NATIONAL PARKS, RIVERS ANDBEACHES AUTHORITY

Official Newsletter  

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O .   1 2

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF ACTION FOR

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Celebrating 25 Years of Actionfor Biodiversity - 1-2

"Ridge to Reef" Field Trip - 3

San Souci Beach Clean-Up- 4

Water Quality Training withSUSGREN - 5

Project Officer recruited for theCCCCC'S project  - 6

Upcoming Events -7

Staff in focus - NPRBAAdministrative Unit - 8

SVG Sea Turtle ConservationProgramme - 9

May's Best Moments - 10

The National Environmental

Days Committee on 18th May,

2018 held an exhibition at the

Forestry Headquarters, under

the theme “Celebrating 25

Years of Action for 

Biodiversity”. The exhibition

was conducted to celebrate

International Day of Biological

Diversity 2018. Approximately

180 students from Dr. J.P

Eustace Memorial  Secondary

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O . 1 2

22

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

School, Lowmans Leeward

Anglican School, Buccament

Government School, Questelles

Government School and the Sugar

Mill Academy participated in the

exhibition. The exhibits included:

Live specimens of Plants and

Animals species, Craft and Other

Non-Timber Forest Products. The

objectives of the of the exhibition

were to increase understanding

and awareness of biodiversity

issues and promote healthier

practices that can protect

biodiversity. It provided students

with an opportunity to engage

 and be expose to important

aspect of Marine and Terrestrial

Biodiversity.  

Biodiversity or Biological

diversity is a term that describes

the variety of living beings on

earth. In short, it is described

as the degree of variation of life.

S t u d e n t s f r o m D r . J . P E u s t a c e M e m o r i a l S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l c l o s e l y i n s p e c t i n g t h e l i v e e x h i b i t s f o u n d   i n t h e E d u c a t i o n R o o m a t t h e F o r e s t r y H e a d q u a t e r s .

S t u d e n t s f r o m t h e   Q u e s t e l l e s G o v e r n e m e n t S c h o o l o b s e r v i n g t h e A m a z o n a G u i l d i n g i i a t t h e e x h i b i t i o n .

R e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m t h e F o r e s t r y S e r v i c e s s p e a k i n g t o   s t u d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s f r o m t h e S u g a r M i l l A c a d e m y . .

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O . 1 2

23

RIDGE TO REEF

FIELD TRIP

The (SCMCA) Reef

Guardian School Pilot

Programme

implemented by

National Parks, Rivers

and Beaches Authority

(NPRBA) in collaboration

with the Agricultural

Extension Services Unit,

the Soil and Water

Conservation Unit, and

 personnel from 

Fisheries and Rural

 Transformation

(MAFFR), held the final

“Ridge to Reef” Field

Trip with the Calliaqua

Anglian School  on the

27th April, 2018. The

field trip started from

the Fansomby Hill Look-

Out Point and ended at

the Calliaqua Bridge. 

The objectives of the field trip

were to allow students to make

connection between what they

have learnt in the classroom

and the actual field, and to

witness firsthand the impact of

climate change and other

natural and anthropogenic

drivers and stressors that affect

the South Coast Marine

Conservation Area.F a c i l i t a t o r M r . J u n i o r D o w e r s f r o m P u b l i c H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t s p o k e t o t h e s t u d e n t s o n t h e h a r m f u l i m p a c t s o f “ P o l l u t i o n a n d G r e y W a t e r ” o n o u r W a t e r s h e d s .

M r . C a s m u s M c L e o d w i t h s t u d e n t s f r o m t h e C a l l i a q u a A n g l i c a n S c h o o l a t F a n s o m b y H i l l L o o k - O u t P o i n t .

M r . S u t h e r l a n d f r o m t h e D u n b a r t o n A g r i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n .

S t u d e n t s w e r e g i v e n a t o u r o f F a r m l a n d b e l o n g i n g t o M r . D a v i s .

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O . 1 2

4

H A P P Y W O R L D T U R T L E D A Y

2 0 1 8  

The SVG Sea TurtleConservation Programme

celebrated World Turtle Dayon May 23rd,  2018.

In SVG, there are threespecies of Sea Turtle that are

frequently seen; they are:The  Green Turtle(classified

as critically endangered),Leatherback (classified as

vulnerable) and the Hawksbill(classified as critically

endangered).

