September 23, 2024 -- The United States Forest Service (USFS) has brought to a close, the Natural Infrastructure for Caribbean Resilience (NICaR) Program. The closing ceremony, held on Monday, September 16, 2024, at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, highlighted NICaR’s achievements in improving long-term climate adaptation and ecosystem resilience in vulnerable communities.
The Caribbean is facing escalating challenges from climate change, with ecosystems, communities, and economies at increasing risk. Launched in 2020, the NICaR Program implemented 12 projects across nine Caribbean countries. Through collaboration with 14 grantee organizations and other partners, the program has advanced the protection and restoration of about 235 hectares or 580 acres of vital mangrove and upland forest ecosystems.
NICaR has worked with 38 environment-focused institutions, including community-based organizations and universities in the Caribbean and partner institutions in the United States. Program activities included sharing approaches and solutions in protecting forest ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, advancing restoration efforts and enhancing disaster risk reduction initiatives.
The program has trained over 1,200 individuals, including over 700 men and more than 500 women, equipping them with vital skills in areas such as mangrove and riparian restoration, wildland fire management, community engagement and climate change adaptation. The program conducted the first wildland (bush) fire academy, providing targeted training to bolster wildland fire management capacity for national fire services across 12 countries.
Chief Fire Officer of the Barbados Fire Service and Immediate Past President, Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs, Chief Errol Maynard, was also in attendance at the event. Chief Maynard during his contribution lauded the program for enhancing bush fire management and investigation capabilities at the local and regional level.
The U.S. Ambassador Roger Nyhus highlighted the importance of NICaR in addressing regional climate impacts. “The Caribbean is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, but it is also a region that is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels, increasingly severe hurricanes, and other extreme weather events pose significant threats to the livelihoods of millions. In this context, the restoration and preservation of natural infrastructure—such as mangroves and forests—are not just environmental imperatives but also critical to the resilience and sustainability of Caribbean communities.”Deputy Director, Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, U.S. Forest Service, Liz Mayhew acknowledged the role of international partnerships.
“The support of the United States Forest Service and the Department of State has been pivotal in making these achievements possible. Our commitment to ecosystem restoration and wildland fire management in the Caribbean has underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing the environmental challenges we face”. The event featured testimonials from grantees and program participants and facilitated panel discussions on the ongoing need for regional collaboration in ecosystem protection and climate adaptation.
Shelly-Ann Lawson Francis, Program Manager for NICaR, spoke to the sustainability of the program interventions. “NICaR has enabled grantees to leverage additional resources, catalyze local knowledge and enrich academic programs. Regional seminars have sparked new cross-sector collaborations among grantees, local stakeholders, international experts, and donors, paving the way for sustained efforts”.
The NICaR grantees are Antigua and Barbuda, Wallings Nature Reserve Inc; The Bahamas – University of the Bahamas/ University of Wyoming, Perry Institute for Marine Science; Dominica – Dominica Red Cross; Dominican Republic –Asociacion para el Desarrollo and Grupo Jarauga; Jamaica – American Bird Conservancy /Jamaica Conservation Development Trust, Central Jamaica Social Development Initiative; Saint Kitts and Nevis, Nevis Historical and Conservation Society; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Richmond Vale Academy; Trinidadand Tobago, Caribbean Natural Resource Institute (CANARI) and sub-grantees in (Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada), Fondes Amandes Community Restoration Project.
Disclaimer
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
