Introduction 

The Caribbean region is undergoing rapid economic development associated with a fast rate of industrialization, urbanisation and population growth. Consequently there has been a substantial increase in demand for land, building material and in the amount of industrial and domestic waste produced. These problems are generally compounded by the destruction of natural protective vegetation cover and a reduction in biological diversity. These events often lead to environmental degradation of water, soil, air, natural habitats and biological diversity. In turn these will eventually slow down and threaten the pace of economic development if they are not planned and controlled.

As a result, there is a real need for effective management of the limited land and marine resources in the Caribbean region. This necessitates the use of the most efficient and cost effective methods in the quest to sensibly utilise and conserve land and marine resource whilst obtaining the highest possible production to further the development process. Achieving and maintaining sustainable development in the future will need focused promotion of education and research in Environment-related fields underpinned by Geo-sciences including Remote sensing, Photogrammetry, Geodesy, Cartography, Surveying, Land management, Life sciences, Ecology and Planning.

Mission Of The Centre

To support and promote sustainable development by means of evaluating the current Caribbean state of affairs in Environment-related fields underpinned by Geo-sciences through collecting, analysing, managing and disseminating geo-based information on natural resources and the condition of the environment. Moreover, to identify the impact of a range of development and human activities on the environment and to propose a range of operational measures and solutions which may be used to achieve sustainable development. Furthermore to provide a framework for promoting research excellence and consultancy activities in Environment-related fields underpinned by Geo-sciences. 

Goals of the Centre

i) To advance multidisciplinary research and development in geo-based sciences in general and in new relevant technologies such as Remote sensing and GIS in particular. 

ii) To provide the infrastructure to foster interdisciplinary research in Environmental geo-based studies. 

iii) To actively promote and assist CLEAR members in the preparation of research and consultancy grant applications. Every effort will be made to liaise with other Centres in the preparation of joint bids for research and consultancy funding. 

iv) To actively encourage dissemination of research findings, mainly through publication in Internationally Refereed Journals and through presentation of research findings at national and international conferences. 

v) From time to time, CLEAR and/or its members may be actively involved in the organization of local, national and international conferences in order to promote UWI and generate further funds. 

vi) To assist with expanding and strengthening environmental and geo-spatial education at all levels.

Membership

The expertise of current individual members of the Centre include; Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, GIS, Geology, Geography, Planning, Environmental Science, Surveying and Life Sciences. It is anticipated that multi-disciplinary teams comprising of academic staff and other professionals both inside and outside the University of the West Indies would be formed depending on the nature of obtained projects.

The Steering Committee

Professor Serwan M. J. Baban, Dept. Surveying and Land Information: Chair/Director
Professor Baldwin Mootoo, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research): ex officio
Professor Clement Sankat, Dean of Engineering: ex officio
Professor Charles R. McDavid, Dean of Agriculture and Natural Sciences: ex officio
Dr. Raid Al-Tahir, Head, Dept. Surveying and Land Information: member
Dr. Bheshem Ramlal, Dept. Surveying and Land Information: member
Dr. Mike Oatham, Dept. of Life Sciences: member
Dr. John Agard, Dept. of Life Sciences: member