Each Party that has artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing subject to this Article within its territory shall take steps to reduce, and where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury and mercury compounds in, and the emissions and releases to the environment of mercury from, such mining and processing.

1. This Article concerns controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions of mercury and mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, to the atmosphere through measures to control emissions from the point sources falling within the source categories listed in Annex D. 2. For the purposes of this Article: (a) “Emissions ” means emissions of mercury or mercury compounds to the atmosphere; (b) “Relevant source ” means a source falling within one of the source categories listed in Annex D. A Party may, if it chooses, establish criteria to identify the sources covered within a source category listed in Annex D so long as those criteria for any category include at least 75 per cent of the emissions from that category; (c) “New source ” means any relevant source within a category listed in Annex D, the construction or substantial modification of which is commenced at least one year after the date of: (i) Entry into force of this Convention for the Party concerned; or (ii) Entry into force for the Party concerned of an amendment to Annex D where the source becomes subject to the provisions of this Convention only by virtue of that amendment; (d) “Substantial modification ” means modification of a relevant source that results in a significant increase in emissions, excluding any change in emissions resulting from by-product recovery. It shall be a matter for the Party to decide whether a modification is substantial or not; (e) “Existing source ” means any relevant source that is not a new source; (f) “Emission limit value ” means a limit on the concentration, mass or emission rate of mercury or mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, emitted from a point source. 3. A Party with relevant sources shall take measures to control emissions and may prepare a national plan setting out the measures to be taken to control emissions and its expected targets, goals and outcomes. Any plan shall be submitted to the Conference of the Parties within four years of the date of entry into force of the Convention for that Party . If a Party develops an implementation plan in accordance with Article 20 , the Party may include in it the plan prepared pursuant to this paragraph. 4. For its new sources, each Party shall require the use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control and, where feasible, reduce emissions, as soon as practicable but no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for that Party . A Party may use emission limit values that are consistent with the application of best available techniques. 5. For its existing sources, each Party shall include in any national plan, and shall implement, one or more of the following measures, taking into account its national circumstances, and the economic and technical feasibility and affordability of the measures, as soon as practicable but no more than ten years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it: (a) A quantified goal for controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions from relevant sources; (b) Emission limit values for controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions from relevant sources; (c) The use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control emissions from relevant sources; (d) A multi-pollutant control strategy that would deliver co-benefits for control of mercury emissions; (e) Alternative measures to reduce emissions from relevant sources. 6. Parties may apply the same measures to all relevant existing sources or may adopt different measures in respect of different source categories. The objective shall be for those measures applied by a Party to achieve reasonable progress in reducing emissions over time. 7. Each Party shall establish, as soon as practicable and no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it, and maintain thereafter, an inventory of emissions from relevant sources. 8. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first meeting, adopt guidance on: (a) Best available techniques and on best environmental practices, taking into account any difference between new and existing sources and the need to minimize cross-media effects; and (b) Support for Parties in implementing the measures set out in paragraph 5 , in particular in determining goals and in setting emission limit values. 9. The Conference of the Parties shall, as soon as practicable, adopt guidance on: (a) Criteria that Parties may develop pursuant to paragraph 2 (b); (b) The methodology for preparing inventories of emissions. 10. The Conference of the Parties shall keep under review, and update as appropriate, the guidance developed pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9 . Parties shall take the guidance into account in implementing the relevant provisions of this Article. 11. Each Party shall include information on its implementation of this Article in its reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 , in particular information concerning the measures it has taken in accordance with paragraphs 4 to 7 and the effectiveness of the measures.

