to the sustainable development of Barbados. Civil society partners from the The Caribbean Permaculture Research Institute of Barbados, Coral Reef Restoration Alliance - CORALL Barbados, Biocultural Education and Research Programme, Nature Fun Ranch, Organic Growers and Consumers Association (OGCA), Barbados Renewable Energy Association, Baird's Village Aquaponics Association, Healing Waters International Organic Sanitizing Products and individual environmental experts have given of their time to showcase their work and share their expertise. Members of the public will have an opportunity to explore a wide cross section of areas including organic agriculture, permaculture, coral reel restoration, aquaponics, renewable energy, medicinal plants, sustainable lifestyle product and may other areas that present a new model for development. The current global, dominant economic model is consumption-led, production-driven, and GDP-measured and this creates significant negative ‘externalities’ in the form of global environmental risks, widespread ecological scarcities and social risks from persistent and wide distributional disparities. The deleterious effects of this model are very evident within the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Caribbean region. The decline of biodiversity is a major indicator of an economic model that is unsustainable. This week of activities highlights alternative approaches that can facilitate economic activity that are sustainable, instead of contributing to the decline of biodiversity these models are contributing to increased biodiversity. They are consistent with the work GEF SGP has been doing to protect biodiversity while promoting the development of the Green and Blue economy. Biodiversity is the Keystone to life on earth, when you protect it you are protecting your own life and that of future generations. Join us as we celebrate biodiversity and World Environment day. Taking community action with a global impact! -END -