CHM - ORTThis action expands the system of National Parks to include representative areas of ecosystems and habitats that are unique to The Bahamas or threatened and not presently represented. It includes preparation of management plans for proposed National Parks, use of legal instruments to provide protection to species and ecosystems, strengthening of legislation for the Bahamas National Trust, and strengthening institutional capacity to manage existing and expanded protected areas.
The 2018/2021 Revision confirms that the Master Plan for the Bahamas National Protected Area System (BNPAS) was completed in 2012 and is being implemented. Management plans have been developed for several protected areas and work continues to complete plans for all protected areas within the BNPAS. Legislative instruments including the Forestry Act, Environmental Planning and Protection Act, Wild Birds Act, Wild Animals Act, and Marine Mammals Protection Act provide protection for species and ecosystems. Continued expansion of the BNPAS requires sustained institutional and financial investment.
For the GBF targets aligned with this action (Targets 1, 3 and 4), the validation mapping identifies DEPP, the Department of Marine Resources (DMR), and the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) as responsible institutions. Government entities aligned to these targets include the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the Forestry Unit, the Climate Change & Environmental Advisory Unit (CCEAU), and the Bahamas Customs Department. Non-governmental stakeholders identified as aligned contributors include the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO).
The main policy measure involves reviewing the Bahamas National Protected Area System (BNPAS) Master Plan, strengthening its implementation, and aligning expansion efforts with 30×30 commitments. This includes formal designation of priority areas identified through ecological gap analyses, strengthening management effectiveness frameworks, and reinforcing inter-agency coordination between MENR, DEPP, DMR, and the Bahamas National Trust.
Financial sustainability measures are also central, including strengthening the Bahamas Protected Area Fund and exploring diversified financing instruments. The Prioritized National Action Plan for Policy Coherence underscores the need for improved performance monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure that expansion is accompanied by effective management and enforcement.
| 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. | Moyen |
GBF-T03. GBF-T03.Faire en sorte que, d'ici à 2030, au moins 30 % des zones terrestres et des eaux intérieures, ainsi que des zones marines et côtières, en particulier les zones d’une grande importance pour la biodiversité et les fonctions et services écosystémiques, soient dûment conservées et gérées grâce à la mise en place d'aires protégées écologiquement représentatives, bien reliées et équitablement gérées et à d'autres mesures efficaces de conservation par zone, et veiller à créer les moyens nécessaires à cette fin, tout en reconnaissant les territoires autochtones et traditionnels, s'il y a lieu, et en intégrant les zones concernées dans les paysages terrestres et marins plus vastes et les océans, en veillant en outre à ce que l'utilisation durable, lorsqu'elle est appropriée dans ces zones, soit pleinement compatible avec les objectifs de conservation et respecte les droits des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales, y compris concernant leurs territoires traditionnels. | Élevé |
GBF-T04. GBF-T04.Prendre des mesures urgentes en matière de gestion en vue de faire cesser l'extinction d'origine humaine des espèces menacées connues et d'assurer leur rétablissement et leur conservation, en particulier les espèces menacées, afin de réduire significativement leur risque d'extinction ainsi que de sauvegarder et de rétablir la diversité génétique au sein des populations d'espèces indigènes, sauvages et domestiquées et entre elles, en vue de préserver leur potentiel d'adaptation, notamment grâce à des mesures de conservation in situ et ex situ et à des méthodes de gestion durable, et gérer efficacement les interactions entre l'homme et la faune de manière à limiter les conflits liés à leur cœxistence. | Moyen |
This target reflects national circumstances, priorities and capabilities through implementation of the Bahamas National Protected Area System (BNPAS) Master Plan (2012) and associated legal mandates. It promotes cooperation and synergies among MENR, DEPP, BNT, DMR and financing mechanisms such as the Bahamas Protected Area Fund (BPAF). BPAF contributes to access to financial resources, although financing remains partially dependent on donor support and subject to budget variability. The system contributes to a collective effort towards the targets, including commitments related to protected area expansion. However, achieving expanded coverage and improved management effectiveness requires strengthened financing mechanisms, enforcement capacity and monitoring systems. |
Explanation of alignment with global targets
Alignment with Global Goal A (Ecosystems conserved, extinctions halted, genetic diversity maintained)
Degree of alignment: High (coverage), Medium (effectiveness and outcome measurement)
Action Six contributes directly to Goal A through the expansion, designation, and management of protected areas within the Bahamas National Protected Area System (BNPAS). The 2012 Master Plan for the BNPAS has been completed and is being implemented, and management plans have been developed for several protected areas. Legislative instruments, including the Forestry Act, Environmental Planning and Protection Act, Wild Birds Act, Wild Animals Act, and Marine Mammals Protection Act, provide legal protection for species and ecosystems.