1. This Article concerns controlling and, where feasible, reducing releases of mercury and mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, to land and water from the relevant point sources not addressed in other provisions of this Convention. 2. For the purposes of this Article: (a) “Releases ” means releases of mercury or mercury compounds to land or water; (b) “Relevant source ” means any significant anthropogenic point source of release as identified by a Party that is not addressed in other provisions of this Convention; (c) “New source ” means any relevant source, the construction or substantial modification of which is commenced at least one year after the date of entry into force of this Convention for the Party concerned; (d) “Substantial modification ” means modification of a relevant source that results in a significant increase in releases, excluding any change in releases resulting from by-product recovery. It shall be a matter for the Party to decide whether a modification is substantial or not; (e) “Existing source ” means any relevant source that is not a new source; (f) “Release limit value ” means a limit on the concentration or mass of mercury or mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, released from a point source. 3. Each Party shall, no later than three years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it and on a regular basis thereafter, identify the relevant point source categories. 4. A Party with relevant sources shall take measures to control releases and may prepare a national plan setting out the measures to be taken to control releases and its expected targets, goals and outcomes. Any plan shall be submitted to the Conference of the Parties within four years of the date of entry into force of the Convention for that Party . If a Party develops an implementation plan in accordance with Article 20 , the Party may include in it the plan prepared pursuant to this paragraph. 5. The measures shall include one or more of the following, as appropriate: (a) Release limit values to control and, where feasible, reduce releases from relevant sources; (b) The use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control releases from relevant sources; (c) A multi-pollutant control strategy that would deliver co-benefits for control of mercury releases; (d) Alternative measures to reduce releases from relevant sources. 6. Each Party shall establish, as soon as practicable and no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it, and maintain thereafter, an inventory of releases from relevant sources. 7. The Conference of the Parties shall, as soon as practicable, adopt guidance on: (a) Best available techniques and on best environmental practices, taking into account any difference between new and existing sources and the need to minimize cross-media effects; (b) The methodology for preparing inventories of releases. 8. Each Party shall include information on its implementation of this Article in its reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 , in particular information concerning the measures it has taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 6 and the effectiveness of the measures.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining National action plans 1. Each Party that is subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 7 shall include in its national action plan: (a) National objectives and reduction targets; (b) Actions to eliminate: (i) Whole ore amalgamation; (ii) Open burning of amalgam or processed amalgam; (iii) Burning of amalgam in residential areas; and (iv) Cyanide leaching in sediment, ore or tailings to which mercury has been added without first removing the mercury; (c) Steps to facilitate the formalization or regulation of the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector; (d) Baseline estimates of the quantities of mercury used and the practices employed in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing within its territory; (e) Strategies for promoting the reduction of emissions and releases of, and exposure to, mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing, including mercury-free methods; (f) Strategies for managing trade and preventing the diversion of mercury and mercury compounds from both foreign and domestic sources to use in artisanal and small scale gold mining and processing; (g) Strategies for involving stakeholders in the implementation and continuing development of the national action plan; (h) A public health strategy on the exposure of artisanal and small-scale gold miners and their communities to mercury. Such a strategy should include, inter alia, the gathering of health data, training for health-care workers and awareness-raising through health facilities; (i) Strategies to prevent the exposure of vulnerable populations, particularly children and women of child-bearing age, especially pregnant women, to mercury used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining; (j) Strategies for providing information to artisanal and small-scale gold miners and affected communities; and (k) A schedule for the implementation of the national action plan. 2. Each Party may include in its national action plan additional strategies to achieve its objectives, including the use or introduction of standards for mercury-free artisanal and small-scale gold mining and market-based mechanisms or marketing tools.

Parties are encouraged to take action to implement and support, including through results-based payments, the existing framework as set out in related guidance and decisions already agreed under the Convention for: policy approaches and positive incentives for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries; and alternative policy approaches, such as joint mitigation and adaptation approaches for the integral and sustainable management of forests, while reaffirming the importance of incentivizing, as appropriate, non-carbon benefits associated with such approaches.

Building the resilience of socioeconomic and ecological systems, including through economic diversification and sustainable management of natural resources.

The cultural and natural heritage is among the priceless and irreplaceable assets, not only of each nation, but of humanity as a whole. The loss, through deterioration or disappearance, of any of these most prized assets constitutes an impoverishment of the heritage of all the peoples of the world. Parts of this heritage, because of their exceptional qualities, can be considered to be of “Outstanding Universal Value” and as such worthy of special protection against the dangers which increasingly threaten them.

