The development of a resilient sustainable finance plan for the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) to support the implementation of management actions in the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA), Jamaica

Summary
The Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) manages the globally important Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) home to threatened and endemic species including crocodiles, the Jamaican Iguana, and three fish sanctuaries. Government subventions, fundraising, and eco-tourism declined due to COVID-19. Funds were sought to maintain core staff salaries; support patrolling and monitoring; provide training and supplies to protect staff from COVID-19; restart educational activities at our Portland Bight Discovery Centre and restore some revenue for C-CAM and the local communities. We started updating the strategic plan to ensure sustainability and adaptation and completed the organization's financial audit to ensure transparency. The impact of COVID19 also highlighted the need to focus on developing a robust financial sustainability programme to build the resiliency of our operations. Towards achieving this goal we updated C-CAM’s funding plan which will be the platform for the programme.
Clasificaciones
Region
Scale of implementation
Ecosystem
Theme
Species Conservation and One Health Interventions
Challenges
Challenges
As an environmental and development NGO C-CAM has been focused on the conservation of natural and heritage resources primarily with financial support from government subventions, as well as local and international donor funds. The impact of COVID19 resulted in the loss of some of these sources or an abrupt reduction in the amount over which C-CAM had no control and critically no resiliency funds or plan to utilize to put us on a path forward.
Beneficiaries
Staff had salaries covered and received equipment. Government agencies supported crocodile surveys and rescues and were able to meet their mandate to provide information and collaborate. Staff participated in the updating of the funding plan.
Building blocks
¿ Cómo interactúan los building blocks en la solución?
Data collection and developing the plan are important tools in moving toward the achievement of a resilient financial sustainability programme. It is critical to understand what was done previously and by properly analyzing the gaps or shortcomings or what was done well it reduced the possibility of repeating the same mistakes and would lead to developing a plan that would serve the organization and move it in a more positive direction.
Impacts
The Conservation Officers were able to maintain up to 394 marine patrols during the period which resulted in fewer cases of poaching in the fish sanctuaries. The team supported the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in conducting crocodile surveys in several locations throughout Portland Bight which sought to determine habitat loss, numbers of crocodiles, and the public awareness information that will need to be developed based on the results or the need to amend laws to protect crocodiles more. The team was able to conduct the rescue and relocation of 10 crocodiles. In one case the team was not able to get to the site in a timely manner and the crocodile was killed, we infer the 10 rescued crocodiles could have had a similar fate.
Working with a consultant to discuss the need for sustainable financing allowed for thinking of the process of how to improve the management of the operations of the organization and build a resilient sustainable base starting with the updating of the funding plan. The updated funding plan supported the ability of C-CAM to apply for funds to train team members in the use of the plan and to get wider input and buy-in. The plan is also going to be used to approach corporate donors to contribute to C-CAM’s work even while we continue to apply to local and international donors
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