BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A new energy and increased awareness in the area of coral reef monitoring and protection is expected to come as a result of yesterday’s official launch of the Youth Arm of the St. Christopher National Trust and its Global Environmental Fund (GEF)-sponsored project.

At a brief launch ceremony held in the archway of the National Museum yesterday (Jul. 15), the St. Christopher National Trust officially launched its youth arm, announcing an environmental project entitled ‘Sustainable Monitoring and Management of the Coral Reefs in St. Kitts and Nevis’.

The UNDP’s GEF Small Grants Programme-funded project, received a grant of US$48 470 to assist in its aim to safeguard the coral reefs of St. Kitts-Nevis against threats of pollution, over-fishing, climate change and even poor development practices. The youth arm is playing an active role in this project, and according to the organization’s Chair Ghanja O’Flaherty, the primary goal is to enhance databases, capacity and awareness of select coral reefs in the Federation.

“There are very few things, if any, that deserve our attention more than the environment.  With this project we hope that we can increase concern and activism in the protection of coral reefs, foster a sense of real advocacy on behalf of the environment and promote a feeling stewardship amongst the greater population,” O’Flaherty said.
 
“We hope,” he added, “that there will come a time when a synergy can emerge through this and similar projects, whereby we will care for the reefs that will in turn sustain us.”

The project targets seven reefs along the islands’ shores, namely - Monkey Shoals, Ballast Bay, South Friars Reef, South Frigate Bay, Brimstone Shallows, Old Road Reef and Sandy Shoals. Phase One begins with data collection from the seven vulnerable coral reefs, and over the course of about 210 scuba dives, information will be gathered concerning the condition of each reef.

This information will provide a more comprehensive and scientific basis for the preparation of the Marine Zone Plan and the development of a Marine Management Area being undertaken by the government. It may also guide the formulation of other key studies currently undertaken by various government departments.

A project of this nature requires close partnership with stakeholders in the area of marine resources. The Minister responsible for that area is the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris and he is already on the bandwagon, advocating for the close partnership in monitoring and managing coral reefs.

“I believe that this project, which we are inaugurating today in a wider framework of a marine zoning plan, synergy is an important and key component which would have a deep effect on the future work of the Department of Marine Resources and the protection of our waters against pollution.”

“In that perspective, this project has a pioneering role to play. I believe, therefore, that this project is one of those that have the ability to shape the future,” Harris said in delivering his address at the launch.

National Focal Person Stephen Duggins commended the St. Christopher National Trust on the work that it has done so far and wished a successful project to the recently-launched youth arm.