Barbados

Barbados embraced the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy in 2003, which focuses on promoting and accelerating disaster risk reduction initiatives. The Emergency Management Act was promulgated in 2006 to provide the legislative authority to mainstream the CDM.

A number of challenges exist for disaster risk management in Barbados. Weather can be extreme: 58 severe rainfall and wind events of a significant nature were documented from 1955-2000. Climate change is likely to increase the frequency and severity of these natural hazards and disasters, and thus has the potential to affect shoreline stability, the health of coastal and marine ecosystems, the tourism industry and private property in general. To address these disaster vulnerabilities, 30 voluntary district emergency organizations have been established through which the community disaster management programme is facilitated.

Barbados has established the legal framework for coastal zone management through the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1998. A range of regulations and legislations have been developed on this basis. In addition, the development of a Barbados Beach Management Plan was completed in 2008.

Coastal and marine ecosystems are essential to Barbados’ tourism-based economy. Other important sectors, such as the fisheries industry, rely heavily on coastal resources.  With tourism accounting directly and indirectly for approximately 39% of GDP in 2008, 50% of total export earnings, and employing up to 44% of the labor force, losses to coastal ecosystems services and the public and private infrastructure that depend on them represent significant threats to the resilience of the economy. The health and status of coastal and marine ecosystems in Barbados are showing signs of stress. For example, 80% of the country’s fringing reefs have been reported as seriously degraded. Bank reefs have decreased from 37% to 23% over a decade. Shoreline erosion rates are estimated at 15 meters per 100 years. 

Barbados‘ Physical Development Plan (PDP), amended in 2003, is a comprehensive document that coordinates public and private development efforts with an emphasis on sustainability, including guidelines for land use and Environmental Impact Assessments. The Town and Country Planning Act provides for the orderly and progressive development of land, ensures water rights and legal security of tenure for individuals, and preserves the amenities of the land. The Land for Landless Farmers Programme has been developed since 2001. The Agricultural Protection Bill is currently being drafted.

Barbados has approximately 430 km² of land space, with a population of over 275,300 people. It is the most densely populated country in the western hemisphere. Land is a scare and valuable commodity. Thus, integrated assessments of the socio-economic and environmental potential of land resources have been recommended in the Environmental Management and Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development Project of 1998. Mining activities of certain land and onshore resources are found in Barbados, including the mining of limestone, coral, sand and gravel, carbonaceous deposits, and onshore reserves of oil and gas. The exploitation of these land resources supports the country’s construction sector. Specific legislation has been developed regarding this exploitation but has not yet been enacted.

Barbados has a Sustainable Tourism Policy for tourism resources management. Barbados has developed the Tourism Vulnerability Country Assessment (VCA). The Tourism Development Act has been established. Integrated plans for emergency management and tourism management have also been conducted. A new Tourism Master Plan is under development

Barbados has an estimated 4.9 km² of bank reefs and an estimated 1.4 km² of fringing reefs. These coral reefs and their associated flora and fauna attract tourists for recreational dives. The sandy beaches, fringing reefs and relatively calm waters have become the focal points of Barbados’ important tourism industry. The tourism sector largely supports the success of the Barbadian economy, and would be threatened by any increase in sea level. To avert this risk, golf course tourism has become more encouraged, and extensive construction of top class courses has begun on the island as another possible option in the country’s tourism strategy.