BarbudanGO is continuing its Action for Habitat initiative, building on several years of community-led conservation and restoration work with support from the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI).
The work is being implemented through the Generating Ambition for Locally Led Adaptation (GA-LLA) programme, a five-year, €15 million global initiative running from 2023 to 2028.
Funded by the Government of the Netherlands and led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in partnership with a global consortium, the programme aims to scale up locally led adaptation and strengthen inclusive, equitable and locally driven responses to climate change.
In the Caribbean, CANARI serves as the regional lead, working with civil society partners to strengthen community resilience, promote inclusive governance and improve access to climate finance. barbudanGO is contributing to programme implementation in Antigua and Barbuda.
barbudanGO’s agreement with CANARI runs from 2025 to 2028 and provides up to US$68,530 to support activities under the GA-LLA programme.
The continuation of the work follows a recent meeting between barbudanGO and the Barbuda Council, where the organisation received approval to continue practical conservation and habitat restoration activities at its targeted sites.
Building on a foundation of community-led conservation
Action for Habitat was conceptualised in 2022 led by the Director of Environment Pethrolyna Isaac, following consultations involving stakeholders connected to tourism, land, agriculture and fisheries. The organisation submitted a formal proposal to the Barbuda Council in May 2022 and received approval in August of that year.
The project subsequently received US$50,000 from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, with an additional US$51,164.61 secured through co-financing and in-kind contributions.
In 2023, the Barbuda Council entered into a memorandum of understanding with barbudanGO, contributing labour teams, construction support and heavy-duty equipment valued at more than US$25,000.
Activities undertaken during the earlier phase included site clean-up, development of conservation areas, land-bird monitoring, native plant support and reconstruction of free-standing stone fences using local stone. barbudanGO also established relationships with organisations providing technical assistance in community-led conservation, irrigation, mangrove propagation, nursery management and biodiversity monitoring.
Advancing locally led adaptation
Under the new CANARI-supported phase, BarbudanGO will build on this foundation through an ecosystem-based adaptation approach, using the protection and restoration of ecosystems to help strengthen Barbuda’s resilience to climate change.
Planned activities include baseline assessments and community consultations, habitat restoration, native garden development, mangrove outplanting, rehabilitation of historical structures, ponds and wells, improvements to trails and signage, community and volunteer training, and ongoing monitoring of restoration and biodiversity outcomes.
The initiative will also strengthen the capacity of local people and organisations to lead climate adaptation activities. Planned programme activities include organisational capacity strengthening, knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer learning and documentation of the experience through a case study.
Healthy ecosystems play an important role in Barbuda’s resilience. The degradation of mangrove ecosystems following Hurricane Irma in 2017 has presented challenges for natural coastal protection, biodiversity and livelihoods. Restoring and protecting these habitats is therefore an important part of strengthening the island’s capacity to respond to climate-related risks.
The project will also contribute to protecting habitats for Barbuda’s endemic bird species while creating opportunities for community members, volunteers and students to participate in environmental activities and climate education. Approximately 80 people are expected to benefit directly from project activities, with more than 500 expected to benefit from the results.
For BarbudanGO, the next phase of Action for Habitat represents a continued commitment to locally led conservation that brings together environmental restoration, community knowledge, traditional practices, capacity building and long-term stewardship.
The organisation’s goal under GA-LLA is to strengthen Barbuda’s resilience to climate change by restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems, protecting critical habitats and strengthening the capacity of local institutions and communities to lead sustainable locally led adaptation initiatives.
Acknowledgement
This activity is supported by the Generating Ambition for Locally-Led Adaptation (GA-LLA) programme, funded by the Government of the Netherlands. GA-LLA is led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in partnership with a global consortium.
BarbudanGO is implementing this work as part of the GA-LLA programme in the Caribbean coordinated by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI).
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: BarbudanGO Continues Action for Habitat with CANARI Support.