Climate change and neotropical pollinators
Thematic area: climate change
Title: Climate change and neotropical pollinators – the state of knowledge, policies and programmes in Caribbean Small Island Developing States
Keywords: pollination, climate change, Caribbean, Small Island Developing States
Author: Lena Dempewolf
Affiliation: Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Development, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Level 7 Tower C, International Waterfront Complex, 1A Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Contact information: lena.dempewolf@gmail.com, lena.dempewolf@planning.gov.tt, phone: (868) 290-8333 (c), (868) 225-3384 (w)
Abstract:
Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are highly data deficient with respect to pollination services and their management. SIDS face unique challenges in managing pollination, both ecological and socio-political in nature, which in turn impact food security. High rates of endemism and extinction, high vulnerability to habitat changes and drastic impacts of invasive species and human activities consistent with small islands underscore the urgency for an increased focus on pollinator research.
The additional increased and disproportionate susceptibility of SIDS to the effects of climate change and natural disasters along with a limited capacity of these islands to mitigate the impacts of these complex issues further stresses the need for baseline data on important pollinating species and ways to safeguard them from extinction in order to maintain endemic plant and animal species and ensure a steady food supply. Published work in pollination from the region is mostly focused narrowly on particular species and very little research was recently conducted.
As current knowledge is inadequate for the development of policies and management practices on local and regional scales, the paper discusses the scope of available data, research and policy needs, and potential avenues for increasing pollinator awareness, education and management across Caribbean islands, particularly in the context of climate change.