    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [April 20, 1993]
    [Pages 466-467]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Protocol to the Caribbean
    Environmental Convention
    April 20, 1993

    To the Senate of the United States:
        I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and
    Wildlife to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the
    Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, done at Kingston on
    January 18, 1990. Included for the information of the Senate is a
    Proces-verbal of Rectification correcting technical errors in the
    English and Spanish language texts. I also transmit, for the information
    of the Senate, the Annexes to the Protocol which were adopted at
    Kingston June 11, 1991, and the report of the Department of State with
    respect to the Protocol.
        The Protocol elaborates and builds on the general obligation in the
    Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment
    of the Wider Caribbean Region, which calls for parties to establish
    specially protected areas in order to protect and preserve rare or
    fragile ecosystems, as well as the habitats of threatened or endangered
    species of fauna and flora. Species of plants and animals that the
    parties believe require international cooperation to provide adequate
    protection are listed in three Annexes developed in implementation of
    the Protocol. The initial version of the Annexes was adopted in 1991.
    Annexes I and II list species of special concern, including endan-

    [[Page 467]]

    gered and threatened species, subspecies, and their populations of
    plants (Annex I) and animals (Annex II). Species included in these
    Annexes are to receive protection within the geographic area of the
    Protocol comparable to that for species listed as endangered or
    threatened under the Endangered Species Act, or protected under the
    Marine Mammal Protection Act. Annex III lists plants and animals
    requiring some management, but not necessarily full protection.
        The Protocol is considered a major step forward in protecting
    wildlife and habitats of special concern in the Caribbean. Early
    ratification will demonstrate our continued commitment to the goal of
    sound regional environmental management and protection. I recommend that
    the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Protocol and
    give its advice and consent to ratification, subject to the
    understanding and reservations described in the accompanying report of
    the Secretary of State.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    April 20, 1993.