Written by Norma Cherry-Fevrier

... Around the globe, there is evidence of vast amounts of environmental degradation. For this reason, sustainable activities along with sustainable financing mechanisms geared towards environmental conservation must be explored...In many Caribbean countries, revenue collected by the state for the financing of environmental conservation projects, such as environmental levies and taxes is often not used for the intended purpose, but instead, is put into national consolidated funds and used to finance other projects...As a result, new and more innovative financing mechanisms should be utilised to illustrate their benefits in the long term to society, the environment and the economy and not divided between the three as is sometimes presented...All things considered, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) should seek to utilise these sustainable financing options that can provide longer-term financing streams for conservation activities, rather than relying on traditional government funding that further increases national debt...