Carib Scope

分类： environment

  • Dominica launches US$26 million climate resilience initiative for vulnerable communities

    Dominica launches US$26 million climate resilience initiative for vulnerable communities

    Against a backdrop of rising global climate uncertainty and growing storm-related risks across small island developing states, the Government of Dominica has teamed up with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to launch an ambitious $26 million initiative targeting climate adaptation and inclusive sustainable growth for at-risk local populations.

    Named the Dominica Community Resilience Enhancement Project (DOMCREP), the five-year undertaking draws most of its financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with complementary contributions from the Dominican government. It marks a major milestone in Dominica’s long-standing national pledge to become the world’s first fully climate-resilient nation, a goal set years ago as the island grapples with intensifying hurricanes, coastal flooding and erratic weather patterns that threaten livelihoods and national development.

    Officially announced this Wednesday via an official statement from the CCCCC, the project will center on four core priority areas: shoring up national food security, upgrading disaster preparedness frameworks, expanding early warning system coverage, and building community-level skills and resource access to address accelerating climate impacts. Eight communities across Dominica, all ranked at extremely high risk of climate disasters including hurricanes, flash flooding and storm surge, have been selected as direct beneficiaries: Bagatelle, Campbell, Colihaut, Coulibistrie, Good Hope, Petite Soufriere, Pichelin, and San Sauveur.

    Speaking at the project’s launch ceremony, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit emphasized that the initiative is designed to deliver direct, tangible benefits to grassroots residents. He noted the investment totals roughly EC$70 million, all of which will flow directly to participating communities, with more than half of the total budget earmarked for agriculture, agro-processing, and expanding economic access specifically for women. “It is important for us in the communities to prepare ourselves for these investments,” Skerrit stated.

    A large share of the funding will be dedicated to scaling climate-smart agriculture across the target communities, where smallholder farming forms a core part of local livelihoods. Participating farmers will receive access to upgraded climate-resilient technologies, training in sustainable low-emission production methods, and support to adapt to shifting growing conditions. The end goal of this focus is to boost crop yields, cut climate-related production losses, and strengthen the country’s overall food security, reducing dependence on costly imported food supplies.

    Beyond agricultural support, DOMCREP will also finance critical upgrades to national disaster management infrastructure, including the retrofitting and construction of emergency shelters and associated response facilities. The upgrades are designed to ensure these critical hubs can withstand severe weather events, offering more reliable protection for residents when disasters strike.

    Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the CCCCC, framed the project as a far-reaching investment in shared social and economic prosperity, rather than just environmental adaptation. “When we invest in a farmer’s ability to adapt, we invest in a family’s food security and a community’s economic future,” he explained.

    In addition to infrastructure and agricultural improvements, the project will upgrade Dominica’s national multi-hazard early warning systems, boosting the country’s ability to detect and respond to a wide range of impending climate threats. Extensive skills training programs and public education campaigns will also be rolled out to increase community climate awareness and build long-term local capacity to address evolving climate challenges.

    A defining feature of DOMCREP is its intentional focus on inclusive development. Women, young people, and other marginalized vulnerable groups are positioned as core participants and beneficiaries of the initiative, which aims to create sustainable, long-term economic opportunities while strengthening overall community resilience.

    Dr. Young stressed that the success of the project will not be measured by spending or completed construction alone, but by the measurable improvement it brings to the daily lives of participating residents. “Ultimately, the success of this project will be measured not by budgets or outputs, but by the difference it makes in people’s lives,” he said. “By investing in women and youth, we are investing in the longterm resilience, prosperity, and sustainability of communities across this country. As the CARICOM institution with responsibility for coordinating the region’s response to climate change, the CCCCC remains committed to supporting Dominica and our Member States in accessing climate finance and transforming those investments into meaningful results for people and communities.”

    The CCCCC, an intergovernmental body established by CARICOM Heads of Government to coordinate regional climate action, serves multiple key roles across the Caribbean: it acts as a leading implementing partner for international climate finance, maintains a regional repository of climate data and research, and provides policy guidance and technical support to all CARICOM member states as they work to address climate change.

    Over the five-year implementation period, DOMCREP is expected to deliver lasting progress toward Dominica’s national climate resilience agenda, while advancing the country’s commitments to broader global sustainable development goals.

