Grenada is currently hosting a pivotal five-day regional workshop focused on enhancing land conservation reporting capabilities across Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The event, which commenced on February 2 and continues through February 6, brings together twenty-six environmental specialists including Josh Baron from Dominica’s Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Parks.
The technical workshop, formally titled ‘Regional Technical Workshop on High-Resolution SDG 15.3.1 and PRAIS SO1 Reporting for Caribbean SIDS,’ represents a significant capacity-building initiative for the region. Participants from all 13 Caribbean SIDS will engage in an immersive program designed to strengthen national reporting mechanisms on land degradation through advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications.
Core curriculum components include sophisticated training in high-resolution land cover analysis, assessment of land productivity trends, precise measurement of soil organic carbon, and comprehensive integration of these indicators into Sustainable Development Goal 15.3.1 evaluations. Additionally, attendees will develop specialized skills in generating PRAIS-compliant datasets with complete metadata documentation.
A primary objective of this gathering is the establishment of a Caribbean GIS Community of Practice dedicated to land degradation monitoring and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) initiatives. This professional network will support ongoing implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) through the Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS) platform.
The workshop is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serving as Implementing Agency and the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) acting as Executing Agency. Technical training is delivered in collaboration with Apacheta, creating a robust multilateral partnership aimed at strengthening regional environmental governance and sustainable land management practices.