The Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Wider Caribbean Region was convened by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in pursuance of Decision No. 18 of the Fourth Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and First Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Guadeloupe, 26-28 October 1987).