  • Training in Guatemala Helps Belizean Farmers Improve Cattle Farming

    Training in Guatemala Helps Belizean Farmers Improve Cattle Farming

    In a collaborative regional push toward more environmentally responsible agriculture, a delegation of cattle farmers, conservation leaders and government officials from Belize traveled to Guatemala’s Petén region in early June 2026 to gain hands-on training in a forest-friendly cattle raising method. The knowledge-sharing exchange was organized by The Nature Conservancy’s Belizean branch, bringing together cross-sector stakeholders from across the Selva Maya region to address shared challenges in the livestock industry.

    Participants from Belize included representatives from the Belize Maya Forest Trust, the Belize Livestock Producers Association, the country’s Forest Department, and independent local cattle producers. Together, they gathered to study silvopasture, an innovative regenerative agricultural approach that diverges from the conventional practice of clearing all trees to create open grazing pastures.

    Unlike traditional cleared grazing systems, silvopasture integrates native tree cultivation directly into cattle grazing lands. This model delivers multiple ecological and economic benefits: trees naturally boost soil fertility by cycling nutrients and preventing erosion, protect critical watershed habitats from runoff, extend the productive lifespan of grazing land, and cut down on deforestation pressure by reducing the need to clear intact forest for new pasture. During the training, Petén-based farmers who have already adopted silvopasture on their own ranches opened their properties to the visiting delegation, walking attendees through real-world implementation, outcomes and problem-solving for the system.

    For Belize, sustainable cattle farming is a matter of urgent economic and ecological importance. The livestock sector remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods across the country, contributing heavily to the national agricultural economy. However, years of conventional grazing practices have left many grazing lands degraded, and the sector is increasingly strained by the growing impacts of climate change, from prolonged droughts to unpredictable rainfall. At the same time, unregulated clearing of forest for new pasture has put increasing pressure on Belize’s ecologically critical Selva Maya forest system, one of the most biodiverse intact tropical forest landscapes left in Central America.

    Organizers of the exchange emphasized that the cross-border training program represents a new model of regional cooperation for conservation. The initiative demonstrates how Belize and its regional neighbors are working together to build a more sustainable future for both livestock production and forest conservation in the Selva Maya, aligning economic development for rural communities with long-term environmental protection.

  • Report warns offshore oil exploration could threaten Jamaica’s marine ecosystems — JET

    Report warns offshore oil exploration could threaten Jamaica’s marine ecosystems — JET

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Ahead of two major global ocean conservation events this June, a coalition of environmental groups has released an alarming new report detailing how planned offshore oil and gas exploration along Jamaica’s southern coast puts nearly all of the island nation’s most ecologically and economically vital marine ecosystems at severe risk.

    Produced by environmental research organization Earth Insight in partnership with the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and 10 other global civil society groups, the report *Fossil Fuel Threats to the Ocean: Marine Life and Coastal Communities at Risk* leverages geospatial mapping to document the full scope of overlapping risk between the proposed Walton-Morant exploration block and Jamaica’s protected marine resources. The analysis was released as part of a larger global study examining ocean threats from fossil fuel development across 11 countries including Kenya, Indonesia, Mexico, and Australia.

    The Walton-Morant block, located off Jamaica’s south coast, is classified as the country’s most promising untapped hydrocarbon reserve. While exploration activities are still in the early preliminary phase, the report’s geospatial analysis confirms that the entire project’s risk footprint overlaps with 11,070 square kilometers of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) — an expanse nearly matching the entire land area of Jamaica. This accounts for roughly 18 percent of all EBSAs located within Jamaica’s exclusive economic zone.

    Breakdowns of the risk assessment reveal just how comprehensive the threat is: 99 percent of Jamaica’s southern coral reefs and 97 percent of southern seagrass beds fall within the exploration block’s risk zone. Both habitats form the foundational backbone of the island nation’s key coastal industries: commercial and artisanal fishing, and nature-based tourism. Additionally, 62 percent of Jamaica’s total marine and coastal protected areas, covering 1,680 square kilometers, and 62 percent of the country’s key biodiversity zones (1,900 square kilometers) sit within the mapped high-risk area.

    Major sensitive sites at risk include the Pedro Bank, Jamaica’s primary commercial fishing ground, which alongside the Pedro and Morant Cays falls entirely within the risk zone. The Portland Bight Protected Area, a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance and one of Jamaica’s largest marine conservation zones, is also located inside the block’s footprint. This protected area is home to multiple globally threatened species, including the endemic Jamaican iguana, hawksbill sea turtles, and American crocodiles.