All three species of Sea Turtlefound in SVG are included inthe International Union forthe Conservation of Nature

(IUCN) Red List of threatenedspecies.

On May 23rd, 2018, The SVGSea Turtle Conservation

Programme urges individualsto protect the habitats ofturtle and appreciate the

benefits that these reptilesbring to so many people on a

daily basis.

 forty (40) participants,

consisting of volunteers

from the San Souci Sea

Turtle Monitoring Group,

Caribbean Youth

Environment Network

(CYEN), Sparta Football

Club and residence from

the San Souci and

neighboring communities

were present. Staff from

the Forestry Services 

The National Parks,

Rivers, and Beaches

Authority (NPRBA), in

collaboration with the

Fisheries Divisions under

the SVG Sea Turtle

Conservation

Programme (SVGSTCP)

hosted a Beach Clean-Up

at the San Souci Beach

on Friday May 11th, 2018.

The San Souci Beach is a

known sea turtle nesting

site. Approximately

provided techical support for

the clean up activity. The

volunteers were educated 

about the importance of

improving our coastal and

oceans ecosystem,the effects

of improper waste disposal

and plastic pollution, a major

threat to sea turtles. At the

completion of the Beach

Clean Up Twenty (25) large

bags of trash were collected

and piles of debris cleared;

including logs from the river

mouth. This event was just

one of numerous activities

organized by the SVG Sea

Turtle Conservation

Programme. The (SVGSTCP)

is being funded by the St.

Vincent and the Grenadines

Preservation Fund.

SAN SOUCI BEACH

CLEAN-UP

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O . 1 2

25

WATER QUALITY

TRAINING WITH

SUSGREN

of the many activities

being implemented by

SUSGREN under the

project: "Restoring Ashton's

Ecosystem to promote

Nature Based Adaptation

to Climate Change while

Creating Sustainable

Livehood Opportunities

for the people of Union

Island in SVG".  The

participants of the 

workshop included,

Community Research

Officers from stakeholder

agencies including Digicel,

Baracuda Restaurant,  the

staff at the Sustainable

Grenadines Inc and other

educational institutions. 

The training exercise was

geared towards equipping

participants with the

necessary technical skills

in the use of water quality

equipment, specifically the

YSI Professional Handheld

Meter and LaMotte

Testing Kit. Participants

received both theoretical

and practical training  in

preparation for coastal

monitoring at the Ashton

Lagoon and surrounding

areas.  The training was

well received by all

Participants.  NPRBA have

been involved in other

similar training exercises

 in the past with various

educational institutions

and stakeholders; and

will continue to build

capacity and emphasize 

the need and importance of

Water Quality monitoring in

conserving marine biodiversity.

"The National Parks, Rivers and Beaches

hosted a one day training workshop on

Water Quality Monitoring delivered by

Mrs.  Abena White, the Natural Resource

Management Officer at the NPRBA , on

Tuesday 22nd May, 2018 at the Sustainable

Grenadines Inc.'s (SUSGREN) Office in

Union Island.  This training exercise is one  M r s .   A b e n a W h i t e , W a t e r Q u a l i t y C o o r d i n a t o r w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m ( S U S G R E N ) .    

M A Y 2 0 1 8

D e l e g a t i o n f r o m t h e C C C C C ’ s c e n t r e i n B e l i z e , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m K F W , I U C N a n d N P R B A .

6

THE CCCCC'S

RECRUITED A PROJECT

OFFICER 

Marine Conservation area by

improving the natural

marine ecosystem and

increase fish biomass. The

project activities will also

focus on reducing land and

marine base stressors, hence

improving the quality of

water in the conservation

area.  

On Tuesday 15th May, 2018 a

delegation of technical

persons from CCCCC's

centre in Belize visited SVG

to provide support for the

implementation of project

activities.

This project is being funded

by the German Development

Bank (KFW) in collaboration

with the CCCCC.

The Coastal Rehabilitation

Adaptation Project to

Improve Ecosystem Health

and Build Resilience to

Climate Change project,

implemented by the

National Parks, Rivers and

Beaches Authority (NPRBA),

has recruited a new Project

Officer Ms. Cametha John.

Ms. John will provide

project coordination and

management services to

support implementation of

several activities of the

project that was officially

launched on December 12,

2016. 

