Ph.D. Candidate, Florida International University
2022 Field Travel Grant Type 1
Evaluating the Implementation of the Ramsar Convention in Coastal Wetlands of the Caribbean Region
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, is an international agreement promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Despite the socioecological importance of coastal wetlands in the Caribbean, and the widespread adoption of the Convention in the basin, these systems, and the effectiveness of their management and governance, remain understudied in the region. This dissertation explores the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in Caribbean coastal wetlands in four countries to examine the political and sociocultural context of decision-making. Specifically, it will explore gaps between Convention expectations and national, subnational, and site-level policies, and the structure of decision-making networks. Developing a deeper understanding of the influence of these contexts on the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the Caribbean is critical to safeguarding the ecological character and wise use of these coastal wetlands. The purpose of this research is to develop a deeper understanding of the influence of the political and sociocultural context on the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the Caribbean basin.