    The threat extends beyond biodiversity to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Jamaican people. Multiple south coast fishing communities centered in towns including Port Royal, Old Harbour Bay, Rocky Point, Alligator Pond, and Treasure Beach rely entirely on the nearshore and offshore fishing grounds now covered by the exploration risk zone. Even preliminary exploration activities such as seismic surveys can disrupt fish populations, while potential drilling discharges or a major oil spill would permanently contaminate seafood supply chains that support thousands of households. Popular tourism destinations along the southern coast, including Hellshire Beach, Treasure Beach, and the Whitehouse coast, also face major risk: oil pollution or coastal industrial development linked to the oil project would damage both luxury resort operations and small-scale community-led tourism ventures that are critical to local economies.

    Jamaica’s marine ecosystems are already coping with multiple cumulative stressors, including rising ocean temperatures and acidification linked to climate change, plastic and nutrient pollution, and overfishing, JET CEO Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie emphasized in a statement accompanying the report’s release. While offshore activity is currently limited to the exploration stage, she warned that preliminary approvals for this project would clear a path for full-scale fossil fuel extraction in the heart of Jamaica’s most valuable marine landscapes.

    “Instead of pushing for oil and gas expansion, we must focus on protecting our oceans and investing in healthy ecosystems, resilient communities and sustainable livelihoods,” Dr. Rodriguez-Moodie said.

    The global component of the report paints a similarly worrying picture for ocean ecosystems worldwide. Across all 11 case study regions analyzed, researchers found that 38 percent of global coral reefs, 18 percent of seagrass meadows, 29 percent of mangrove forests, and 27 percent of marine and coastal protected areas are located within existing oil and gas exploration or extraction risk zones. Half of all globally identified important marine mammal habitats are directly overlapped by active or planned fossil fuel development blocks.

    To address this growing global threat, the report puts forward a clear set of policy recommendations: it calls on national governments, global financial institutions, and international regulatory bodies to immediately halt the approval of new licenses, permits, and funding for all offshore and coastal oil, gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects located within or adjacent to protected areas, key biodiversity zones, EBSAs, and critical coastal habitats including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows.

    The report’s publication comes just days ahead of World Oceans Day on June 8, and the upcoming Our Ocean Conference, a high-profile global summit on ocean conservation taking place June 16-18 in Mombasa, Kenya.

  • $215 000 project to clean Savannes Bay, support seamoss farmers

    $215 000 project to clean Savannes Bay, support seamoss farmers

    On June 1, a landmark initiative focused on repairing degraded coastal ecosystems and upgrading working conditions for small-scale sea moss farmers officially kicked off in Saint Lucia, launched with a formal cheque handover ceremony marking the start of on-ground work.

    The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF) confirmed that EC$215,000 in financing from the France-based Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will back the project, which combines large-scale marine debris cleanup with the rollout of sustainable raft infrastructure for sea moss producers in Savannes Bay. The funding is routed through the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund as part of the broader Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity, a regional initiative focused on conservation and community livelihood support.

    Over the course of the project, teams will clear accumulated plastic and discarded fishing gear from roughly 10 hectares of coastal waters in Savannes Bay. Beyond cleanup, the initiative will install 20 new eco-friendly modified PVC raft systems designed to replace less sustainable traditional gear. The new infrastructure not only makes cultivation easier for local sea moss farmers but also reduces the risk of future debris accumulation in the bay’s sensitive marine ecosystem.

    A core priority of the project is centering local stakeholders: fishers and sea moss producers from the Savannes Bay community will be actively involved in all stages of implementation. Thomas Nelson, Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer of Saint Lucia, emphasized that this community-centered approach comes at a particularly critical moment for coastal livelihoods across the island.

    “Savannes Bay holds enormous untapped potential for sustainable, climate-resilient sea moss production, but that potential can only be realized if we protect the health of the marine ecosystems that producers depend on,” Nelson explained. He added that local marine-dependent communities are already grappling with growing climate-driven pressures that threaten their incomes, making targeted interventions like this more urgent than ever.

    Karolin Troubetzkoy, chair of the SLUNCF Board, highlighted the cross-sector collaboration that made the project possible, bringing together local community groups, national government agencies, and international conservation and funding partners around a shared goal. “When communities, government agencies, and conservation partners come together with a shared vision, we can create projects that not only restore damaged ecosystems but also create real, long-term opportunities for people and communities to thrive,” Troubetzkoy said.

