The development of Regional Activity Centres (RACs) and Regional Activity Networks (RANs) is part of a continuing process by which the implementation of project activities is undertaken in a consolidated and co-ordinated manner.  Thus, RACs and RANs represent an institutional framework of technical co-operation consisting of regional and national institutions selected for the purpose of co-ordinating the implementation of the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme (APCEP) activities in a systematic manner.

The overall purpose of RACs and RANs is to co-ordinate the technical implementation of the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme (APCEP) in a systematic manner.  RACs and RANs are to be part of  a process whereby the implementation of project activities occurs in a consolidated and co-ordinated manner.

Regional Activity Centres (RACs) are to be based at existing technical and/or scientific institutions in the Wider Caribbean having the capability to assist the Regional Co-ordinating Unit (RCU) of UNEP with co-ordinating the implementation of relevant activities of APCEP.  One national or regional institution, having special expertise or facilities that qualifies it to co-ordinate a particular subject area, will assume the role of the RAC for the relevant network and will co-ordinate the implementation of activities of the subject area of the network.  For each programme and/or activity within the Action Plan, the RCU would establish linkage principally with the RAC, which would in turn, co-ordinate and integrate the relevant activities of the institutions pursuing that area under the auspices, and with the assistance of the RCU.  Therefore, technical and/or scientifique institutions will assume the role of co-ordinating the implementation of APCEP activities through RACs.  It must be pointed out, however, that RACs will be utilized to co-ordinate the technical and scientific aspects of project implementation only.  The political, and indeed all other aspects of project implementation, will be co-ordinated by the RCU.  Furthermore, the RCU will provide direct supervision of the operations of RAC. [Source: UNEP(OCA)/CARIG.11/7, (1994)]

In light of the foregoing, the CEP currently has four (4) RACs.

• Operating under the framework of the Oil Spills Protocol is the Regional Activity Center for Marine Pollution Emergency and Training for the Wider Caribbean (RAC/REMPEITC-Carib) located in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. The Centre was established to assist countries of the  Wider Caribbean Region to prevent and respond to major pollution incidents in the marine environment. The Center was opened on June 15, 1995 within the framework of the CEP, under the management of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Government of the Netherlands Antilles and the UNEP. For further information, please contact:

RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe

Seru Mahuma z/n,

Aviation and Meteorology Building,

Willemstad - Curacao

Netherlands Antilles

Tel: +599 9 868 4612 / 3409

Email: imoctr@attglobal.net

• Operating under the framework of the SPAW Protocol, is the SPAW-RAC, based in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. The Centre was established to assist the CEP with the implementation of the SPAW Protocol. June 7, 2000 witnessed the signing of an agreement between UNEP-CAR/RCU and France with France agreeing to provide funding and operational support for the SPAW-RAC. The mission of the SPAW-RAC is to contribute to the improved management of specially protected areas and wildlife inthe Wider Caribbean Region. The RAC works under the mandate of the Contracting Parties to the SPAW Protocol and under the overall coordination of UNEP-CAR/RCU.  For further information, please contact:

SPAW - RAC
Cité Guillard
rue des bougainvilliers
97100 Basse-Terre
Guadelopue (FWI)
Tel.: 0509 99 35 60
Fax: 0590 99 35 65
Email: maurice.anselme@guadeloupe.environement.gouv.fr

•  Operating under the framework of the LBS Protocol are two recently formed RACs, one at the Institute of MArine Affairs (IMA) in Trinidad & Tobago and the other at Centro de Ingeniería y Manejo Ambiental de Bahías y Costas (Cimab) in Cuba. These RACs are mandated to facilitate the implementation of the LBS Protocol with activities including:
• LBS-RAC/IMA : activities to determine the socio-economic advantages of ratifying/acceding to the LBS Protocol
• LBS-RAC/Cimab : activities to promote the ratification/accession to the LBS Protocol in the Spanish-speaking countries of the WCR.

 For further information, please contact :

• Institute of Marine Affairs(IMA)

  Hilltop Lane, Chaguaramas

  Carenage Post Office,

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tel.  (868) 634-4291-4

  Fax.  (868) 634-4433

• Centro de Ingeniería y Manejo Ambiental de Bahías y Costas (Cimab)

  Carretera del Cristo # 3. esq. Tiscornia, Casablanca

  La Habana, AP 17029

  C.P. 11700, Cuba

  Tel: (537) 8624387 ó (537) 862 4447

  Fax: (537) 339681 ó (537) 338250

  e-mail: cimab@transnet.cu