While protected area coverage has expanded, validated national assessments indicate that management effectiveness, ecological connectivity, and equity considerations are not yet systematically measured across the network. Alignment with Goal A is therefore strong in terms of conservation architecture and legal framework, but still evolving in terms of measurable biodiversity outcomes.
Alignment with GBF Target 1 (Integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning)
Degree of alignment: Medium (current), High (under formulation)
Action Six aligns with Target 1 by expanding the system of National Parks to include representative ecosystems and habitats that are unique or threatened and not presently represented. Protected area expansion contributes to spatial allocation of conservation priorities within national planning frameworks.
The draft NBSAP 2026–2030 introduces a significantly strengthened national target corresponding to GBF Target 1, committing to expanded biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning coverage and incorporating measurable elements such as “no net loss” of natural ecosystems and risk-informed coastal zoning for priority islands. These provisions translate general planning intent into quantifiable outcomes capable of being tracked through spatial coverage metrics, zoning implementation, and ecosystem loss or avoidance indicators.
While protected area expansion is ongoing, systematic integration of biodiversity-inclusive planning instruments across all territorial and marine jurisdictions remains in progress. Alignment is therefore moderate in current operational terms but substantially strengthened at the strategic planning level.
Alignment with GBF Target 3 (Protected areas and OECMs — 30×30)
Degree of alignment: High
Action Six aligns strongly with Target 3 through the designation, expansion, and management planning of protected areas. The 2012 Master Plan for the BNPAS provides the framework for expanding conservation coverage.
The draft NBSAP 2026–2030 strengthens alignment by specifying quantitative conservation coverage objectives across terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030, while emphasizing effective conservation, ecological representation, connectivity, equity, and recognition of OECMs and community-managed areas. This represents a shift from predominantly area-based designation toward quality- and outcome-based conservation consistent with GBF Target 3.
While designation progress is demonstrable, systematic measurement of management effectiveness, ecological connectivity, and equitable governance remains under development. Alignment is therefore high in structural commitment and evolving toward stronger outcome-based implementation.
Alignment with GBF Target 4 (Species conservation and extinction prevention)
Degree of alignment: Medium (current), High (under formulation)
Action Six aligns with Target 4 by strengthening legal protection of ecosystems and habitats that support threatened species through national park designation and related legislative instruments. Protected areas provide in situ safeguards for species persistence.
The draft NBSAP 2026–2030 introduces a strengthened national target corresponding to GBF Target 4, shifting emphasis from general habitat protection toward explicit extinction-prevention and species-recovery outcomes. Commitments to reduce extinction risk and implement recovery plans for selected Critically Endangered and Endangered species introduce measurable tracking through Red List trends, population indicators, and documented recovery actions.
This strengthens the link between ecosystem protection and species-level outcomes in line with GBF Target 4. However, until recovery plans are fully operationalized and monitored through standardized indicators, alignment remains stronger at the strategic design level than in verified outcome delivery.
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) plays a central role in protected area management and implementation. The Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO) contributes species-level monitoring and research within marine protected areas.
- Financial:
Sustained financing for management, enforcement, and monitoring remains limited; reliance on mixed funding sources. - Institutional:
Fragmented monitoring responsibilities; need for strengthened coordination between DEPP, DMR, Forestry Unit, and BNT. - Legal:
Legislative instruments provide authority for designation and protection; operational regulations and enforcement consistency require continued strengthening. - Technical:
Absence of a standardized national management effectiveness tracking framework; limited ecological connectivity assessments. - Governance:
Expansion has progressed; however, integration of equity considerations, connectivity standards, and performance accountability mechanisms remains under development.