While fully respecting the sovereignty of the States on whose territory the cultural and natural heritage is situated, States Parties to the Convention recognize the collective interest of the international community to cooperate in the protection of this heritage. States Parties to the World Heritage Convention , have the responsibility to: [Article 6(1) of the World Heritage Convention .] [Decision 43 COM 11A] a) ensure the identification, nomination, protection, conservation, presentation, and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage found within their territory, and give help in these tasks to other States Parties that request it; [ Article 4 and 6(2) of the World Heritage Convention. ] b) adopt general policies to give the heritage a function in the life of the community; [ Article 5 of the World Heritage Convention. ] c) integrate heritage protection into comprehensive planning programmes and coordination mechanisms, giving consideration in particular to the resilience of socio-ecological systems of properties; d) establish services for the protection, conservation and presentation of the heritage; e) develop scientific and technical studies to identify actions that would counteract the dangers that threaten the heritage; f) take appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures to protect the heritage; g) foster the establishment or development of national or regional centres for training in the protection, conservation and presentation of the heritage and encourage scientific research in these fields; h) not take any deliberate measures that directly or indirectly damage their heritage or that of another State Party to the Convention ; [ Article 6(3) of the World Heritage Convention. ] i) submit to the World Heritage Committee an inventory of properties suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List (referred to as a Tentative List); [ Article 11(1) of the World Heritage Convention .] j) make regular contributions to the World Heritage Fund, the amount of which is determined by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention ; [ Article 16(1) of the World Heritage Convention .] k) consider and encourage the establishment of national, public and private foundations or associations to facilitate donations for the protection of World Heritage; [ Article 17 of the World Heritage Convention .] l) give assistance to international fundraising campaigns organized for the World Heritage Fund; { Article 18 of the World Heritage Convention . } m) use educational and information programmes to strengthen appreciation and respect by their peoples of the cultural and natural heritage defined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention , and to keep the public informed of the dangers threatening this heritage; [ Article 27 of the World Heritage Convention .] n) provide information to the World Heritage Committee on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the state of conservation of properties; and [ Article 29 of the World Heritage Convention .] [Resolution adopted by the 11th General Assembly of States Parties (1997)] o) contribute to and comply with the sustainable development objectives, including gender equality, in the World Heritage processes and in their heritage conservation and management systems.

Chapter IV.A Reactive Monitoring Definition of Reactive Monitoring 169. Reactive Monitoring is the reporting by the Secretariat, other sectors of UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies to the Committee on the state of Decision 39 COM 11 conservation of specific World Heritage properties that are under threat. To this end, the States Parties shall submit specific reports and impact studies each time exceptional circumstances occur or work is undertaken which may have an impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property or its state of conservation. [Decision 39 COM 11] Reactive Monitoring is also foreseen in reference to properties inscribed, or to be inscribed, on the List of World Heritage in Danger as set out in paragraphs 177-191. Reactive Monitoring is also foreseen in the procedures for the eventual deletion of properties from the World Heritage List as set out in paragraphs 192-198. These reports shall be submitted to the World Heritage Committee through the Secretariat, using the standard format in Annex 13, in English or French: a) by 1 December of the year preceding the examination of the property by the Committee, for the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, b) by 1 February of the year of examination of the property by the Committee, for the properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and for specific cases of utmost urgency. Objective of Reactive Monitoring 170. When adopting the process of Reactive Monitoring, the Committee was particularly concerned that all possible measures should be taken to prevent the deletion of any property from the List and was ready to offer technical cooperation as far as possible to States Parties in this connection. [Article 4 of the Convention:"Each State Party to this Convention recognizes that the duty of ensuring the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage referred to in Articles 1 and 2 and situated on its territory, belongs primarily to that State...".] 