The aim of the project is to

restore the environmental

integrity of the South Coast

Project Office

Ms. Cametha John

I S S U E N O . 1 2

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O . 1 2

27

World Environment Day is

celebrated annually on

June  5th and is considered

by the United Nations (UN)

as the most important day

for encouraging worldwide

awareness and action for

the protection of our

environment. Since it

began in 1974, it has grown

to become a global

platform for public

outreach that is widely

celebrated in over 100

countries.

The theme for this year is

“Beat Plastic Pollution".

Plastic pollution is

evidently one of the most

important environmental

problems that we face

today. It impacts the

environment and our

health and wellbeing. 

World Oceans Day 2018 is

celebrated under the theme

“prevent plastic pollution and

encourage solutions for a

healthy ocean”. World Oceans

Day is celebrated annually on 

June 8th to remind us of the

importance of  oceans in

everyday life. They are the

lungs of our planet, providing

most of the oxygen we

breathe. They are a major

source of food and medicines

and a critical part of the

biosphere.

For World Environment Day and World Ocean Day 2018,

the National Environmental Days Committee invites

Vincentians to support  efforts to fight environmental and

Ocean challenges arsing from Plastic pollution  and to

celebrate together the beauty and the wealth that these

precious resources offer.

W O R L D E N V I R O N M E N T D A Y   W O R L D   O C E A N S   D A Y  

June 8th  

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O . 1 2

28

 STAFF

IN

FOCUS

NPRBA

ADMINISTRATIVE

UNIT

Accounting Clerk 

Mrs. Calisha Salomon

The Accounting Clerk

facilitate the efficient

and accurate preparation

of accounting records

and payments.

 Administrative Officer (Botanic Gardens)

Ms. Corlan Peters

Assisting the Curator in

managing and coordinating the

day to day financial, accounting,

administrative and personnel

services of the Botanic Gardens.

Ensure the delivery of  quality

services to internal and external

customers and the maintenance

of a productive, safe and healthy,

working environment for the

Botanic Gardens’ staff.

The Office Clerk

Assistant provides

Secretariat, accounting,

general office,

documentation and

project logistical support

at  NPRBA. Office Clerk

Assistant

Ms. Shanell Murray

Receptionist/ Secretary

Ms. Cheryl-Ann Pierre

Receptionist/Secretary

is responsible for

organizing and providing

efficient documentation

services, assist with

accounting functions,

welcome visitors to the

Authority and facilitate

both internal and external

communication.

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O .   1 2

9

T H E S E A T U R T L E C O N S E R V A T I O N P R O G R A M M E F O R S T . V I N C E N T A N D

T H E G R E N A D I N E S I M P L E M E N T E D B Y T H E N A T I O N A L P A R K S , R I V E R S A N D

B E A C H E S A U T H O R I T Y ( N P R B A ) I N C O L L A B O R A T I O N W I T H T H E F I S H E R I E S

D I V I S I O N   W I L L L I K E T O R E M I N D T H E G E N E R A L P U B L I C   T O K I N D L Y

A D H E R E T O T H E T O T A L B A N .

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O .   1 2

1 0

MAY'S BEST MOMENTS

A b o v e : W e a l l h a v e o u r p a r t t o p l a y ! ! ! A y o u n g v o l u n t e e r f r o m t h e S a n S o u c i c o m m u n i t y d o i n g h i s p a r t t o c l e a n t h e S a n S o u c i   B e a c h .

A b o v e : B u c c a m e n t G o v e r n m e n t S c h o o l s t u d e n t s   t a k i n g a p h o t o w i t h a b e a u t i f u l L a n d T u r t l e a t t h e B i o d i v e r s i t y E x h i b i t i o n .

A b o v e : W i n n e r ! ! ! ! ! C a l l i a q u a s t u d e n t s r e c e i v e d a p l a n t a s a r e w a r d f o r c o r r e c t l y a n s w e r i n g q u e s t i o n s d u r i n g h e r t o u r o f D u n b a r t o n A g r i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n .

M A Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O .   1 2

1 1

P.O. Box 195

Jaycee's Building

Corner Leeward

Highway and Stoney

Ground Road

Kingstown

St. Vincent and the

Grenadines

VC 0100

Tel: 784 453-1623 Fax: 784 453-1622 Email:nationalparkssvg@gmail.com

NATIONAL PARKS, RIVERS AND BEACHES AUTHORITY 

Find us  on the web!

www.nationalparks.gov.vc

A l s o m e e t u s o n :  

CONTACT US: