BIOPAMA RRG Project Brief

Sustenance of monitoring, maintenance and operation of the Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA) and the Pigeon Island National Landmark (PINL) impacted by COVID-19

Having acknowledged that conservation agencies throughout the globe would experience a reduction in revenue generation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in June 2020, the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) programme issued a call for proposals for a Rapid Response Grant (RRG). With the aid of financial support from the European Union (EU) and the ACP Group of States, the BIOPAMA programme provides assistance to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to address their priorities for improved management and governance of biodiversity and natural resources. The Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) submitted a proposal in response to this call and has been awarded a RRG for the period of May 2021 to April 2022.

This RRG will improve the SLNT’s monitoring and management capacity to continue key conservation initiatives during this period of economic downturn. More specifically, this grant will enable the engagement of personnel and technological assistance including a drone for natural resource and biodiversity monitoring, as well as early detection and prevention of illegal activities within the Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA). The funds will also be used to procure monitoring equipment, undertake wildlife surveys, and regular offshore island monitoring and assessments to reduce threats and loss of the endangered endemic species.

National COVID-19 response protocols also required increased sanitization of the Pigeon Island National Landmark (PINL) and PSEPA amenities and availability of sanitization products for use by visitors. This grant will provide funding to procure some of the required products and personal protective equipment for staff to undertake their duties safely.

The project is expected to result in the following outputs:

Output 1: Increased surveillance of targeted areas within the PSEPA to address illegal activities and species conservation;

Output 2: Improved species monitoring programmes; and

Output 3: Improved monitoring and management of PINL in accordance with COVID-19 response protocols.