    The initiative is being executed in formal partnership with Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security, aligning with national goals to boost sustainable blue economy development across the island.

    Project organizers note that the Savannes Bay model is designed to be replicable for other coastal communities across Saint Lucia that face similar challenges of marine debris and unsustainable farming practices. Early plans already identify potential expansion sites in other coastal districts including Laborie and Dennery, setting the stage for island-wide impact if the pilot proves successful.

  • Uncertainties ahead, as 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts in El Niño year

    Uncertainties ahead, as 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts in El Niño year

    As the Caribbean region gears up for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, leaders and climate experts are sounding a clear note of caution: the fate of the region’s critical fisheries and aquaculture sector will not be determined by the storms themselves, but by the level of advance preparation and post-disaster response that stakeholders put in place. Unlike previous hurricane cycles, this year brings an added layer of complexity: the overlapping impacts of El Niño, which carry both short-term risks and long-term consequences for marine resources and fishing communities across the Caribbean.

    Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), recently outlined the persistent threats facing the $10 billion regional fishing industry. Year after year, hurricane activity inflicts widespread damage that ripples across the entire sector: fishing vessels are wrecked, coastal aquaculture farms are swept away, fish landing sites are destroyed, critical harvesting equipment is lost, and fragile marine ecosystems that underpin catches are left damaged. These disruptions do not stay confined to the water: they directly threaten regional food security, erase the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of small-scale fishers, drag down national coastal economies, and erode the well-being of coastal communities that depend on fishing for survival.

    Despite these well-documented vulnerabilities, Dr. Williams highlighted that the Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture community has repeatedly shown extraordinary resilience, creative innovation, and unwavering determination to rebuild and adapt in the wake of repeated climate shocks. The core takeaway from his remarks is a straightforward but urgent one: proactive preparedness saves lives, protects livelihoods, and cuts the overall cost of recovery after a disaster hits. Moving forward, he emphasized that preparedness must be embedded as a permanent, non-negotiable pillar of all regional and national fisheries and aquaculture development strategies, rather than an afterthought implemented only when a storm is approaching.

    El Niño, the climate pattern defined by anomalous warming of eastern and central Pacific Ocean waters that reshapes global weather systems, presents a paradox for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. On one hand, the prevailing effect of El Niño is increased wind shear across the Atlantic Basin, which typically suppresses the formation and strengthening of tropical storms and hurricanes. But this potential benefit comes with steep costs for Caribbean marine systems: El Niño-driven warmer average sea surface temperatures put extreme thermal stress on coral reefs, which are already struggling with bleaching and degradation from decades of rising global ocean temperatures. As healthy coral reefs are the foundation of most Caribbean fish populations, widespread coral damage would inevitably reduce long-term fish catches and destabilize the entire marine food web.

    The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) echoes this contradictory assessment, noting that El Niño is truly a double-edged sword for Atlantic hurricane activity. While El Niño conditions generally suppress tropical storm formation, the concurrent warmer ocean temperatures and calm low-wind conditions can actually fuel the rapid intensification of any storms that do manage to form. NOAA National Weather Service Director Ken Graham stressed that even with El Niño’s suppressing influence, there is no way to predict with certainty how the 2026 season will unfold. It only takes one major hurricane making landfall to turn a quiet season into a catastrophic one, which is why updating and implementing hurricane preparedness plans well before the season starts is non-negotiable, Graham said.

    To address these overlapping risks, Dr. Williams outlined seven key priority actions that regional governments, industry stakeholders, and development partners must advance immediately. First, governments must invest in strengthening early warning systems that give fishers and aquaculture operators enough advance notice of approaching storms to secure their assets. Second, the sector must scale up adoption of climate-smart fishing and farming practices that reduce vulnerability to extreme weather. Third, regional bodies must enhance fisheries safety protocols and improve the accuracy of marine forecasting for fishing grounds. Fourth, targeted investment is needed to build climate-resilient infrastructure across the entire fisheries value chain, from landing sites to storage facilities. Fifth, agencies at the local, national, and regional levels must strengthen coordination to avoid gaps in preparedness and response. Sixth, interventions must center the needs of marginalized groups that are most vulnerable to climate shocks: small-scale fishers, women working in the fisheries sector, young fishing industry workers, and rural coastal households. Finally, communities need to be equipped with the practical tools, local knowledge, appropriate technology, and ongoing support systems to adapt to changing conditions.

