In the 1960s at a time when the impact of development activities on Caribbean environments was beginning to be visible, intrusive and troublesome, a number of groups and individuals concerned with the conservation of the region''s natural resources and cultural heritage, conceived the idea for the formation of a conservation group for the Caribbean region.

With support from Laurence Rockefeller, who in the 1950''s had purchased two-thirds of St. John (to the US Virgin Islands) and donated it for establishment of a National Park, a regional survey on conservation problems was carried out by Dr Carl Carlozzi of the University of Massachusetts.

One of the first organizations to take concrete action to address on a regional basis the environmental problems brought by development, was the research wing of the then College of the Virgin Islands -- the Caribbean Research Institute. Established in October 1965, one of the CRI''s first significant projects was the joint sponsorship of the Eastern Caribbean Conservation Conference on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands along with the American Conservation Association, headed by Mr Rockefeller, and the Government of the U.S.V.I.

The conference focused on the Carlozzi findings and was titled "Conservation in the Eastern Caribbean." It generated a sequence of activities throughout the region relating to conservation programmes and environmental activities. Particularly it recognized the need for international planning and cooperation in meeting the conservation requirements of the region and concluded its deliberations by recommending the establishment of a regional body to help meet these needs.

The conference paved the way for the founding of the Caribbean Conservation Association, which was subsequently formed in 1967 at an inaugural meeting in Grenada. It was attended by delegates from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and the U.S. mainland. Dr Carlozzi presided over that first meeting and the first officers elected to head the new organization included the late Ronald Tree of Barbados as president, Dr Arthur Dammann as Vice-President, Dr Carlozzi as Executive Secretary and Mr D. L. Matheson of St. Kitts as Treasurer.

By 1969, the Association undertook a country by country, island by island, recruiting effort to seek advice and support from within the region aimed at development of a needs statement and establishment of a support base and commitment from a broad professional, international and institutional base. Under the presidency of Dr Edward Towle, 13 Caribbean states were visited and more than 100 West Indian Leaders were consulted. From the team''s findings and the recommendations of indigenous leaders came a four year major development plan for the "Caribbean Conservation Program" and for the new Caribbean Conservation Association.

The ensuing years witnessed the establishment of a Secretariat for the Association which was initially located in the U.S. Virgin Islands - first at the Caribbean Research Institute of the College of the Virgin Islands and later, from 1971 to 1974 at the Island Resources Foundation. Mr Muhamad Hanif, previously the Director of the Guyana Museum and Zoo, was employed as CCA''s first Executive Director in 1970.

Now thirty years later, with its headquarters based in Barbados, the Caribbean Conservation Association''s membership is comprised of 20 regional governments, 86 Caribbean-based non-governmental organizations, 17 non-Caribbean Institutions, as well as individual, sponsoring and student members. The Association''s activities have spanned five major programme areas: the formulation and promotion of environmental policies and strategies information collection and dissemination services promotion of public awareness through environmental education activities research about, support for, and implementation of natural resource management projects to foster sustainable development assistance for cultural patrimony programmes.

The Association which retains a regional focus is dedicated to promoting policies and practices which contribute to the conservation, protection and wise use of natural and cultural resources in order to enhance the quality of live for present and future generations. In its mission, the Caribbean Conservation Association establishes partnerships with organizations and groups which share common objectives. It focuses attention on activities designed to anticipate and prevent, rather than react and cure.