One of the objectives behind the Caribbean Environmental Reporters' Network is the channelling of information to the the man-in-the-street who will make a difference. Panos' and CERN wants everyone to understand science where it impacts development and peoples' lives. This way people will understand what they need to do to protect the environment and improve their lives.

The following environmental problems were identified across the Caribbean region:

	The impact of the human population of the biodiversity of the region which has far reaching effects
	The effects of pesticides and other chemicals and the continued importation of banned agricultural pesticides into the region
	The effects of agricultural practises on the environment
	The continued pollution of coastal waters by sewage and other effluent;
	The rate at which wetlands are being destroyed
	The re-institution of bird shooting which is said to be defeating efforts of conservation
	The rate of deforestation in the mountainous and forest regions of the islands affects rainfall patterns and water supplies
	Development at the expense of the environment the growth of tourism at the expense of the environment; construction to facilitate the trade or housing which contributes to illegal sand mining and the destruction of beaches and wetlands and eventually corals;
	The Waste trade
	The decline and extinction of certain species of animals across the region:the sea cow, coney and iguana in Jamaica; the mountain chicken in Dominica among others
	The decline of fisheries in the region
	The rising levels of poverty among countries in the region and the accompanying degradation of the environment, as people search for a livelihood.
	Protection of indgenous animal and plant species: The rediscovery of the iguana; the fight to save the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly; the endangered species of the region including the Jamaican yellow and black billed parrots, the colourful parrots (Macaws ) of South America , the Jamaican coney, yellow tail, the tree fern among other things.

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