PROJECTS
Community Led Coral Reef Restoration in Waltham, St. Mark
2022 - 2023
The Grenada Coral Reef Foundation (GCRF) in partnership with the Grenada Fisheries Division is implementing a project entitled ‘Community Led Coral Restoration in Waltham, St. Mark’s, Grenada.’ This project is designed as a community-based coral rehabilitation project. More specifically, the project aims to provide training for community volunteers from the rural community of Waltham within the Parish of St. Mark’s, and provide them with theoretical and practical training in coral reef restoration utilizing Biorock Artificial reef technologies. Four Coral Trees will also be fabricated and deployed.
This project is funded by the Sandals Foundation.
Improving gender equality and capacity of coral restoration practitioners in Gouyave, Grenada
2022
In 2019, a community based environmental youth group was created under the auspices of the Grenada Coral reef Foundation (GCRF). This youth group have been working at the community level (i.e. in Gouyave) to develop a coral rehabilitation project aimed at restoring the degraded coral reefs adjacent to their community since.
In 2022, GCRF with support from the French Embassy in St. Lucia, implemented a project designed to provide female members of the environmental youth group with the opportunity to expand their capacity and knowledge base to include other/novel methods of coral restoration to enhance the coral restoration project on the reefs off Gouyave. More specifically, members of the group participated in a learning exchange where they learnt new/innovative coral restoration methods from L’ASSO-MER who has been successfully pioneering these methologies on the island of Martinique. These new methodologies will be implemented at the GCRF coral restoration site off the coast of Gouyave upon return to Grenada. Based on the success of the project in Martinique, it is anticipated that the introduction of these new methodologies will significantly enhance the efficiency and productivity of the restoration project off the coast of Gouyave, Grenada.
The Project was funded by the French Embassy, St. Lucia.
Community-led Coral Reef Restoration in Petite Martinique, Grenada
2021
The Grenada Coral Reef Foundation (GCRF) together with the Martinique Woman’s Organization and Grenada Fisheries Division implemented a project aims to restore and rehabilitate degraded coral reefs within the coastal areas surrounding Petite Martinique through the establishment of a coral nursery. The nursery were be populated with corals fragments from phenotypically resilient wild colonies and from colonies in existing coral nurseries in Grenada. These coral fragments were then be acclimatized and grown in nurseries using coral nursery trees and Biorock artificial reef.
The nursery were be constructed and maintained by community stakeholders led by the Petite Martinique Women in Action Group. The mature fragments were out-planted onto degraded coastal reefs.
The project was funded by the Australia Embassy, Trinidad.
Project for Enhance Capacity and Employability for Gouyave Youths through Marine Conservation
2020 - 2022
The Grenada Coral Reef Foundation (GCRF), in collaboration with the Grenada Community Development Agency (GRENCODA) and Grenada Fisheries Division, initiated a project with the objective of empowering the youth in coastal communities of Gouyave, St. John, Grenada. The project aimed to equip them with valuable skills and knowledge by facilitating their attainment of at least three internationally recognized certifications. Additionally, the project focused on rehabilitating a minimum of 500 square meters of coral reef, raising public awareness about environmental issues, and enhancing the participants' understanding of these matters.
To accomplish these goals, 20 youths from the community were engaged in a diverse range of activities that encompassed both theoretical and practical aspects. Theoretical components consisted of lectures, field trips, and research projects, which provided them with a comprehensive understanding of environmental concepts. Meanwhile, practical activities involved hands-on experiences such as boat handling, diving, coastal cleanups, and coral gardening.
This project served as a platform for these youths to gain practical work experience and receive vocational training. It opened up pathways of opportunity for them to develop valuable skills that could benefit their future endeavors. By actively participating in the project's activities, these youths not only contributed to the restoration and conservation of coral reefs but also broadened their horizons and acquired practical knowledge in various environmental disciplines.
The project was funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP).
Biorock Pilot Project in Carriacou
2018
The Grenada Coral Reef Foundation (GCRF) partnered with the Global Coral Reef Alliance (GCRA) to implement a Biorock Pilot Project in Carriacou in July 2018. The GCRA have been implementing Biorock projects in many countries over the world, and have always worked with a local partner so as to better strengthen local capacity to continue the technology in future projects.
Project implementation on the ground started on June 30, 2018 which included a GCRA Hands-On Biorock Training Workshop. Eight (8) BIOROCK structures in the shape of tunnels, dome and turtle, were built by volunteers which included fishermen and students from within the Community of Carriacou. The artificial reef structures were propagated with rescued coral fragments from adjacent reefs and from the Sandy Island Oyster Bed MPA.
The Project was commissioned by the Grenada Organic Agricultural Movement (GOAM) with support for the Caribbean Climate Change Community Centre (5Cs) and the German Development Bank (KfW).
Biorock Pilot Project in Gouyave
2018
The Grenada Coral Reef Foundation (GCRF) partnered with the Global Coral Reef Alliance (GCRA) to implement the Gouyave Biorock Pilot Project in June 2018. The GCRA have been implementing Biorock projects in many countries over the world, and have always worked with a local partner so as to better strengthen local capacity to continue the technology in future projects.
Eight (8) BIOROCK structures in the shape of tunnels, dome and starfish, were built by volunteers which included fishermen and students from within the Community of Gouyave. The artificial reef structures were propagated with rescued coral fragments from adjacent reefs and from the Grand Anse Reef Complex. GCRF will endeavor to monitor and maintain these structures after the life of the project.
The Project was commissioned by the Grenada Community Development Agency (GRENCODA) with support for the Caribbean Climate Change Community Centre (5Cs) and the German Development Bank (KfW).