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Water taxi project
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Implemented by: Carriacou Environmental Committee,
Southern Grenadines water Taxi Association, Petite
Martinique and Carriacou Water Taxi Association, Counterpart
Caribbean, The Sustainable Grenadines Project and CERMES
Funded
by: The Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Fund
(GEF/SGF), The European Union (through Counterpart
Caribbean), The Lighthouse Foundation
Overview:
Marine-based activities are the mainstay
of the economy of the Grenadines. Users of the marine
environment in the Grenadines islands, both locals and
visitors have significant impacts on marine habitats and
biodiversity due to inappropriate practices (such as
over-harvesting of fishery resources, coral harvesting,
marine pollution, physical damage by boats and anchors,
etc.) and lack of awareness. These impacts have substantial
long-term implications for sustainability in the Grenadines.
Water taxis are primary users of the sea
in a variety of ways. They operate throughout the Grenadine
Islands and are an important and integral component of
sustainable livelihoods and social life there. They provide
transport between islands to visitors and locals. They also
offer visitors day trips for sightseeing, snorkelling and
picnicking; often into the Tobago Cays MPA and other areas
that are proposed as MPAs.
The extensive operation of water taxis
throughout the Grenadine Islands means that they have the
potential to significantly impact the marine environment in
two ways. The first is directly through their own practices.
The second is as teachers and advocates of good
environmental practices.
Water taxis impact the marine environment
directly through poor operating or waste disposal practices
leading to pollution, or physical impacts through grounding
and anchoring. Although these impacts have not been
quantitatively assessed, they can be commonly observed, and
it is generally accepted that they are occurring. They were
identified as being a significant issue during Phase 1 of
the Sustainable Grenadines Project.
This project seeks to strengthen the capacity
of water taxi operators to act as stewards for the
environment while at the same time enhancing their capacity
to earn a livelihood from the sea. It does so by providing:
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Assistance
with the strengthening of the water taxi associations
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Training in
environmental issues and information delivery
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Customer
service training
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Small business training
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Safety equipment for
demonstrations and training in the use of this equipment
People and
Corals in primary schools
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Implemented by:
Sustainable
Grenadines and CERMES
Funded by:
National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation (NFWS) and
UNEP RCU, Jamaica
Overview:
Coral reefs
are an extremely important resource for the Grenadine
islands Fishing and marine based tourism are economic
mainstays of these islands. Coral reef and related habitats
are threatened by destructive practices and uninformed
development in these islands. This project will promote and
improve coral reef conservation in the Grenadine Islands by
introducing coral reef conservation concepts and approaches
at the primary school level in all islands.
Concepts to be
introduced include: awareness of the value importance of
coral reefs for livelihoods; threats to coral reefs and
methods and practices for coral conservation. This will be
achieved by providing schools with appropriate educational
materials and by training teachers in the use of those
materials.
Fourteen primary schools in the Grenadines Islands of Bequia,
Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Petite Martinique
and Carriacou, as well as two schools each in St. Vincent
and Grenada were provided with 25 copies each of the People
and Corals workbook that was developed by the Caribbean
Conservation Association and the UK Field Studies Council
for use in Caribbean primary schools. Two teachers from
each school attended a two-day training session at which
they were introduced to the workbook its exercises and
activities. They will then use the books for one term after
which their experiences in using it, the students reactions
and their suggestions for improved use of the workbook will
be compiled and shared.
Seamoss cultivation
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Implemented by:
Young Help Striders 4-H Club (Ashton, Union Island)
Sustainable Grenadines Project and CERMES
Funded by:
National Marine Sanctuaries
Foundation
via the
White Water to Blue Water Initiative
Overview:
The
livelihoods of the people of the Grenadines are closely
linked to the marine environment. There are many fishers and
coastal resource users who exert heavy demands on the
remaining resources. One of these resources is a group of
edible red seaweeds, locally known as seamoss, which are
harvested by coastal communities throughout the
English-speaking Caribbean and used in the preparation of a
variety of popular drinks and puddings. Due to its high
demand, seamoss has become increasingly rare in the
Grenadines, as it is across the Caribbean. Discussions with
seamoss farmers and one main processor, as well as results
of a preliminary marketing survey indicate that dried
seamoss is sold in Union Island for approximately $EC40.00
($US15.00) per pound and that demand usually exceeds supply.
