St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Overview

The Nature Conservancy supported a project to create a framework for a multi-use zoning plan for the Grenada Bank – an offshore area encompassing waters from both Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This project built upon the marine protected area network plan to increase the effectiveness of MPAs in both nations.

The first phase of this project resulted in the creation of Grenadines Marine Resource and Space-use Information System (MarSIS), a compilation of data on human uses and the environment thought to be relevant to MSP in the region. Participatory research methods (e.g., socioeconomic surveys, mapping exercises, marine field surveys) were used to supplement existing data by incorporating local knowledge and to fill data gaps.  Based on these data, project leads developed maps of important marine habitats and resources,  as well as locations of human uses. These maps were used to develop a zoning scheme, identifying areas for fishing, conservation, and multiple uses.

This project demonstrated how participatory mapping (PGIS) as a means for achieving stakeholder engagement within an MSP process by providing opportunities for stakeholder participation, lending transparency to the process, and increasing the likelihood that final planning products will be accepted and adopted.

This work has been used to inform the draft SVG National Ocean Policy and Action Plan implemented by the Maritime Administration and funded by the European Union. The revision of the SVG National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan funded by UNEP was undertaken in 2014 to develop a marine multi-use zoning design for South Coast Marine Park.

TNC’s Role

• Science/technical expertise
• Stakeholder engagement
• Process facilitation
• Marxan
• Financing

TNC provided funding, technical support, data, and guidance on mapping for the SusGren project.  They also assisted with participatory mapping workshops.

Project Partners

Lead Institution: SusGren

Other Partners: NOAA

Fact Sheets and Project Links

Sustainable Grenadines Inc. (SusGren). 2012 Report of the “Developing a Framework for a Comprehensive Marine Multi-use Zoning Plan” Project, SusGren, Clifton, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 106 pp

Contact

Steve Schill
Lead Scientist
Caribbean Division
Email: sschill@tnc.org

Photo credit: © Tracy Ko