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About CUF 2024

The Caribbean Urban Forum (CUF) is an international conference on urban planning and development, land management and other spatial planning related topics relevant to the Caribbean context.

It’s hosted annually since 2011 in various Caribbean countries. It’s the main opportunity for practitioners, policy makers and researchers to share experience and knowledge on ongoing activities in the Caribbean and/or relevant to the Caribbean, to build capacity through training programmes, workshops, scientific paper presentations, and panel discussions and advance policy positions through dialogues.

More importantly, the event is a key activity which builds comradery between practitioners and strengthens networking with organizations and institutions, giving way to the translation of ideas into plans, and plans into action. The Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) is the host country representative of CUF 2024, which will be held on June 26^th -28^th 2024 at PUCMM, Campus Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

CUF 2024 will be organized in close partnership with the government of the Dominican Republic and with the support of other national, regional, and international organizations. Other major co-hosts are The University of the West Indies (The UWI) through the HIT RESET Caribbean project (Harnessing Innovative Technologies to Support Resilient Settlements on the Coastal Zones of the Caribbean) and the Caribbean Network for Urban and Land Management (The blueSpace Network).

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List of topic areas

During the Caribbean Urban Forum (CUF) six thematic areas are selected: Sustainable Tourism and Application of Digitally Driven Coastal Resilience and Adaptability Strategies in Caribbean SIDS; City management; Climate Change: New and emergent risk scenarios in Caribbean cities; Innovation, technology, and energy; and Changing landscape.

Sustainable tourism

The Caribbean region, renowned for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and warm hospitality, faces the imperative of balancing tourism’s economic benefits with the preservation of its unique ecosystems and cultures. As the region heavily relies on tourism as a primary source of income and employment, understanding how to harness sustainable tourism practices is paramount. This issue recognizes that sustainable tourism can offer not only economic benefits but also protect and celebrate the diverse cultural traditions and fragile ecosystems that make the Caribbean unique. By investigating this balance, researchers can contribute to strategies that ensure the long-term viability of the tourism industry while safeguarding the region’s cultural identity and environmental treasures.
On the other hand, analysis of climate change and its impact on the sustainability of tourism in the Caribbean is critical especially because Caribbean region is particularly vulnerable to climate-related risks such as sea-level rise, hurricanes, and coral bleaching, which can disrupt tourism activities and damage infrastructure. Understanding the specific challenges posed by climate change and developing strategies to enhance the resilience of the tourism industry and local communities is essential. By exploring this question, researchers can provide insights into how adaptation and mitigation measures can be integrated into tourism planning and operations, ultimately safeguarding the industry’s future and the livelihoods of those dependent on it.

Application of Digitally Driven Coastal Resilience and Adaptability Strategies in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Caribbean countries are not major contributors of greenhouse gases but are on the forefront of the impacts of Climate Change. This is expected to be exacerbated by sea level rise and increases in hydro-meteorological events such as storm surges and hurricanes. This impacts the wellbeing of the populations of the Caribbean, as the majority of people live in coastal cities and informal settlements, and most major infrastructure is also located along the coastal zone. Although some capital cities have well-planned areas with sturdy structures, the sprawled communities on the outskirts of the city and those in proximity to the coastline often have non-resilient buildings, informal and haphazard development and are located in highly vulnerable areas putting them at high risk.

City Management (transportation, public services, security)

All cities around the world have diverse needs when it comes to providing solutions to their problems. At present, most cities are using new technologies to offer safe and efficient services to their population, adopting intelligent management solutions and tools.
In the Caribbean, some cities are experiencing rapid population growth and increased tourism, resulting in urban sprawl, congested roads, poor infrastructure, and insecurity, which has given rise to new challenges with significant environmental repercussions. Large shares of the region’s population live in high-risk areas with weak infrastructure. The following questions are posited:

1. How new technologies can be used in city management?
2. What actions can be implemented to encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transportation and to reduce dependence on private automobiles?
3. What kind of solutions do Caribbean cities need to address for raising insecurity problems?
4. How can city planning guarantee the safe and equitable use of the territory?

Climate Change: New and emergent risk scenarios

Caribbean countries have many things in common, including vulnerability to climate change that impacts ecosystems and vulnerability to natural disasters that are becoming more frequent and powerful, generating new risks and scenarios, and enormous economic and human costs. The Caribbean also faces the challenge ofSargassum and its proliferation. Is also a key factor, the impact of the Climate Change in Agriculture and the consequences that production imbalances resulting from this will have on human life. Understanding and addressing these challenges helps to adopt policies to reduce risks, generate significant changes in adaptation and mitigation processes, and increase resilience to future crises through better preparedness and more effective response. Climate change is expected to compound the problem by making such disasters more frequent and severe. The following questions are posited:

1. How do climate and environmental drivers shape the distribution and vitality of Sargassum?
2. How is regional climate change likely to impact Caribbean cities in the coming decades?
3. How climate change influences public policies on agriculture and food security
4. How climate change is re shaping the Caribbean cities?

Innovation, technology, and energy

The Caribbean is rich in terms of biodiversity, vibrant cultures, and unique ecosystems; but it faces numerous challenges in the context of climate change, because this situation increases energy demands and the need for innovative solutions for the region. Therefore, the Caribbean region is highly susceptible to climate change impacts, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and coastal erosion. Technological innovations have the potential to revolutionize how these challenges are managed. By delving into this question, researchers can uncover cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches that can bolster the region’s ability to adapt to climate change. This research can contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable technologies that protect coastal communities and preserve the unique biodiversity of the Caribbean, thus ensuring the long-term well-being of both human and natural systems.

Changing landscape (urban planning and housing)

Urban planning and housing in the Caribbean represent fundamental challenges in shaping the sustainable development of this unique and diverse island region. The Caribbean, characterized by its breathtaking natural beauty, varied cultures, and strategic geographic position, faces several crucial issues related to urban expansion, access to adequate housing and preservation of the environmental setting. The key aspects of urban planning and housing in the Caribbean, highlighting the complexities and opportunities facing Caribbean nations in the quest for sustainable urban development and improved living conditions for their inhabitants.

More Information

Submission Criteria

Submissions are invited under the following criteria:

Presentations: For acceptance to present at the conference, an abstract must be submitted.

These should (a) state the problem being addressed; (b) describe the activities in the work that have addressed the problem and (c) the relevance of the paper to the theme and/or sub-theme.

Abstracts should be submitted in UK English using MS Word or equivalent format using Arial font size 10” and 1” margins, single spacing and not exceed more than 300 words.

Architectural/Urban Design/Urban Planning Projects: A description and sample image of an architectural/urban design/ urban planning project. The description should outline the following: (a) location, (b) client or commissioning agency (c) whether built or unbuilt (d) relevance to the conference themes. Projects from architectural, urban design and urban planning students are welcomed and student projects should be clearly indicated. Combined text and images of submissions should be forwarded in single page pdf format.

Presentation and Project submissions should include: 1. Title of the proposed presentation; 2. The sub-theme to which it relates; 3. Name(s) of author(s); (no more than 3) 4. Position or title of author(s); 5. Author(s) employer or affiliated institution; 6. Contact details including – email address, telephone/fax numbers and postal address.

Abstract Template

Presentation Template