Eastern Caribbean CARIBBEAN DIVISION | THE WORLD WE DEPEND ON DEPENDS ON US Helping Nature and People Thrive in Seven Unique Countries Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines The turquoise waters of the Eastern unified network across the islands, the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI), Caribbean connect a chain of islands that Conservancy is pioneering cutting-edge an unprecedented collaboration between boast vibrant coral reefs, stunning marine strategies for conservation and growing 11 Caribbean countries committed to life and white sand beaches. Over half of the capacity of the Eastern Caribbean protecting 20% of their marine and the population lives within a mile from people to preserve the natural beauty coastal environments by 2020 and to the coastline, and the majority depend and resources of their islands. establishing reliable funding to ensure on marine resources for their income. the success of these conserved areas into The Nature Conservancy currently works Conserving Marine and the future. To date, four Eastern Caribbean across seven Eastern Caribbean Coastal Environments countries have joined the CCI. countries—Antigua and Barbuda, The Conservancy works with local Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint governments and partners to identify The Conservancy provides critical Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent priority sites for establishing new support to Eastern Caribbean countries and the Grenadines—to protect and marine managed areas and to ensure to secure the funding, resources, data and enhance the harmony between nature new and existing protected areas are management strategies needed to achieve and people. Working with partners effectively managed. The Conservancy their ambitious marine conservation goals. and communities to strengthen a played an integral role in launching the Five countries have established national Local fisherman in St. Vincent and the Grenadines © The Nature Conservancy (Marjo Aho) The Conservancy strives to make communities more resilient to a changing climate through innovative solutions that rely on nature and rigorous science to restore the natural protective features of coastal ecosystems. conservation trust funds, with the help secure, underwater coral nurseries and of the Conservancy and partners, which transplant them onto damaged reefs steer long-term funding to the most to rebuild a thriving ecosystem. The urgent conservation initiatives in each Conservancy helped establish Grenada’s country. The Conservancy also works first coral nurseries and trained local youths with governments on debt-for-nature to maintain them, building both local swaps, a strategy that allows highly expertise and employment opportunities. indebted countries to reenergize their economies and redirect resources to Like reefs, mangroves also protect conservation initiatives. coastlines from flooding and erosion, as engineered reef structures in well as support fisheries production. The Coastal Resilience Grenada, using community labor and Conservancy is working with partners to The Conservancy strives to make local materials, that reduce wave train communities and governments to communities more resilient to a energy and protect the coast from restore Ma’ Kôté, the largest mangrove changing climate through innovative storm impact, while hosting coral, fish forest in Saint Lucia and the Eastern solutions that rely on nature and and other species. This pilot project can Caribbean—in addition to planting rigorous science to restore the serve as a model for protecting coastal mangrove seedlings to restore mangroves natural protective features of coastal communities around the Caribbean. throughout other islands. For example, ecosystems. Coral reefs, for example, Grenville, a fishing community on the not only attract tourists but also An essential step in rebuilding reef northeast coast of Grenada that has protect coastal communities from ecosystems is restoring corals, particularly seen severe flooding and erosion, is also the impacts of climate change, as the most important reef-building coral a primary focus for mangrove planting their rocky architecture slows species in the Caribbean, Staghorn and and restoration work. These efforts bring destructive wave energy and protects Elkhorn coral. For 15 years, Conservancy people together to protect their shared against flooding and severe erosion. scientists have developed techniques natural resources and create sustainable Conservancy scientists installed to grow vital Caribbean coral species in livelihood opportunities. THIS PAGE TOP TO BOTTOM Pilot engineered reef structures, built with steel cages and filled with stones and cement, were installed in Grenville Bay, Grenada to protect a vulnerable coastline from strong wave action and the impacts 2 CARIBBEAN DIVISION | EASTERN from climate change, such as severe erosion. © Tim Calver; A coastal community in Dominica © Sean Southey CARIBBEAN DIVISION | EAST Cutting-edge Data Community Engagement provide extensive mentorship and training The Conservancy uses high-tech drones, Throughout the Conservancy’s work in areas such as protected area monitoring, cameras, satellite imagery and aerial in the Eastern Caribbean, community fisheries management and disaster mapping technologies to develop habitat involvement remains a top priority and preparedness. With over 20 projects maps of nearshore and coastal environ- strategy for building the local commitment focused on livelihoods across the region, ments across multiple islands. For the of the people who call these islands home. the Conservancy supports small business first time ever, these islands have access The Conservancy and partners launched entrepreneurs with big ideas about how to country-wide marine habitat maps, a series of inspiring campaigns to raise to earn income from sustainably utilizing allowing them to more fully understand awareness of the need to protect and natural resources within protected areas. and monitor the condition of their marine conserve the marine resources on which The Conservancy plays a critical role in environment, as well as select sites for they depend. As part of the “This is Who helping people identify strategies that protection. The Conservancy is a regional We Are” campaign, each country hosted work best within their communities, take leader in both collecting advanced unique strategies, such as events, dance, ownership over the protection of their scientific data and making this data art and music, that celebrated their environment and continue to benefit from readily accessible through exceptional communities’ connection to the land and the cultural, economic and environmental tools, such as interactive, online sea. In a truly unique approach to con- resources that nature provides. databases or the region’s first-ever servation, famous local artists from each coral reef report cards. These tools country wrote original songs and record- By using innovative conservation uniquely incorporate social, economic, ed music videos calling on their commu- solutions, efficient new technologies environmental and management data nities to protect their marine resources. and the power of shared voices calling to empower communities in their for conservation, the Conservancy helps conservation efforts and to improve The Conservancy also engages with fishers, nature and people thrive together in the how the Eastern Caribbean’s breathtak- protected area managers, scientists, Eastern Caribbean. ing natural landscape is protected. community leaders and governments to THIS PAGE LEFT TO RIGHT Grenadian coral gardeners outplant young Staghorn corals harvested from coral nurseries in Grand Anse, Grenada. © Tim Calver; Red mangrove seedlings to be planted in Ma’ Kôté, the largest mangrove forest in Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean © Tim Calver OUR MISSION: TO CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS nature.org/caribbean CONTACT The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean nature.org/eastern Jonah Cardillo Sherry Constantine, PhD caribbean Associate Director of Development Director, Eastern Caribbean Program @caribbeanTNC [email protected] [email protected] @nature_caribbean 646-761-4613 473-435-0231 3 CARIBBEAN DIVISION | EASTERN 7.16.20 CL.