RVA - MCT - Climate Change and Biodiversity Project

Richmond Vale Academy in Co-operation with One World University Chateaubelair, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines Phone: +1 784 458 2255 www.richmondvale.org

May 10, 2016

TO THE MUSTIQUE CHARTITABLE TRUST Summary of the Disaster Management, Climate Change and Biodiversity Project The Mustique trust supported Richmond Vale Academy with 29 924 EC$ towards the Disaster Management Project. Here is an overview of how the funds were spent, the impact of the project and the actions that were implemented.

The Participants A group of students and teachers from Richmond Vale Academy, a group of 10 Vincentian students from the GAIA Club and 14 students and teachers from the David Ross Educational Trust together carried out two important disaster relief actions and engaged in several educational and awareness activities.

The Richmond Beach Coastal Conservation Initiative Sea levels are rising as a result of Global Warming and melting ice caps. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 85% of the population lives less than 5 meters above the sea level. Adapting to climate change means in this case that we protect our shores to prevent intrusion from the sea, not only to protect habitats but also to protect from salinization of arable lands. In that regards, Richmond Vale Academy, the Lions Club, Parks and Beaches Authority and the forestry department started

the Richmond Beach Coastal Conservation project in 2015.

The Richmond beach area consists of St. Vincent’s biggest natural almond forest, a unique wetland area and a beach with multiple purposes for fishermen, gravelminers and for recreation.

The project seeks to conserve the biodiversity both on land as the marine biodiversity and to protect the riverbanks. The project also seeks to increase the awareness and the interest to protect the nature in a sustainable manner. As well the project seeks to sustain the area for the fishermen and for mining jobs, but side by side with the natural environment and not letting damaging the nature.

Furthermore the projects seeks to showcase a model for St. Vincent of how planting trees and protecting the nature is crucial to protect against sea-level rise.

The public road along Richmond Beach has already been damaged and lost twice and several feet of the coastline are already gone.

The planned continuation of the project was to plant more trees suitable for the area that would protect the riverbanks and the beach. A thorough investigation was carried out in regards to planting of Mangroves. Prior to the project start a group from Richmond Vale Academy went to Union Island to study the conservation project in Ashton Lagoon which consists of mainly red mangroves. The group also went to the white mangrove forest area in Prospect, carried out discussions and harvested recommendations from both the Forestry Department as the Parks and Beaches Authority.

Furthermore the group went to investigate the growth of white mangroves that was planed at the Black Point Park and also to identify species of mangroves growing at the Ganesh beach. Several conversations were also held with local expert in biodiversity Mr Amos Glasgow.

The initial plan was to plan 2000 white mangroves, but after the thorough investigation and discussions with experts and authorities the group agreed to plant sea grapes, fat pork and replant the white mangroves that had been lost in floods since the initial test planting in 2015.

Two visits were made to Dr. Jerrol Thompsons Biodiversity Park in Prospect on how to actually collect the seedlings and further studies were made. Seedlings were collected in prospect and sea grapes and fat pork seedlings were purchased at the Forestry Department in Campden Park.

A total of 300 trees were planted, including a fence of Gliricidia trees to protect the wetland area.

Prevention of Pollution Keeping drains, rivers and communities clean is crucial to get ready for climate change.

The groups made a beach clean up and removed 200 kilos of trash. Plastic bottles were separated and given to local women who took them to the recycling facility in Campden Park as an income generating activity.

Removing and reducing the use of plastics promote the protection of the marine biodiversity and enhance the awareness in the population about why it is important to keep the environment clean.

Climate Change and Biodiversity Education The DRET students and The GAIA Club students, along with the Richmond Vale Academy students participated in a series of educational sessions and workshops.

The students from the different groups were divided and mixed into smaller groups.

The different groups carried our intensive studies about Climate Change and investigated the effects in the nearby villages by observing the damages from the trough system in December 2013 and talked to several people that are affected by climate change.

The groups went on foot through the palm trail to the Dark View water falls and also hiked the La Soufriere volcano, getting experiences close to nature and learning the reasons for why protecting nature and the biodiversity is important.

Besides the theoretical studies and investigations, the students took part in a series of cultural exchange - and sports - activities.