    “Let us enter this hurricane season vigilant, united, and fully prepared,” Dr. Williams urged stakeholders across the region. For stakeholders looking to deepen their understanding of disaster preparedness for Caribbean fisheries, a recent public webinar hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat in partnership with CRFM focused specifically on protecting fisheries assets during natural disasters, and is available for on-demand viewing now.

  • Canada-funded STAR-Fish ramps up clean energy interventions for Caribbean fisheries

    Canada-funded STAR-Fish ramps up clean energy interventions for Caribbean fisheries

    The Caribbean’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors, long foundational pillars of regional food security, livelihoods, and economic growth, face mounting dual pressures: skyrocketing global energy costs and accelerating climate change impacts that threaten the sustainability of small and large fishing operations across the region. In response, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is accelerating the rollout of clean energy interventions through its $4.324 million CAD flagship initiative, the STAR-Fish Project, short for Sustainable Technologies for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries.

    Eight Caribbean nations are participating in the project: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. The core mission of the initiative is to boost both the resilience and market competitiveness of regional fisheries and aquaculture by shifting to low-carbon development models and deploying accessible clean energy infrastructure. Planned interventions span multiple stages of the fisheries value chain, from on-shore processing to distribution: key activities include identifying and rolling out appropriate renewable energy technologies, building energy-efficient cold storage facilities to strengthen cold chain logistics and reduce post-harvest waste, and providing targeted support for participating fisheries to earn international low-carbon sustainability certification.

    At the project’s second Regional Project Steering Committee Meeting, held May 14, 2026, Sherron Barker, the STAR-Fish Project’s Regional Coordinator, formally presented the approved 2026–2027 Work Plan and Budget, which will guide the initiative’s third implementation phase. Near-term priorities outlined in the new work plan include developing bankable, locally adapted business models to attract private and public investment in clean energy technologies, supporting the conversion of existing fossil fuel-powered fish processing facilities to low-carbon energy systems, and expanding market access for fisheries that earn low-carbon certification.

    Ena Ćimić, STAR-Fish Project Lead at the High Commission of Canada to Jamaica, which funds the initiative through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), opened the meeting by acknowledging the outsized role the sector plays across the Caribbean. “The Caribbean’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are important drivers of economic activity, livelihoods, and food security across the region,” Ćimić noted, adding, “the sectors also remain highly vulnerable to climate change, rising energy costs, and evolving market demands.”
    Ćimić emphasized that the project’s design addresses these vulnerabilities holistically: “The activities implemented through this project position STAR-Fish to further strengthen institutional capacity, advance gender-responsive approaches, and support the adoption of sustainable energy technologies within the fisheries and aquaculture sector, while also improving access to finance, enhancing competitiveness, and building resilience to climate and disaster risks across participating countries.”

    Reflecting on the project’s progress over the previous implementation year, CRFM Secretariat Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams noted that the second year marked a critical turning point for the initiative, moving from foundational planning and research to coordinated, on-the-ground implementation across all participating nations. Key technical milestones achieved in the prior year included advancing work on renewable energy business model development, standardized carbon footprint measurement for fisheries operations, and establishing frameworks for low-carbon certification. One of the most significant achievements of the reporting period, Dr. Williams highlighted, was the completion of groundbreaking work on gender equality and social inclusion in the clean energy transition for Caribbean fisheries. This work has deepened regional understanding of how gender and social disparities shape access to the benefits of clean energy upgrades, supported the development of national and regional Gender Action Plans (GAPs) for Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and expanded gender-responsive capacity building and inclusive stakeholder engagement across all participating countries.

    GAC has welcomed the project’s intentional gender-inclusive approach, Ćimić confirmed, noting that this focus is critical to ensuring that the gains of the clean energy transition are shared equitably across all segments of fishing communities. “This aligns with Canada’s priorities of advancing gender equality, climate action, and sustainable, inclusive growth, while also supporting expanded trade opportunities in the region,” she said, reaffirming GAC’s long-term commitment to supporting the CRFM-led initiative.

    As the project enters its third implementation year, Dr. Williams noted that the initiative now has all the foundational structures in place to deliver tangible results: “We enter Project Year 3 with activities underway, strengthened governance arrangements, and a clearer pathway toward the practical application of renewable energy solutions across fisheries value chains in the Caribbean.”
    Ćimić closed the meeting by reaffirming the shared commitment of all partners to the project’s mission: “We look forward to continuing to work with all of you to support effective implementation and to contribute to a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Caribbean fisheries sector.”

  • Caribbean delegation visits Martinique and Guadeloupe to examine Sargassum management strategies

    Caribbean delegation visits Martinique and Guadeloupe to examine Sargassum management strategies

    For more than a decade, massive, recurring blooms of sargassum seaweed have plagued the small island developing nations of the Caribbean, leaving widespread damage in their wake. These invasive influxes disrupt fragile coastal ecosystems, threaten marine biodiversity, trigger public health concerns from rotting biomass, and undermine the economic stability of communities that rely heavily on coastal tourism and fishing. Now, a coordinated regional effort is bringing stakeholders together to share proven solutions and strengthen collective action against this transboundary threat.

    Following recent regional meetings for the Sargassum Regional Strategies for Ecosystem-based Actions (SARSEA) project in Dominica, a delegation representing nine Caribbean states and territories under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has launched a four-day technical study mission, running from June 1 to 4, 2026, in the French Caribbean territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe. The core goals of the mission are to examine locally developed sargassum management frameworks and explore viable pathways to turning harvested seaweed into marketable, value-added products.

    Supported jointly by the European Union and the OECS, the initiative forms part of long-standing regional collaboration aimed at fostering cross-border knowledge exchange and building more robust collective responses to the overlapping environmental, economic and public health harms caused by repeated sargassum landings. Over the years, Martinique and Guadeloupe have built comprehensive, multi-faceted strategies covering every stage of sargassum management, from open-ocean monitoring and early warning to large-scale collection, risk mitigation and innovative processing of harvested seaweed into useful goods. The mission gives delegates the chance to observe these strategies in action, hold direct discussions with local public and private stakeholders, and map out opportunities for deeper regional coordination on the shared challenge.

    The first half of the itinerary is focused on technical visits and demonstrations across Martinique, spanning June 1 and 2. On opening day in Le François, the delegation will start with a morning tour of offshore containment barriers and dedicated collection barges, followed by an afternoon visit to two air quality monitoring sites run by local operator Madininair. The day will conclude with a formal presentation on sargassum monitoring systems and early-warning tools at Le François Town Hall.

    On June 2, the schedule moves to Le Vauclin, where delegates will first join guided tours of manual sargassum collection sites at Macabou and Pointe Faula, led by representatives of local organization ACI. After a working meeting with GIP and ACI representatives at Le Vauclin Town Hall, the group will travel back to Le François to visit Holdex, a local company pioneering commercial and innovative applications for processed sargassum. The Martinique portion of the program will close with a presentation on ongoing initiatives to develop value-added sargassum products, delivered by Dominique Bœuf of SARA/SERD. After concluding the Martinique leg, the delegation will travel to Guadeloupe for the final two days of the mission, June 3 and 4, to continue learning from that territory’s management approaches.

    The entire mission is backed by the SARSEA project, which receives funding from the Agence Française de Développement and is implemented through a partnership between Expertise France and the OECS Commission. SARSEA’s core mandate is to build technical capacity across the Caribbean, strengthen regional governance frameworks for sargassum management, and promote ecosystem-centered approaches to addressing the bloom crisis.

    Event organizers emphasize that the study mission underscores Martinique and Guadeloupe’s commitment to sharing their hard-won experience with neighboring Caribbean territories through a foundation of cross-border cooperation, collective solidarity, and innovative problem-solving. Echoing this collaborative spirit, an OECS representative participating in the mission noted that sargassum is a transboundary problem that does not respect national borders. “By combining our knowledge, expertise and resources, we can better protect our coastlines, our economies and our communities,” the representative said.

  • Grenada hosts validation workshop

    Grenada hosts validation workshop

    On June 1, 2026, Grenada’s Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy marked a major milestone in the island nation’s ongoing push to strengthen climate preparedness, hosting a full stakeholder validation workshop for the *Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change Adaptation for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique* at St. George’s Kirani James Athletic Stadium.

