The “CLME+ region”

The biodiversity-rich Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems provide a multitude of goods and ecosystem services to the nations and peoples that share this region, and far beyond.

In doing so, they hold enormous potential to support sustainable and climate-resilient “blue” socio-economic development. Yet, the region faces numerous challenges and threats that, if left unaddressed, will progressively degrade its marine and coastal natural assets and ability to underpin our common development aims.

Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems.

Successor to the CLME and CLME+ Projects.

PROCARIBE+ therefore seeks to:

Protect, restore and harness the natural coastal and marine capital of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems to catalyze investments in a climate-resilient, sustainable Blue Economy, through strengthened regional coordination and collaboration, and wide-ranging partnerships.

PROCARIBE Project+

One of a series of projects that support the implementation of the 10-year regional Strategic Action Programme (“CLME+ SAP”, 2015-2025).

0 years

Duration

May 2023 - April 2028

$ 0 million

Funds

from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

funded by

implemented by

executed by

0 States

0 Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

0 Overseas Territories

Making it one of the most geopolitically complex regions in the world.

The primary geographic focus of PROCARIBE+ is on the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems, jointly also referred to as the “CLME+ region”. This region comprises 26 States and 18 Overseas Territories, of which 16 are Small Island Developing States (SIDS), making it one of the most geopolitically complex regions in the world.

In this region, PROCARIBE+ will not work in a vacuum. Instead, it will be able to mainstream many of its activities into the work programmes of existing regional initiatives and organizations, such as the UNEP Regional Seas Programme/Cartagena Convention, the IOCARIBE Sub-Commission of the IOC of UNESCO, and the Regional Fisheries Bodies, to just name a few.

PROJECT PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH

The “SDG Wedding Cake” is an alternative representation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, that highlights the interdependencies between the “biosphere” and the “social” and “economic” Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG Wedding Cake
Source: Stockholm Resilience Centre

This concept reflects the spirit of PROCARIBE+: a well-protected and restored ocean as the core of a healthy biosphere that underpins sustainable and climate-resilient socio-economic development.

THEMATIC SCOPE

Acknowledging the need for investments in both strengthened ocean governance and on-the-ground action for marine ecosystem protection and sustainable Blue Economies, the PROCARIBE+ Project activities have been structured around 4 thematic components:

Regional Coordination & Collaboration

Implementing action programmes and plans through a regional Ocean Coordination Mechanism

National Enabling Conditions

Enabling national capacity and commitments for ecosystem approaches and Blue Economy development

Action by all Sectors of Society

Catalyzing actions for small grants, blue carbon credits, marine spatial planning, and improved fishing practices and traceability

Knowledge Management & Exchange

Developing a regional marine data, information and knowledge management sharing mechanism

Cross-Cutting Issues

Integrando cuestiones de género, juventud, salvaguardias y clima en todas las actividades del proyecto

1 regional

Ocean Coordination Mechanism

7 countries

with improved marine spatial planning

5 NDCs

with better integration of marine environment

4,368,052 hectares

of new MPAs or with enhanced management effectiveness

34 small grants

invested

STRATEGIC ALIGMENT

PROCARIBE+ aligns with key global sustainability initiatives, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN Ocean Decade Actions endorsement of PROCARIBE+ recognizes it as a Decade Programme, recognizing the Project's contribution towards the generation and application of ocean knowledge to support sustainable blue economies, ecosystem protection, and climate resilience in the Caribbean region. Through these actions, PROCARIBE+ is joining the global community to fulfill the Ocean Decade vision of "the science we need for the ocean we want".

PROCARIBE+ is also registered on the SDG Action Platform highlighting its important role in advancing the 2030 Agenda, fostering regional partnerships, and strengthening actions that contribute to multiple SDGs, including SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Feb 03, 2026 News articles

PROCARIBE+ participated in the Diagnostic Workshop for the project's intervention sites in Cuba

PROCARIBE+ participated in the Diagnostic Workshop for the project's intervention sites in Cuba, a key space for exchange and joint work with specialists from the National Center for Protected Areas (CNAP), representatives of marine protected areas (MPAs), and local communities linked to these areas.

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Jan 20, 2026

A Milestone for Global Oceans and an Opportunity for the Wider Caribbean: Entry into Force of the BBNJ Agreement

The Secretariat of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism joins the international community in celebrating a historic achievement: the entry into force, on the past January 17, of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

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Dec 11, 2025

Joint Workshop of the Working Groups of OCM and First Regional Partnership Forum

The Secretariat of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM), together with partner organizations and in coordination with the Chairs of the MCO Steering Group and Executive Group, will hold the First Joint Workshop of the OCM Working Groups and the First Regional Partnership Forum: "Our Sea - Our Source - Our Future. The Wider Caribbean (and beyond): United in Action, from analysis to decision-making and implementation,"

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Dec 02, 2025

Protecting the ocean from the sky: the Drone Pilot and Participatory Mapping Course was held to promote watershed protection in Saint Lucia

PROCARIBE+ through the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) implemented by UNDP is supporting activities under the Flowing Clean project to protect the Soufrière Watershed in Saint Lucia. A group of thirteen professionals, from five local organizations, gained technical skills through the Drone Pilot and Participatory Mapping Course to collect aerial data, identify changes in land use, and better monitor threats such as erosion and pollution.

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Nov 11, 2025

Caribbean and African SIDS Unite: PROCARIBE+ Hosts Blue Economy Twinning Exchange in Belize and Cartagena

The PROCARIBE+ Project facilitated a successful Blue Economy Twinning Exchange, a peer-to-peer learning mission that strengthened SIDS-to-SIDS collaboration between the Caribbean and Africa. Jointly supported by GEF IW:LEARN, PROCARIBE+, and the African SIDS Blue Economy Projects, the mission aimed at transferring knowledge and experiences on sustainable ocean management and innovative financing. Participants included Mrs. Shamiso Mlilwana, Project Coordinator of the African SIDS Blue Economy Project; Mr. Vianey Assonfack Ndemasse from the African Union Commission; and Ms. Sonia Gautreau, Senior Project Officer of the PROCARIBE+ Project.

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