SusGren to hold meetings reviewing the ‘Marine Multi-Use Zoning Plan’

The Sustainable Grenadines Inc. invites marine resource users (fishers, cruisers, dive shop operators, day tour operators, water taxi operators, ferries etc.) and community members to take part in a series of community meetings to review the recently drafted marine multi-use zoning plan for long-term management of the marine and coastal resources of the Grenadine Islands.{{more}}

The meetings are a follow-up to a regional workshop held in Hillsborough, Carriacou, on February 16 and 17 to develop a ‘Marine Multi-Use Zoning Plan for the Grenadines’. This 18-month project has brought together a number of Grenadine marine resource users, government officials, academics and community-based organizations to work together to develop a potential marine multiuse zoning design for the Grenadine Islands and is funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

The development of a marine multiple-use zoning plan is important to guide sustainable development of the Grenadine Islands shared between the nations of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The zoning plan also supports the goals of both countries’ National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans and will enable the countries to meet their obligations as a signatory to the OECS St. George’s Declaration and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Informative community meetings are scheduled to take place from February 20 to March 4, 2012, across the islands of the Grenadines. These community meetings will involve an introduction to the project; sharing of the project components; and discussion to obtain community feedback on the collaboratively developed marine multi-use zoning design. All are welcome to attend and learn more about this important project.

The tentative schedule for these community meetings which begin at 6:30pm is as follows:

February 24 – Carriacou, Hillsborough – Regatta Jupa; February 25 – Petite Martinique –

February 27 – Mayreau – Combination Café ; February 28 – Canouan, Friendship – Fishing Camp (2 pm); February 28 – Canouan – Nasa’s; March 1 – Bequia, Port Elizabeth – Hibiscus Bar (Baje); March 2 – Bequia, Paget Farm – Step Down; March 3 – Mustique – Fishing Camp (2 pm); March 4 – Mustique – Lisa’s – Lovell Village.

This project is being implemented by SusGren, with funding from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP). For more information please contact Kim Baldwin (baldwin.kimberly@gmail.com, telephone 784.454.0606) or SusGren (susgrenpm@vincysurf.com, telephone 784.485.8779).