    The workshop gathered a cross-section of key actors, from senior government ministry and agency officials to civil society leaders, community organizers, academic researchers, youth delegates, and international development partners. The group’s core task was to review and sign off on the revised draft of the guide before it enters its final editing stage and official public release. This validation session forms an integrated part of the ministry’s broader work to boost public awareness, inclusive participation, and collective ownership of climate adaptation initiatives outlined in Grenada’s updated 2025–2030 National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

    The revised draft presented at the June workshop was built on iterative stakeholder feedback collected during an earlier Focus Group Session held on April 27, 2026. During that initial meeting, participants conducted a line-by-line review of the guide’s zero draft and submitted detailed recommendations to refine its structure, accessibility, clarity, on-the-ground relevance, and practical usability. All of these suggestions were integrated into the revised version, with key updates including simplified, jargon-free language, clearer alignment with national climate adaptation priorities, real-world examples of actionable adaptation measures, and enhanced visual design to make the content more approachable for general readers.

    In his opening address to attendees, Permanent Secretary Peron Johnson emphasized that the core mission of the guide is to demystify national climate policy for everyday Grenadians. “The National Adaptation Plan is a critical national framework for building resilience across all sectors of our economy and society. However, formal policy documents can often be highly technical and inaccessible to the average person. The Citizen’s Guide is intended to bridge that gap by translating complex adaptation concepts into information that households, communities, schools, businesses, civil society organisations, and citizens can understand, relate to, and act upon.”

    Johnson went on to stress that climate resilience cannot be delivered by the government alone; it requires collective, informed engagement from every segment of Grenadian society. “Climate resilience will only be achieved when adaptation becomes everyone’s business. This Guide is designed to empower citizens with the knowledge needed to understand climate risks, identify opportunities for action, and contribute meaningfully to building a more resilient Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.”

    National Adaptation Plan Officer Dr. Roxanne Graham-Victor highlighted that inclusive stakeholder engagement has been central to the guide’s entire development process, noting that the validation workshop was a critical step to ensure the final document meets the practical needs of its target audience. “The objective of this process is to ensure that the Guide is clear, practical, accessible, and useful to the people it is intended to serve. Stakeholder feedback remains central to achieving that objective,” she explained.

    Acting Director of Climate Resilience Titus Antoine added that the guide will serve as a cornerstone public resource to support full implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and deepen ongoing public participation in national climate action.

    The ministry extended formal gratitude to all workshop participants for their input and sustained commitment to advancing Grenada’s climate resilience goals. It also gave special recognition to the National Adaptation Plan Global Network and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for their long-standing technical and financial support to strengthen Grenada’s adaptation planning systems and make the development of the Citizen’s Guide possible.

    Following the conclusion of the workshop, the guide’s drafting team will implement the final round of stakeholder recommendations. Once finalized, the document will be distributed across all three islands as a foundational public resource to support climate adaptation education, awareness, and local action.

  • New Ranger Base Strengthens Chiquibul Protection Efforts

    New Ranger Base Strengthens Chiquibul Protection Efforts

    On May 29, 2026, Belize took a major step forward in protecting its most ecologically critical protected area, with Prime Minister John Briceño officially opening a new ranger outpost deep in the heart of Chiquibul National Park. Traveling by helicopter to the remote forest site, the prime minister marked the launch of an expanded conservation initiative led by the non-profit co-manager of the park, Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), to safeguard the region’s irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage.

    Chiquibul National Park, Belize’s largest protected area, spans hundreds of thousands of acres of dense, biodiverse rainforest across the Maya Mountains. It serves as the primary watershed for much of the country, supplying clean drinking water to communities as far as Belize City, yet it faces persistent threats from illegal activity. During the inauguration, Prime Minister Briceño paid tribute to the rangers who work on the frontlines of protection, noting that most Belizeans are unaware of the daily risks and critical work these conservation stewards undertake to preserve the nation’s natural resources.

    FCD, the grassroots non-profit that has managed conservation programming in Chiquibul and its surrounding buffer zones since 2007, leads the effort through a combination of on-the-ground patrols, targeted ecological research, and community outreach to curb illegal activity and protect biodiversity. Rafael Manzanero, FCD’s Executive Director, explained that the newly opened facility is a temporary base that meets basic living needs for rangers, as the organization lays out long-term plans for a permanent, purpose-built hub. Manzanero noted that FCD has identified five potential sites for the permanent base in the surrounding area, but additional fundraising will be required to complete the construction of a fully functional operations center.