171. The Committee recommends that States Parties cooperate with the Advisory Bodies which have been asked by the Committee to carry out monitoring and reporting on its behalf on the progress of work undertaken for the preservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. Information received from States Parties and/or other sources 172. The World Heritage Committee invites the States Parties to the Convention to inform the Committee, through the Secretariat, of their intention to undertake or to authorize in an area protected under the Convention major restorations or new constructions which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. Notice should be given as soon as possible (for instance, before drafting basic documents for specific projects) and before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, so that the Committee may assist in seeking appropriate solutions to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is fully preserved. 173. The World Heritage Committee requests that reports of missions to review the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties include: [Decision 27 COM 7B.106] a) an indication of threats or significant improvement in the conservation of the property since the last report to the World Heritage Committee; b) any follow-up to previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of the property; c) information on any threat or damage to or loss of Outstanding Universal Value, integrity and/or authenticity for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List. 174. When the Secretariat receives information that a property inscribed has seriously deteriorated, or that the necessary corrective measures have not been taken within the time proposed, from a source other than the State Party concerned, it will, as far as possible, verify the source and the contents of the information in consultation with the State Party concerned and request its comments. Decision by the World Heritage Committee 175. The Secretariat will request the relevant Advisory Bodies to forward comments on the information received. 176. The information received, together with the comments of the State Party and the Advisory Bodies, will be brought to the attention of the Committee in the form of a state of conservation report for each property, which may take one or more of the following steps: [Decision 39 COM 11] [Decision 43 COM 11A] a) it may decide that the property has not seriously deteriorated and that no further action should be taken; b) when the Committee considers that the property has seriously deteriorated, but not to the extent that its restoration is impossible, it may decide that the property be maintained on the List, provided that the State Party takes the necessary measures to restore the property within a reasonable period of time. The Committee may also decide that technical cooperation be provided under the World Heritage Fund for work connected with the restoration of the property, proposing to the State Party to request such assistance, if it has not already been done; in some circumstances States Parties may wish to invite an Advisory mission by the relevant Advisory Body(ies) or other organization(s) or expert(s) to seek advice on necessary measures to reverse deterioration and address threats; c) when the requirements and criteria set out in Paragraphs 177-182 are met, the Committee may decide to inscribe the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger according to the procedures set out in Paragraphs 183-189; d) when there is evidence that the property has deteriorated to the point where it has irretrievably lost those characteristics which determined its inscription on the List, the Committee may decide to delete the property from the List. Before any such action is taken, the Secretariat will inform the State Party concerned. Any comments which the State Party may make will be brought to the attention of the Committee; e) when the information available is not sufficient to enable the Committee to take one of the measures described in a), b), c) or d) above, the Committee may decide that the Secretariat be authorized to take the necessary action to ascertain, in consultation with the State Party concerned, the present condition of the property, the dangers to the property and the feasibility of adequately restoring the property. Such measures may include the sending of a Reactive Monitoring mission or the consultation of specialists, or through an Advisory mission. The Secretariat shall report to the Committee on the results of its action. In case an emergency action is required, the Committee may authorize its financing from the World Heritage Fund through an emergency assistance request. Chapter IV.B The List of World Heritage in Danger Guidelines for the inscription of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 177. In accordance with Article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention , the Committee may inscribe a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger when the following requirements are met: a) the property under consideration is on the World Heritage List; b) the property is threatened by serious and specific danger; c) major operations are necessary for the conservation of the property; d) assistance under the Convention has been requested for the property; the Committee is of the view that its assistance in certain cases may most effectively be limited to messages of its concern, including the message sent by inscription of a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and that such assistance may be requested by any Committee member or the Secretariat. Criteria for the inscription of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 178. A World Heritage property - as defined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention - can be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the Committee when it finds that the condition of the property corresponds to at least one of the criteria in either of the two cases described below. 