Grenada will host a pivotal five-day technical workshop in February 2026, uniting Geographical Information System specialists and land management experts from across the Caribbean to enhance regional capabilities in monitoring land degradation. The specialized training program, formally designated as the Regional Technical Workshop on High-Resolution SDG 15.3.1 and PRAIS SO1 Reporting for Caribbean SIDS, represents a significant capacity-building initiative for Small Island Developing States.
Organized by the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), the intensive hands-on program will bring together 26 participants—two technical experts from each of the 13 Caribbean SIDS. The curriculum has been meticulously designed to provide comprehensive training in advanced geospatial analysis techniques specifically tailored for environmental monitoring.
Participants will engage in practical sessions covering high-resolution land cover analysis, land productivity dynamics assessment, and sophisticated soil organic carbon estimation methodologies. The program will further equip attendees with the technical expertise required to integrate these critical indicators into Sustainable Development Goal 15.3.1 assessments, which specifically target land degradation neutrality.
A cornerstone of the workshop involves training in the preparation of PRAIS-ready datasets, including standardized tables and metadata that comply with international reporting requirements. This technical preparation is crucial for effective participation in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System.
The workshop’s most significant anticipated outcome is the establishment of a Caribbean GIS Community of Practice dedicated to land degradation monitoring and sustainable land management. This professional network will serve as an ongoing resource for knowledge exchange and technical collaboration beyond the workshop’s duration.
Financial support for this initiative is provided through the Global Environment Facility, with the United Nations Environment Programme acting as Implementing Agency and PISLM serving as Executing Agency. Technical training delivery is being conducted in collaboration with Apacheta, an organization specializing in environmental data management solutions.
This capacity-building effort directly supports Caribbean nations in fulfilling their reporting obligations under international environmental agreements while strengthening regional resilience against land degradation challenges.