CHM - ORTThis action prepares statements on bioregions, major ecosystems and critical species in The Bahamas. It prepares statements on the role of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors in biodiversity conservation. It also prepares guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
These documents provide scientific baselines to determine priorities for monitoring, identify keystone species and habitats, identify threats and constraints to sustainable use, and define management policy options. They are intended as living documents to be revised as information becomes available and provide a basis for a National Protected Area System and for land use planning.
The 2021 draft NBSAP revision notes that the 2002 Ecoregional Plan for the Bahamian Archipelago included an assessment of terrestrial and marine resources and articulated goals and strategies for conservation targets. The 2014 and 2017 Ecological Gap Analyses refined terrestrial and marine conservation targets. The Bahamas 2020 Declaration was the most recent policy statement on achieving these targets.
For the GBF targets aligned with this action (Targets 1, 10 and 14), the validation mapping identifies DEPP, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment (Forestry), and the Ministry of Fisheries as responsible institutions. Government entities aligned to these targets include BNGIS, the Department of Physical Planning, the Ministry of Works (MOW), the Department of Lands & Surveys, the Forestry Unit, and the Animal Control Unit (Ministry of Agriculture). Non-governmental stakeholders identified as aligned contributors include the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO), the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
The primary policy measure is the revision and strengthening of environmental planning regulations to ensure biodiversity integration within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and land-use planning frameworks. This includes updating bioregional classifications, integrating ecological gap analyses into spatial planning decisions, and formalizing biodiversity screening requirements in development approvals.
The Prioritized National Action Plan for Policy Coherence emphasizes improved cross-sector coordination, including planning authorities and environmental regulators. Therefore, actions may include development of biodiversity-inclusive EIA guidance notes, capacity-building for planning officers, and establishment of monitoring mechanisms to track compliance. Ensuring enforceability of these guidelines will be critical to translating scientific baselines into regulatory practice.
| Objectifs mondiaux | Degré d’alignement |
GBF-T01. GBF-T01.Veiller à ce que toutes les zones fassent l'objet d'une planification spatiale participative, intégrée et respectueuse de la biodiversité et/ou soient gérées efficacement dans le cadre de processus de changement d'affectation des terres et des mers, afin de réduire la perte de zones de grande importance pour la biodiversité, y compris d'écosystèmes de grande intégrité écologique, à un niveau proche de zéro d'ici à 2030, dans le respect des droits des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales. | Élevé |
GBF-T10. GBF-T10.Assurer une gestion durable des zones agricoles, aquacoles, halieutiques et forestières, en particulier grâce à l'utilisation durable de la biodiversité, notamment en augmentant significativement le recours à des pratiques respectueuses de la biodiversité, telles que l'intensification durable, l'agroécologie et d'autres approches innovantes, contribuant ainsi à améliorer la résilience, l'efficacité et la productivité à long terme de ces systèmes de production, ainsi qu'à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire, à conserver et à restaurer la biodiversité et à préserver les contributions de la nature aux populations, y compris les fonctions et les services écosystémiques. | Moyen |
GBF-T14. GBF-T14.Veiller à la pleine prise en compte de la biodiversité et de ses multiples valeurs dans l'élaboration des politiques, des réglementations, des processus de planification et de développement, des stratégies d'élimination de la pauvreté, des évaluations environnementales stratégiques, des évaluations d’impact environnemental et, le cas échéant, dans la comptabilité nationale, à tous les niveaux de gouvernement et dans tous les secteurs, en particulier dans ceux qui ont d'importantes incidences sur la biodiversité, et aligner progressivement toutes les activités publiques et privées concernées, ainsi que les flux fiscaux et financiers, sur les objectifs et les cibles du présent cadre. | Moyen |
This target supports cooperation and synergies by promoting alignment between biodiversity priorities and environmental planning processes. It relies on coordination among environmental authorities, planning agencies and sectoral institutions. It reflects science and innovation through the use of technical instruments such as the Ecoregional Plan (2002) and Ecological Gap Analyses (2014/2017) to inform spatial planning and environmental assessment processes. The framework is adapted to national circumstances, priorities and capabilities, operating within the existing legal and regulatory context. It is intended to support a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach through cross-sector integration of biodiversity considerations. Through planning guidance and assessment tools, the target contributes to a collective effort towards the targets. Implementation challenges include limited enforcement capacity, legislative update requirements, and inconsistent application of biodiversity data in development approvals. |
Explanation of alignment with global targets
Alignment with Global Goal A (Ecosystems conserved, extinctions halted, genetic diversity maintained)
Degree of alignment: Medium (enabling and strategic)
Action Five contributes to Goal A by generating ecosystem and bioregional assessments that identify conservation priorities, ecological gaps, and areas of high biodiversity value. The 2002 Ecoregional Plan assessed terrestrial and marine resources and articulated conservation goals and strategies. The 2014 and 2017 Ecological Gap Analyses refined conservation targets, and the Bahamas 2020 Declaration reaffirmed national commitment to achieving these objectives.
