Description of project:

Climate change poses a significant risk to the South Coast of St. Vincent. It is the epicentre of tourism on the mainland and a key fishing site, with a population of approximately 29,000 across seven communities. It is also the site of the mainland’s only marine protected area, the South Coast Marine Conservation Area (SCMCA).

Figure 1: Young Island from Fort Duvernette, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Credit: Philip Beckles

This project pilots a local blue-green economic development model that protects, restores and sustainably uses coastal and marine ecosystems to build ecological and livelihood resilience on the South Coast. The project will adopt a landscape approach to address key risks from climate change and land-based pollution, including within the SCMCA, surrounding watersheds and communities.

Figure 2: Calliaqua Bay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Credit: Philip Beckles

The project is being implemented in St. Vincent and the Grenadines by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), in partnership with the following local partners: the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority, Forestry Department, Fisheries Division, SVG Hotel and Tourism Association, SVG National Fisherfolk Organisation and Calliaqua Fisherfolk Cooperative.

This is a project of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, co-financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.

The project has a total budget of USD 643,647 and it will be implemented between November 2021- November 2024.

The project’s beneficiaries are as follows:

  • 10 local blue-green enterprises will be strengthened for sustainable livelihoods within the tourism and fisheries sectors.
  • 100-250 households (~1,000 persons) will benefit from coastal and watershed rehabilitation interventions.

Additionally, stakeholder capacity and institutions will be strengthened for participatory, multi-level governance.

  • See here for the project summary.
Figure 3: Fisherman with his catch at Calliaqua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Credit: CANARI

Key activities and reports:

 Component 1 – Scaling up EbA solutions for coastal and watershed rehabilitation

  • Conduct ecosystem valuation to identify priority areas and actions and inform investment in EbA
  • Conduct adaptation planning with the target communities: a participatory planning workshop was held from January 31-February 2, 2023 to identify appropriate coastal and watershed EbA solutions for the South Coast. See the meeting report here.
  • Design and implement EbA solutions for coastal and watershed rehabilitation
  • Monitor and document learning on EbA solutions

Component 2 – Reducing threats and developing blue-green enterprises in tourism and fisheries

  • Develop and implement communications and engagement strategy to raise awareness of unsustainable practices and actions to reduce threats
  • Design and initiate action plans for local stewardship
  • Identify and support strengthening and climate proofing of target blue-green MSMEs: The first batch of local blue-green enterprises (LGEs) have been selected and a group of small business experts have been trained to serve as effective mentors. Click here to meet our mentors. Mentors were introduced to CANARI’s Local Green-Blue Enterprise Radar, Climate Proofing Enterprises and Value Chain Analysis tools and will work with their assigned SMEs over the next few months to apply these tools and to assist them in developing microgrant proposals for implementing specific LGE strengthening actions. See the report of the training workshop for small business mentors here.

Component 3 – Strengthening capacity, partnerships and investments

  • Develop and conduct a series of training-of-trainers workshops for key management organisations
  • Update SCMCA management plan and establish coordinating committee
  • Develop a blue-green economy roadmap and financing plan
  • Enable public-private-civil society partnerships

Related publications:

News, blogs and social media

 

For more information, please contact Ms. Yasa Belmar at [email protected].

See related work under CANARI’s Green Economy and Climate Resilience programmes.