Project Detail

Mangrove and Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat Restoration and Sea Turtle Conservation

The current degradation of coastal habitats in conjunction with diminishing mangroves in Carriacou, is threatening the survival of the endangered Hawksbill and Leatherbacks sea turtles, as their nesting habitats are being destroyed.

This project seeks to address the issue by promoting active land management and soil conservation practices to slow or prevent erosion and protect existing coastal habitats (particularly mangroves and sea turtle nesting beaches). The project is also adopting a community based approach to combating the problem through several community strategies, guided by research scientists who will provide on-site training.

The project target area is along the North West/North East Coastline of Carriacou (approximately 5 km of coastline) and several key locations with particular habitat value have been selected for consideration. This phase of the project is the design and planning phase and the grant will be used to conduct research, through the form of surveys at selected turtle nesting beaches and mangrove sites; as well as organise community /stakeholder meetings to involve the communities in the planning and designing of phase (2) of the project.

The communities? interests and mobilization in putting together and carrying on this project will be the most valuable learning experience. The active involvement in and ownership of this project will generate positive results not only at an environmental level, but also at a social level, integrating conservation initiatives (such as mangrove and sea turtle conservation and protection of coastal areas) with social cooperation and the generation of community-based revenues. The involvement of youths and youth groups in this project will produce a hands on acquired knowledge needed for the development of future similar projects.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

YWF-Kido Foundation Inc.

Country:

Barbados

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 1,962.54

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 1,098.00

Project Number:

BAR/05/03

Start Date:

2/2005

End Date:

4/2005

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Notable Community Participation

Four community meetings will be held with stakeholders & CBOs in the proposed project sites, about the social and environmental conservation priorities and needs of the project areas. The meetings will also be designed to involve the communities in the planning and implementation of the project. The exercises will be facilitated by an experienced community mobiliser and human resource development consultant.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

In this phase of the project the design team will explore the possibility of as training young people to be monitoring guides for nesting turtles.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

N/A

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

N/A

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The community/stakeholder meetings will provide an opportunity for the scientist to explain to the community the environmental conservation priorities and the specific type of action that is required in the project area to eliminate the current environmental problems.

Capacity - Building Component

The experience gain by the community members in planning and designing phase 2 of the project will provide them with the necessary skills to undertake other conservation efforts and contribute to the protection of Carriacou's environment and global environment on a larger scale.

Policy Impact

The pahse of the project was not design to impact on exsisting policies are create new ones

Gender Focus

The project has a community focus and as a result both men and women will be equally encouraged to participate in the project.

Project Results

The overarching result was the preparation of a project document for a Full Grant of US$47,616 with a full project budget of US$106,554.00.

During the planning phase there were community consultations and involvement of scientists in coastal assessments which resulted in the selection of project sites.
Preliminary site assessments of selected coastal areas in Carriacou, including sites in the villages of Craigston-Bogles, Petit Carenage-L?Ilet, Windward-Dover-Limlair, Tibeau, and Mount Pleasant, were carried out by Wetland Biologist Dr. Gregg Moore and Dr. David Burdick, of University of New Hampshire, USA.

These preliminary assessment tasks were completed to identify coastal resources, immediate threats, and conservation targets within these threatened habitats, most of which are sea turtle nesting areas and mangrove sites. The Assessment Report (Included in Final Report-10 May, 2005)), compiled by Dr. Gregg Moore and Marine Ecologist Brett Still, of LEC Environmental Consultants, Massachusetts, USA, summarizes the observations during site visits and provides preliminary recommendations for achieving key goals within a subset of high priority/high feasibility sites within each of these communities. The report was formulated to build a scientifically based rationale and strengthen recommendations for the pending proposal ?Conservation and Restoration of Threatened Coastal Habitats in Carriacou, West Indies?

Representatives of several community groups and stakeholders from:

- Bogles Community Development Group
- Mt. Pleasant and Grand Bay Community Development Organization
- Windward United Woman Organization
- Bayaleau Community Group
- C.I.C.E.R.O. Carriacou Integrated Community Empowerment Resource Organization
participated in four preparatory meetings about the social and environmental conservation priorities and needs of the project areas. These meetings were designed to involve the communities in the planning and implementation of the resulting project.

A steering committee of nine persons (including members of the four Community based organizations mentioned above and members from YWF-Kido Foundation) was established as the main decision making body of the project, responsible for providing guidance and direction to the project staff and to guarantee the effective implementation of phase 2 of the project

The project grantee identified one lesson learned:

"Project proposals planned and formulated at the grassroots level, with the help of scientific and technical expertise, promote a wide interest, better understanding and a participatory approach among the communities, which guarantees a solid base for the developing and the deliverables of the project; fostering a sense of community ownership over the project and trust in their capacities, empowering community based organisations and stakeholders to carry on for future endeavours."

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