The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), through the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS) multicountry soil management initiative for Integrated Landscape Restoration and climate-resilient food systems (SOILCARE), project Phase 1, is supporting the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources and Cooperatives, in Grenada to implement a reforestation project within the Les Avocats Forest Reserve in St David.
SOILCARE which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with implementation support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is addressing land and water resources issues within this intervention site, by focusing on the removal of invasive Bamboo and Blue Mahoe species, restoration of native ecosystems, and implementation of sustainable soil and land management practices, to include stabilising the riverbank using silt traps, and vetiver grass.
Project Manager for the SOILCARE Project Trevor Thompson explained that work commenced in February, “under the supervision of the SOILCARE Project Assistant for Grenada Kennisha Canning and the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources and Cooperatives.”
According to Thompson, 12 individuals from within the community were employed during this first phase of the work within the intervention site, which included a total of 8 assistants and 4 chainsaw operators. Additional workers will be employed during the reforestation phase of the project.
The reserve, located in St David, was identified as a land degradation hot spot under Phase 1 of the regional project because of the severe erosion occurring and the impacts the proliferation of the invasives were having on water supply at the Les Avocats Dam and Water Treatment Plant. This effort plays a crucial role in tackling land degradation in Grenada.
The demonstration site is approximately 10 acres, and Land Management Specialist Dr Ronen Francis stated that provisions have been made for “repurposing the bamboo — some are being packed over root stumps to prevent new growth, while the rest will be used as construction material for the rebuilding efforts in Carriacou.”
“The blue and white mahoe trees are also being repurposed for fencing to support livestock farming in Carriacou,” Francis added.
The reforestation work at the Les Avocats Forest reserve reflects the SOILCARE project’s commitment to restore degraded areas and implement sustainable practices, thereby improving community livelihoods, to share a more sustainable future for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Work in the Les Avocats Forest Reserve under the CSIDS SOILCARE Project was estimated at EC$88,158.50.
PISLM
Please use the Bamboo you remove. DON’T just burn it or throw it away. It can be cut for many different uses and then you can kill the roots.