The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) formalized a pivotal collaboration with the signing of a General Technical Cooperation agreement at the IICA Pavilion during COP28 in Dubai.
The signing ceremony included esteemed dignitaries; Honorable Cozier Frederick, Minister of Environment, Rural Modernization, Kalinago Upliftment, and Constituency Empowerment of the Commonwealth of Dominica; Mr. Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General of IICA; Honorable Penelope Beckles, Minister of Planning and Development of Trinidad and Tobago and Mr. Calvin James, Executive Director of PISLM.
The agreement establishes a foundation for enhanced collaboration and technical cooperation between IICA and PISLM, particularly in matters related to soil health and other critical environmental concerns. The collaboration aims to support member states in meeting their mandates under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Barbados Programme of Action.
In his remarks, Mr. Calvin James highlighted the significance of the partnership with IICA in fulfilling the mandates received from CARICOM and member countries, emphasizing the crucial role of experts from IICA in assisting PISLM in meeting its obligations. Mr. Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General of IICA, acknowledged the urgency of addressing soil degradation in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the importance of soil restoration for sustainable agricultural productivity. He expressed gratitude for the partnership with PIS LM and pledged IICA’s commitment to working collaboratively across the Caribbean to restore soil, improve productivity, and contribute to the success of the initiative. Minister Cozier Frederick, who is also the Chair of the Ministerial Council of PISLM, provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by small island states, emphasizing the need for integrated land management strategies.
He praised the partnership with IICA and highlighted past collaborations, including projects in Dominica aimed at sustainable land management and resilience after Hurricane Maria. Minister Frederick also announced a transformative project, the Caribbean Land Degradation Neutrality Transformational Project, spanning 14 Caribbean countries.
He expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with IICA in implementing this ambitious project and acknowledged the importance of utilizing local capacity to strengthen the region. PISLM expresses gratitude to the ministers and participants, reaffirming the commitment to a fruitful relationship with IICA and the shared goal of achieving sustainable land management in the Caribbean region.