Workshop participants conducting beach monitoring exercises (Courtesy of ESFN)
The EcoShores Sustainable Futures Network (ESFN) participates in the IUCN Wetland Monitoring Training Workshop from April 13–17, 2026, at the Community Centre in Codrington, Barbuda.
The workshop will strengthen national capacity for wetland monitoring, giving participants hands‑on experience in techniques such as water quality monitoring, mangrove and vegetation surveys, and bird surveys, while building skills in data management processes.
In the final days, participants will apply these lessons through Codrington Lagoon’s pilot monitoring program. This practical field component provides an opportunity to test methods, reflect on results, and refine approaches for future monitoring efforts.
Wetlands undergo constant changes, and without consistent monitoring, we may overlook significant shifts. These interactive training sessions will strengthen ESFN’s ability to monitor wetlands in ways that directly support our mission, outreach, and conservation initiatives.
By learning and practicing these techniques, participants will gain tools and methods to track ecosystem changes and share findings with communities affected.
This training builds on the work ESFN continues to do in education and engagement, turning scientific surveillance into citizen science knowledge and guidelines for our projects and programs.
The ESFN team previously attended the two (2) national workshops convened under the Wise Use of Caribbean Wetlands Project, which advanced a vulnerability assessment of the Codrington Lagoon RAMSAR Site.
This training builds on that engagement and connects directly to ESFN’s World Wetlands Day Ecological Tour of the Barbuda RAMSAR Site held on February 21st, 2026, supported by the Wise Use of Caribbean Wetlands Project.
“Wetland and coastal monitoring provides the knowledge needed to guide conservation decisions and strengthen resilience,” said ESFN’s Portfolio Manager, Britney McDonald. “By participating in this workshop, we are reinforcing our commitment to building local capacity and ensuring that communities, including Barbudans, have the tools to protect and manage these habitats.”
Protecting wetlands is important for safeguarding biodiversity, strengthening resilience against climate impacts, and sustaining livelihoods. ESFN encourages community members, youth, and partners to remain engaged in conservation efforts and to see wetlands as living classrooms that connect science, culture, and everyday life.
ESFN supports Wetland Monitoring in Barbuda, photo of Portfolio Manager, Britney McDonald with field gear
ESFN’s Community Swim Programme participants will begin collecting marine and coastline data to support the ESFN’s fieldwork and build on education and awareness.
This effort helps enhance confidence in understanding the environment that shapes daily life and creates spaces for women and youth to take an active role in conservation. Involving diverse voices in this process ensures that conservation is inclusive and that communities feel empowered to safeguard ecosystems for the future.
Through this initiative, ESFN continues to align its programming with national and regional priorities, linking wetlands conservation to broader goals of education, youth empowerment, and community well-being.
The EcoShores Sustainable Futures Network (ESFN) is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainability, environmental conservation, and community empowerment across Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Southern United States. ESFN works to address key challenges, including climate justice, biodiversity, youth development, technology innovation, and education.
Through initiatives such as the ESFN Volunteer Explorer Program, World Wetlands Day Awareness, Build Your Future, Community Swim Program, and the Endeavour Publication. ESFN fosters innovative solutions and inspires action to protect marine and coastal ecosystems. ESFN strives to create a more resilient and sustainable future for all. ESFN has committed to supporting creative media and cultural expression of vulnerable communities, with a focus on youth.