179. In the case of cultural properties : a) ASCERTAINED DANGER - The property is faced with specific and proven imminent danger, such as: i) serious deterioration of materials; ii) serious deterioration of structure and/or ornamental features; iii) serious deterioration of architectural or town-planning coherence; iv) serious deterioration of urban or rural space, or the natural environment; v) significant loss of historical authenticity; vi) important loss of cultural significance. b) POTENTIAL DANGER - The property is faced with threats which could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics. Such threats are, for example: i) modification of juridical status of the property diminishing the degree of its protection; ii) lack of conservation policy; iii) threatening effects of regional planning projects; iv) threatening effects of town planning; v) outbreak or threat of armed conflict; vi) threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors 180. In the case of natural properties : [Decision 39 COM 11] a) ASCERTAINED DANGER The property is faced with specific and proven imminent danger, such as: i) A serious decline in the population of the endangered species or the other species of Outstanding Universal Value for which the property was legally established to protect, either by natural factors such as disease or by human-made factors such as poaching. ii) Severe deterioration of the natural beauty or scientific value of the property, as by human settlement, construction of reservoirs which flood important parts of the property, industrial and agricultural development including use of pesticides and fertilizers, major public works, mining, pollution, logging, firewood collection, etc. iii) Human encroachment on boundaries or in upstream areas which threaten the integrity of the property. b) POTENTIAL DANGER The property is faced with major threats which could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics. Such threats are, for example: i) a modification of the legal protective status of the area; ii) planned resettlement or development projects within the property or so situated that the impacts threaten the property; iii) outbreak or threat of armed conflict; iv) the management plan or management system is lacking or inadequate, or not fully implemented. v) threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors. 181. In addition, the threats and/or their detrimental impacts on the integrity of the property must be those which are amenable to correction by human action. In the case of cultural properties, both natural factors and human-made factors may be threatening, while in the case of natural properties, most threats will be human-made and only very rarely a natural factor (such as an epidemic disease) will threaten the integrity of the property. In some cases, the threats and/or their detrimental impacts on the integrity of the property may be corrected by administrative or legislative action, such as the cancelling of a major public works project or the improvement of legal status. [Decision 39 COM 11] 182. The Committee may wish to bear in mind the following supplementary factors when considering the inclusion of a cultural or natural property in the List of World Heritage in Danger: a) Decisions which affect World Heritage properties are taken by Governments after balancing all factors. The advice of the World Heritage Committee can often be decisive if it can be given before the property becomes threatened. b) Particularly in the case of ascertained danger, the physical or cultural deteriorations to which a property has been subjected should be judged according to the intensity of its effects and analyzed case by case. c) Above all, in the case of potential danger to a property, one should consider that: i) the threat should be appraised according to the normal evolution of the social and economic framework in which the property is situated; ii) it is often impossible to assess certain threats such as the threat of armed conflict as to their effect on cultural or natural properties; iii) some threats are not imminent in nature, but can only be anticipated, such as demographic growth. d) Finally, in its appraisal, the Committee should take into account any cause of unknown or unexpected origin which endangers a cultural or natural property. Procedure for the inscription of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 183. When considering the inscription of a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the Committee shall develop, and adopt, as far as possible, in consultation with the State Party concerned, a “Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger”, and a programme for corrective measures. 184. In order to develop the programme of corrective measures referred to in the previous paragraph, the Committee shall request the Secretariat to ascertain, as far as possible in cooperation with the State Party concerned, the present condition of the property, the dangers to the property and the feasibility of undertaking corrective measures. The Committee may further decide to send a Reactive Monitoring mission from the relevant Advisory Bodies or other organizations to visit the property, evaluate the nature and extent of the threats and propose the measures to be taken. In some circumstances, the State Party may wish to invite an Advisory mission to provide advice and guidance. [Decision 39 COM 11] 185. The information received, together with the comments as appropriate of the State Party and the relevant Advisory Bodies or other organizations, will be brought to the attention of the Committee by the Secretariat. 186. The Committee shall examine the information available and take a decision concerning the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Any such decision shall be taken by a majority of two-thirds of the Committee members present and voting. The Committee will then define the programme of corrective action to be taken. This programme will be proposed to the State Party concerned for immediate implementation. 