While Action Five does not itself implement conservation measures, it provides the scientific and policy baselines required to guide protected area expansion, restoration priorities, and species conservation planning. Its contribution to Goal A is therefore foundational and enabling.
Alignment with Global Goal D (Means of implementation and enabling conditions)
Degree of alignment: Medium
Action Five strengthens enabling conditions by developing ecosystem statements, policy guidance, and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) frameworks that integrate biodiversity considerations into planning and development processes. These instruments provide the technical architecture necessary for biodiversity-informed land- and sea-use regulation.
By treating ecosystem and bioregional assessments as living documents, the revised NBSAP strengthens national reporting, adaptive management, and alignment with GBF monitoring and reporting requirements. However, biodiversity integration remains uneven across sectors, and operational mainstreaming has not yet been consistently translated into sector-level budgets or performance indicators. Alignment with Goal D is therefore structural but not fully institutionalized.
Alignment with GBF Target 1 (Integrated spatial planning)
Degree of alignment: High (conceptual and technical), Medium (operational)
Action Five aligns strongly with Target 1 by preparing bioregional statements and ecosystem assessments that provide the scientific baseline for identifying conservation priorities and supporting biodiversity-inclusive land- and sea-use planning. Under the under-development National Target 1 of the revised NBSAP, these assessments supply the data required to identify sensitive areas, inform “no net loss” approaches, and support risk-informed coastal zoning.
The draft NBSAP 2026–2030 includes a national target corresponding directly to GBF Target 1, committing to expanded biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning coverage and strengthened land- and sea-use regulation. Action Five supplies the core datasets necessary to operationalize that commitment.
However, validated national assessments confirm that spatial planning instruments are not yet systematically biodiversity-inclusive at the national scale. While the technical baseline is substantially advanced, formal integration into binding planning instruments and regulatory processes remains in progress. Alignment is therefore technically strong but not yet fully institutionalized.
Alignment with GBF Target 10 (Sustainable management of productive sectors)
Degree of alignment: Medium
Action Five aligns with Target 10 by preparing statements on the role of agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and forestry in biodiversity conservation and sustainable management. Sector-specific assessments clarify how productive landscapes and seascapes interact with biodiversity and provide the evidence base for biodiversity-friendly and climate-smart practices.
The draft NBSAP 2026–2030 includes a dedicated national target aligned with GBF Target 10, promoting biodiversity-sensitive standards within productive landscapes and seascapes. Action Five strengthens this target by supplying the ecological and sectoral baseline required for sustainable management planning.
However, sector-specific sustainability indicators are not yet harmonized with GBF-aligned metrics, and operational monitoring frameworks remain limited. Alignment is therefore moderate in planning coherence but still developing in performance measurement and enforcement.
Alignment with GBF Target 14 (Mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors)
Degree of alignment: Medium to High (policy architecture), Medium (implementation)
Action Five directly supports Target 14 through the development of ecosystem statements, biodiversity-sensitive guidance, and improved environmental impact assessment inputs that integrate ecological considerations into sectoral decision-making.
The draft NBSAP 2026–2030 includes a national target corresponding to GBF Target 14, committing to full integration of biodiversity values across national and sectoral policies. Action Five provides essential technical tools to support that integration.
While biodiversity considerations are increasingly reflected across national policy frameworks, validated progress findings indicate that integration remains primarily strategic and policy-based. Systematic embedding of biodiversity into sectoral budgets, performance indicators, regulatory enforcement mechanisms, and accountability systems is still evolving.
Alignment is therefore strong in technical and policy design, but moderate in sustained, cross-sectoral implementation.
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT), Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) contribute technical inputs, ecosystem assessments, and conservation planning support relevant to this target.
- Financial:
Limited dedicated resources for systematic biodiversity screening and compliance monitoring across all development sectors. - Institutional:
Fragmented coordination between planning authorities and environmental regulators; unclear delineation of roles in biodiversity mainstreaming. - Legal:
Existing EIA and planning frameworks provide authority but do not consistently mandate biodiversity-inclusive spatial standards across all sectors. - Technical:
Limited harmonization between ecological gap analyses and operational planning tools; absence of standardized biodiversity performance indicators in sectoral approvals. - Governance:
Biodiversity integration remains largely strategic; limited institutionalized accountability mechanisms to ensure consistent mainstreaming across ministries.