    From this new forward operating position, FCD rangers will patrol thousands of acres of remote forest that have long been plagued by a range of threats. These include illegal cattle ranching, cross-border encroachment, poaching of vulnerable wildlife species, and widespread land degradation driven by unregulated agricultural expansion. Prime Minister Briceño emphasized the outsized ecological importance of the region, reminding the public that much of the tap water accessed by residents in Belize City originates from the Chiquibul watershed – a connection many people take for granted in their daily lives.

    Prior to the opening of the new base, FCD’s ranger team operated out of the longstanding Tapir Camp facility inside the forest reserve. For the organization, relocating operations was not a small decision: Tapir Camp had become a core part of FCD’s institutional identity over decades of conservation work. Susana Vanzie, FCD’s President, acknowledged that the prospect of moving was initially daunting for the team. “Tapir Camp had become part of our identity. We were so tied to it. So the thought of having to move somewhere else was daunting. But change can also bring opportunity and if there is that window for opportunity you have to know when to take that leap of faith,” Vanzie said.

    The new ranger base represents a tangible, significant milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen protection of one of Belize’s most vital and at-risk ecosystems. Leaders and conservationists alike believe the improved positioning will allow rangers to respond more quickly to threats, expand patrol coverage, and better preserve the Chiquibul region for future generations. Reporting for News Five, Paul Lopez contributed to this report.

  • Matawai Traditioneel Gezag en planetGOLD Suriname in gesprek over duurzame goudwinning

    Matawai Traditioneel Gezag en planetGOLD Suriname in gesprek over duurzame goudwinning

    In a landmark step toward equitable, environmentally responsible gold extraction in Suriname, the Traditional Authority of the Matawai people and representatives from the planetGOLD Suriname project have held their first formal collaborative dialogue focused on sustainable gold mining, community-led development and conservation of local ecosystems.

    Hosted at Oxygen Resort, the meeting laid the foundational groundwork for a long-term engagement process centered on mutual trust, inclusive community participation, and full respect for the Matawai people’s traditional governance and decision-making structures. The session was organized jointly by planetGOLD Suriname and the Foundation for Research and Development in Caribbean Communities, bringing together Matawai leadership, project partners and a broad range of cross-sector stakeholders.

    Attendees received a detailed overview of the planetGOLD initiative’s core objectives. This global program is specifically designed to advance responsible and sustainable practices in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), with a key priority of cutting mercury use—a pervasive environmental and public health hazard in the small-scale mining sector. Beyond reducing mercury pollution, the initiative works to minimize broader ecological damage from mining activities, improve unsafe working conditions for mining workers, and strengthen the voice and agency of local communities that are directly impacted by gold extraction operations.

    The focus on collaborative governance with Indigenous and tribal communities is particularly relevant for Suriname, where a large share of the country’s gold production takes place on or adjacent to lands stewarded by tribal and Indigenous groups like the Matawai. For this reason, meaningful partnership with traditional authorities and local communities is a non-negotiable core component of the planetGOLD Suriname project’s approach.

    In alignment with the Matawai community’s long-standing decision-making frameworks, traditional leaders were given extended space to raise questions, highlight priority concerns, and share their community’s collective vision for responsible resource management. Discussions covered a range of critical topics, including the potential impacts of mining expansion on ancestral territories, natural resource protection, and long-term community development outcomes.

    The entire dialogue unfolded in an open, constructive atmosphere, with all participants centering mutual respect for Matawai culture, traditions and community interests. The agenda included a formal project presentation, an extended question-and-answer session, an internal deliberation by Matawai traditional leaders, and a collective discussion of potential collaborative models moving forward.

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    Participants across all groups emphasized the critical need to sustain ongoing dialogue between project implementers, local communities and traditional authorities through every stage of the initiative. They underlined that lasting, sustainable solutions can only succeed if they are rooted in and responsive to the unique needs, lived experiences and expectations of the Matawai community that calls the mining region home.

    This introductory meeting marks the official starting point of a process that will center participation, transparency and shared accountability for all stakeholders moving forward. All key insights and concerns raised during the dialogue will be integrated into the next phases of project planning and implementation.

    Overall, the first formal gathering has established a solid foundation for continued partnership between planetGOLD Suriname and the Matawai Traditional Authority, aligned around shared goals of sustainable development, responsible stewardship of natural resources, and meaningful community participation in all decision-making processes related to gold mining.