The
techniques for propagating, cultivating and harvesting
seamoss specifically to suit Caribbean conditions have been
developed during the last twenty years by farmers around the
Caribbean mainly in St. Lucia and Barbados. Discussions with
international seamoss expert Allan Smith of CANARI (who was
previously involved in the identification of seamoss species
and appropriate sites for seamoss farming in Union Island)
have confirmed that cultivation in Union Island is
technically feasible.
The aim of the proposed project is to create
an opportunity for sustainable local economic development
through seamoss mariculture and processing, using
environmentally-sensitive mariculture. A broader aim is to
develop and encourage alternative livelihood options and to
promote the conservation of marine resources.
Grenadines Bibliography
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Implemented by: CERMES, Sustainable Grenadines Project,
Mayreau Environmental development Organization (MEDO),
Carriacou Environmental Committee (CEC) and Carriacou Museum
and Historical Society.
Funded
by: CERMES and The Lighthouse Foundation
Overview:
Information
on the environment, sustainable development, culture and
anthropology of the Grenadines islands is widely scattered
in the literature. Grenadine Islanders often find it
difficult to access the information needed to make informed
decisions about their own development. This project seeks to
assemble as much of this information as possible on a CD
that can be distributed widely in the Grenadines and to
provide access to it through an
indexed bibliography.
Grenadines Marine Resource Space-use Information System (MarSIS)
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Implemented by:
CERMES and the Sustainable Grenadines Project
Funded by:
CERMES, UWI and The Nature
Conservancy
Overview:
MarSIS will aid marine space use planning in the
Grenadines by compiling information on marine space use
that can be used in identifying areas for special management
attention such as: critical habitats; representative marine
ecosystems; areas of high aesthetic value and cultural
importance; areas important for livelihoods, fishing grounds
and marine-based tourism; areas of highest human threat and
space use conflict. The Grenadines MarSIS will be developed
to integrate a range of transboundary information on the
marine resources, biodiversity and ecosystems of the Grenada
Bank together with the social aspects of marine resource use
patterns and corresponding activity profiles of users in a
participatory geographical information system (PGIS). By
including the social frame of reference and incorporating
local knowledge and perspectives into the GIS database,
important information gaps can be filled, potential problems
can be identified and planning and management priorities
focused accordingly (Walters et al. 1998; Corbett et al.
2006). Moreover, involving a range of stakeholders in the
information gathering and research processes allows for a
participatory framework for comanagement and equity in
decision making processes, community support, empowerment
and social change
This
project is the PhD research of Ms Kimberly Baldwin.
Restoration and sustainable use of Ashton Lagoon
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Implemented by: Society
for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds in
collaboration with Sustainable Grenadines Project and CERMES
Funded
by:
Overview:
Ashton Lagoon,
a large bay in Union island had a range of important
habitats (coral reefs, lagoon, mangroves, mudflats, seagrass
beds and coral reefs) for commercially important fish,
shellfish, and invertebrates. The lagoon and nearby offshore
island (Frigate) also provided important habitats for
wintering and migrating populations of seabirds, waterbirds,
shorebirds and landbirds. Despite the ecological importance
of the area and the fact that it was officially designated a
conservation area, the government accepted a proposal by a
developer for a 300 boat marina, condominiums, and golf
course in the lagoon and mangroves. An environmental
assessment pointed out that the development would cut off
water circulation to the bay, causing damage to reefs,
seagrasses and fisheries. Nevertheless the project
proceeded, with exactly the results that were predicted.
After building the causeways, the developer disappeared,
leaving behind the damaged bay.
This project is currently to planing the restoration and
sustainable use of the Ashton Lagoon area. The main activity
was a 3-day participatory project planning workshop with
all key stakeholders (local NGOs, government, fishing
community, residents, businesses, etc.).
Marine, wetland, and coral reef ecologists, fishermen and
engineers will provide assessments and advice to help guide
the restoration planning. The local community (especially
the fishing community and local NGOs) has expressed a keen
interest and desire to restore the lagoon and pursue
sustaining development options (e.g., ecotourism,
mariculture). The main output from the one-year planning
phase is a restoration and sustainable use plan and
a proposal for funding the work.