The Courses and Studies that all students participated in were:  Introductory Sessions  Effects of Climate Change

 Importance of Biodiversity  The importance of Mangroves  Wetlands  Marine Biodiversity  Sea Level Rise  History of St. Vincent and the Grenadines  Benefits of Organic Farming and Permaculture  Prevention of Pollution  The Dangers of Plastic  Course about the importance of Sea Turtles

The investigations and Nature Excursions that were undertaken:  Effects of Climate Change – Chateaubelair, Rose Bank and Petit Bordel  Visiting The forest garden at RVA  Excursion Prospect Mangrove and Wetland Area  Visiting Botanical Gardens Kingstown  Discover Diving at Petit Bordel Site  The Cross Country Trail – Hiking to La Soufriere  The Palm Trail Nature Trail  Walk through the Richmond Valley and visit to the Dark View Water falls  Excursion of the Mustique Island  Excursion to the Tobago keys Marine Park Cultural Exchange Education and Sport Sessions  Sports Day  Cultural night with the Rose Hall Drummers

 Participation the Rose Hall Culture Fest  Experiencing the Sion Hill Steel band at the Evaluation and Award Ceremony  Experiencing Low carbon transport by Donkey with local farmer  Pirates of the Caribbean Site Walliabou  Cross cultural communication skills working in a team with people from UK, St. Vincent, Belgium, Brazil and USA

Team work and Leadership Training Training in working in groups, leadership, planning and presentation throughout the 3 week intensive Climate Action Course.

Discussion skills, evaluation skills, listening skills, coping skills, problem solving skills, adaptation skills (food, environment, climate) We have been very impressed with the DRET Students and their facilitators as they group were very ready, interested and fully up to the program.

The Vincentian students have expressed the following about their learning experience in this course; “ We have really learned so much from this experience with the UK Group. It was very interesting to learn many new aspects about climate change that we never thought off before. Going to Union Island was great because we got to discover places in our own country that we hadn’t seen before.” - Kimberley, GAIA Club “ Learning together with the British youth and the RVA students at the Richmond Vale Academy was a very great experience. I could see how much we can learn from being together with other cultures and how easy it was to work together with everybody. This course also opened my eyes to many places in my own country, like the Volcano and Union Island. I will for sure stay in touch with my new friends and do more in my community as well.” – Frida, Petit Bordel

“ It was really a splendid time that we spent with the UK group...the way we interacted and were connected to easy other though we are from different cultures, its was truly amazing. I love my community and would want to see it move forward for the better. So whatever it is that we see that we can do, we will do. I want to make our community more health conscious, as there is a saying that a healthier nation is a wealthier nation. We can start this by educating the youths so that they have a different mentality and would want to be healthier as there are a lot of benefits to this.” – Claudisha, GAIA Club

Media Coverage Claudisha and Dotsie from Chateaubelair, together with students from Richmond Vale Academy went on radio programs at WE FM and NBC Radio, where they shared their experiences about the Climate Action Course and the many things they have learned, and also inviting people for the Earth Day Celebrations at Richmond Vale Academy.

Both members of the GAIA Club in Chateaubelair also got articles published in the newspapers The Vincentian and Searchlight, where they shared their experiences about the Climate Action course, what they have learned about climate change in St. Vincent, the cultural exchange with the British group and the climate actions that they have been part of.

6000 Climate Compliance Newspapers were printed and are being distributed by Richmond Vale Academy. This edition of the Climate Compliance News holds a summary from the Climate Action Course and will reach 10,000 people with information about the Climate Action Course and with information about uses of Moringa, the importance of Biodiversity and the importance of getting ready for Climate Change.

Conclusion The project and the actions taken at the Richmond Beach have been of significant importance for the restoration of the beach and for the development of the showcase model for St. Vincent.

The course has been a unique learning opportunity for everyone who was involved

in it. Everyone who participated gained a lot of new knowledge on climate change and all the elements involved, gained a lot of insight on how climate change is affecting St. Vincent and got first-hand experiences in positive actions for sustainability and for a better climate.

The course has been a life-changing experience for the Vincentian participants who got to learn not only a lot of knowledge and skills related to climate change, but also got the opportunity to learn about and bond with other cultures, working in international teams and about the power of creating collective positive actions.

The Climate Action Course has put focus on the main challenges we will be facing in the future in terms of Global Warming and effects of climate change. The Climate Action course also put a lot of emphasis on the positive actions that we can carry out to adapt to these future challenges and to mitigate the effects as much as possible.

Without the support from the Mustique Charitable Trust this course, the learning and the actions would not have been possible and we are then also very grateful for all the support that was granted by the trust.