Earth Today | TNC, partners launch conservation dashboard tool

THE NATURE Conservancy (TNC), in collaboration with regional partners, has officially launched the 30x30 Regional Geospatial Analysis, Mapping Results and Dashboard tool during a virtual event held earlier this month.

The conservation dashboard is a strategic initiative designed as a decision-support tool to help Caribbean nations achieve their global goal of protecting 30 per cent of their lands and oceans by 2030.

The launch brought together regional organisations working in the conservation space, government representatives, policymakers, and conservation experts, from across the Caribbean.

Speakers at the launch event commended TNC for leading the development of the dashboard and emphasised that it is more than just a tool and smart technology.

“It is a major step toward more effective marine and coastal conservation in the region. It reflects our shared belief that informed, collaborative action is essential to protect our marine heritage,” said Christopher Corbin, coordinator of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

“By highlighting where Marine Protected Areas and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures are most needed, the tool will help ensure that conservation delivers benefits for both biodiversity and sustainable use,” he added, in an October 9 release from the TNC.

Norma Cherry-Fevrier, project manager, BioSPACE Project with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission, shared his sentiments.

GROWING MOMENTUM

“It represents more than the introduction of a technical platform. It reflects the growing momentum across our region to advance biodiversity action by using high-quality data and spatial intelligence,” she said.

“It offers a timely contribution to ongoing efforts to conserve and sustainably manage our land and marine ecosystems in the face of increasing pressures from biodiversity loss, climate change, and unsustainable development,” Cherry-Fevrier added.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, chairperson of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), has congratulated TNC on launching the dashboard, describing it as “a significant contribution to the region’s data landscape”.

“It’s encouraging to see governments and regional partners stepping up and embracing data and mapping as essential tools for management and strategic decision-making,” she said.

At the launch, Dr Steve Schill, lead scientist for TNC’s Caribbean Division, presented the Caribbean 30x30 Regional Analysis and Dashboard and explained the importance of partnerships for integrating the tool into decision-making for Caribbean countries.

“Effective protected area networks are built through collaborative efforts among governments, working together to preserve critical regional linkages that sustain the overall health of the ecosystem,” he said.

Dr Joth Singh, director of policy and strategic programmes at TNC Caribbean, explained that while the building of the foundation for the tool was led by TNC-Caribbean, it was developed in collaboration with 24 regional partners between 2023 and 2025.

He noted that the mapping results are a significant pillar in developing the Roadmap for Securing a Nature Positive future for the Caribbean by 2030.

“This roadmap comprises four platforms – science, policy, socio-economic and financing, and communications,” he said.

The Caribbean 30x30 Conservation Dashboard can be accessed using this link: http://caribbean30x30dashboard.tnc.org