Institutional Self Assessment for Grenadine NGOs
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Implemented by: Sustainable
Grenadines Project
Funded by: The Nature
Conservancy (TNC) and
The Lighthouse Foundation
TNC’s Institutional Self Assessment (ISA) methodology was
adapted to the Grenadines situation and applied to NGOs and
CBOs throughout the Grenadines:
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Southern Grenadines Water Taxi Association,
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Bayaleau Development Committee,
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L’Esterre South Striders Social Club,
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Carriacou and Petite Martinique Water Taxi Association,
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Union Island Environmental Attackers,
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Young Help Striders 4-H Club,
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Canouan Sailing Club,
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Petite Martinique Women’s Organisation,
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Petite Martinique Catholic Youth Movement.
The
process involved a planning meeting with each group in which the process
to be undertaken and the rationale for such an assessment were
explained. A schedule of appointments was set up with individual
executive members and the assessment carried out on the following eight
institutional categories which were detailed by several indicators
ranked on a one to five scale: Strategic Vision and Planning,
Leadership, Organizational Management, Human Resources, Resource
Development, Financial Management, Constituency Building/Outreach,
Programmatic Capacity.
Subsequently, the comments made by each executive member on the status
of the NGOs for the various indicators were compiled into one general
statement and presented to the group for discussion and clarification.
Along with the report, a work plan was developed with the group, with
various activities to be done within a year. These activities, if
implemented will enable the progress of the group at an organisational
level and in many cases a personal level. The project staff made final
adjustments to the reports and the work plans and provided them to the
groups. These assessments will continue.
Reef check in the Grenadines
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Implemented by:
Kim
Baldwin
Funded by:
Reef
Check
Reef
Check was developed in 1996 as a volunteer, community-based monitoring
protocol designed to measure the health of coral reefs on a global scale
in areas with limited economic resources. Now in its eighth year of
operation, Reef Check is active in over 82 countries and territories
throughout the tropical world. During this time, Reef Check has evolved
into the largest international marine monitoring environmental
organization with the following goals:
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To
educate the public about the coral reef crisis;
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To
create a global network of volunteer teams which regularly monitor
and report on reef health;
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To
scientifically investigate coral reef processes;
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To
facilitate collaboration among academia, NGOs, governments and the
private sector; and
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To
stimulate local community action to protect remaining pristine reefs
and to rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide using ecologically sound
and economically sustainable solutions.
Reef
Check scientists teach teams of volunteers about the value of coral
reefs and their ecology, and show them how to scientifically monitor
them. Teams are composed of a diverse range of community groups ranging
from scientists, government agencies, local NGOs, recreational divers,
village fishermen, school children and tourists. Around the tropical
world Reef Check volunteer teams have collected a wealth of standardised
data about the health of reefs used for comparison by Reef Check and
other global databases such as the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
(GCRMN) and Reef Base.
Reef
Check teams collect four types of data:
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A
description of each reef site based on over 30 measures of
environmental conditions and expert rating of human impacts in the
area;
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Fish counts over 400 m2 of shallow reef;
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Invertebrate counts over the same area; and
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A
measure of the percentage of seabed covered by different substrate
types (including live and dead coral) as well as coral bleaching and
disease monitoring.
There
are 8 Reef Check sites in the Grenadines, in the islands of St. Vincent,
Bequia, Mustique, Union Island and the Tobago Cays which are monitored
bi-annually. The Sustainable Grenadines Project has partnered with the
Fisheries Division and a variety of stakeholders which included
government agencies (namely the Tobago Cays Marine Park), several local
NGOs, schools and members of the private sector were solicited in each
island to gain support as well as provide volunteer teams for the Reef
Check monitoring program. Additionally, The Sustainable Grenadines
Project agreed to add ‘Reef Check Monitoring’ to its annual work plan
thereby acting as the ‘Reef Check NGO Coordinator’ for St. Vincent and
the Grenadines. Responsibilities include spearheading annual surveys
(from an NGO perspective), assisting with data analyses, gaining
community support through the dissemination of information regarding the
monitoring program, and acting as a liaison to the Fisheries Division.
Furthermore, a member of the Sustainable Grenadines Project was trained
to use their data for educational purposes, and to be a ‘Reef Check Team
Trainer’, providing additional support for the government in subsequent
years. Collaboration with the Sustainable Grenadines Project proved
invaluable during the implementation of Reef Check, namely in the organisation of community meetings, the location of appropriate contacts
and most importantly by gaining the trust and acceptance of each island
community in the Reef Check monitoring programme.
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