187. The State Party concerned shall be informed of the Committee's decision and public notice of the decision shall immediately be issued by the Committee, in accordance with Article 11.4 of the Convention . 188. The Secretariat publishes the updated List of World Heritage in Danger in printed form and is also available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/danger 189. The Committee shall allocate a specific, significant portion of the World Heritage Fund to financing of possible assistance to World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Regular review of the state of conservation of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 190. The Committee shall review annually the state of conservation of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. This review shall include such monitoring procedures and expert missions as might be determined necessary by the Committee. 191. On the basis of these regular reviews, the Committee shall decide, in consultation with the State Party concerned, whether: a) additional measures are required to conserve the property; b) to delete the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger if the property is no longer under threat; c) to consider the deletion of the property from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List if the property has deteriorated to the extent that it has lost those characteristics which determined its inscription on the World Heritage List, in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraphs 192-198. Chapter IV.C Procedure for the eventual deletion of properties from the World Heritage List 192. The Committee adopted the following procedure for the deletion of properties from the World Heritage List in cases: [Decision 39 COM 11] a) where the property has deteriorated to the extent that it has lost those characteristics which determined its inclusion in the World Heritage List; and b) where the intrinsic qualities of a World Heritage property were already threatened at the time of its nomination by human action and where the necessary corrective measures as outlined by the State Party at the time, have not been taken within the time proposed (see paragraph 116). 193. When a property inscribed on the World Heritage List has seriously deteriorated, or when the necessary corrective measures have not been taken within the time proposed, the State Party on whose territory the property is situated should so inform the Secretariat. 194. When the Secretariat receives such information from a source other than the State Paily concerned, it will, as far as possible, verily the source and the contents of the information in consultation with the State Paily concerned and request its comments. 195. The Secretariat will request the relevant Advisory Bodies to forward comments on the information received. 196. The Committee will examine all the information available and will take a decision. Any such decision shall, in accordance with Article 13 (8) of the Convention , be taken by a majority of two-thirds of its members present and voting. The Committee shall not decide to delete any property unless the State Party has been consulted on the question. 197. The State Party shall be informed of the Committee's decision and public notice of this decision shall be immediately given by the Committee. 198. If the Committee's decision entails any modification to the World Heritage List, this modification will be reflected in the next updated List that is published.

The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly, take all appropriate measures to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems, as well as the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species, in the Convention area . To this end, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to establish protected areas. The establishment of such areas shall not affect the rights of other Contracting Parties and third States. In addition, the Contracting Parties shall exchange information concerning the administration and management of such areas.

1. Each Party shall, when necessary, establish protected areas in areas over which it exercises sovereignty, or sovereign rights or jurisdiction, with a view to sustaining the natural resources of the Wider Caribbean Region , and encouraging ecologically sound and appropriate use, understanding and enjoyment of these areas, in accordance with the objectives and characteristics of each of them. 2. Such areas shall be established in order to conserve, maintain and restore, in particular: (a) Representative types of coastal and marine ecosystems of adequate size to ensure their long-term viability and to maintain biological and genetic diversity; (b) Habitats and their associated ecosystems critical to the survival and recovery of endangered, threatened or endemic species of flora or fauna; (c) The productivity of ecosystems and natural resources that provide economic or social benefits and upon which the welfare of local inhabitants is dependent; and (d) Areas of special biological, ecological, educational, scientific, historic, cultural, recreational, archaeological, aesthetic, or economic value, including in particular, areas whose ecological and biological processes are essential to the functioning of the Wider Caribbean ecosystems.

Each Party to this Protocol may, as necessary, strengthen the protection of a protected area by establishing, within areas in which it exercises sovereignty, or sovereign rights or jurisdiction, one or more buffer zones in which activities are less restricted than in the protected area while remaining compatible with achieving the purposes of the protected area.