Fire Recovery and Conservation spotlighted on Union Island

The Ministry of Agriculture is getting support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Ridge to Reef Project, to address fire recovery and conservation in Union Island.

Project Co-ordinator, Ridge-to-Reef/IWEco, Makini Barrow and students giving a vote of thanks.

A joint team visited the southern Grenadine island for three days during May, 2025, to conduct assessments and undertake training activities on forest fire prevention and response. The initiative is part of the ongoing Ridge to Reef Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the UNDP, which is aimed at enhancing biodiversity conservation and reducing land degradation in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), a release from the UNDP regional offices states.

Key activities undertaken during the visit included:

l Assessment of Chatham Bay Fire Site: The team visited the Chatham Bay area to evaluate the  impact of a recent fire on the local ecosystem and to strategise on recovery and conservation efforts.

l Training for Union Island Environment Alliance (UIEA) Wardens: A specialized training session was conducted for the UIEA wardens, focusing on fire management techniques to enhance their capacity in preventing and responding to forest fires.

l Educational Outreach at Union Island Secondary School: An informative session was held at the Union Island Secondary School, serving as a central hub for students from the other schools on the island. Officers from the Forestry Division and the GEF-UNDP, spoke to students, highlighting the objectives of the project, and the role of youth in environmental stewardship.

The Ridge to Reef Project, initiated in 2019, is a collaborative effort between the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines and UNDP, with funding from GEF. The project aims to strengthen the national protected area system, implement sustainable land management practices, and promote integrated watershed management to conserve biodiversity and reduce land degradation.