LBS Protocol

The Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol) to the Cartagena Convention was adopted in Oranjestad, Aruba, on 6 October 1999. 

The Protocol is the most significant agreement of its kind. It includes regional effluent limitations for domestic wastewater (sewage) and requires the development of plans to address agricultural non-point sources of pollution. Specific schedules for implementation are also included in the Protocol.

The Protocol entered into force on August 13, 2010. The GEF CReW+ project has been supporting the adoption and ratification of the LBS protocol,  8 participating countries of the project have ratified it.

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Guidelines for classification of waters according to the LBS Protocol

This document details the efforts under the Cartagena Convention and the FTCM Protocol to protect the Caribbean Sea through the implementation of coastal and marine water classification systems. The RAC IMA and RAC CIMAB regional centers assessed the legislation of twenty countries. Finally, the document proposes guidelines based on international lessons learned to harmonize legal frameworks, improve monitoring, and strengthen environmental rehabilitation throughout the Greater Caribbean Region.

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Technical paper on proposed criteria for nutrients discharges for domestic wastewater effluent

Technical proposal within the framework of the CReW+ Project and the Cartagena Convention to update the LBS Protocol, with the aim of establishing stricter criteria for the discharge of domestic wastewater and promoting its reuse in the Greater Caribbean region. The proposal emphasizes the urgent need to regulate nitrogen and phosphorus flows, warning of the disruption of biogeochemical cycles, which represents a high environmental risk. Through case studies in small island states with water scarcity, the proposal seeks to mitigate pollution and promote sustainable management of reclaimed water in the face of the global nutrient crisis.

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Regional criteria and standards for n and p loads in domestic and industrial wastewater discharges

The FTCM Protocol seeks to strengthen nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) regulations in the Caribbean region to combat eutrophication, as current domestic wastewater limits omit these nutrients. Following an analysis by the IMA and CIMAB of legislation in twenty countries, a lack of uniformity in discharge criteria was identified, along with the need to standardize which compounds are regulated. Based on international models such as those of Australia and the European Union, specific N and P limits have been proposed for Class I and II waters, thus establishing an initial framework to protect marine ecosystems and improve regional environmental management.

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Assessment and recommendations on the management of freshwater resources within the framework of the cartagena convention

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) seeks to balance socioeconomic well-being with ecosystem sustainability by addressing, in a coordinated manner, the management of water, soil, and human-caused pollutants that impact areas from watersheds to coastlines. Despite its importance, the Greater Caribbean region faces critical barriers to its implementation, such as a lack of funding and fragmented governance. Therefore, regional centers like the IMA and CIMAB propose integrating this approach into the Cartagena Convention.

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Parties to the LBS Protocol

    1. Antigua and Barbuda
    2. Bahamas
    3. Barbados
    4. Belize
    5. Costa Rica
    6. Dominican Republic
    7. France
    8. Guyana
    9. Honduras
    10. Jamaica
    11. Panama
    12. St. Lucia
    13. Trinidad and Tobago
    14. United Kingdom
    15. United States of America