CARIBBEAN 2016 IMPACT REPORT

DEAR FRIENDS Letter from the Board Chair As we look back over the past year, we cannot help but take immense satisfaction in what has been accomplished. This report illustrates the substantial progress we have made along many fronts: marine conservation, coastal resiliency, coral restoration and sustainable fisheries. All these efforts clearly demonstrate the strong linkage between people and nature thriving together. None of this would have been possible, of course, without all those who have generously provided their time, energy and financial resources. Thank you for what you have already done and what I hope you will continue to do.

VISION The Nature Conservancy is working to create a resilient Caribbean where both nature and people can thrive.

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THE CARIBBEAN 2016 IMPACT REPORT

Currently on the ground in 16 Caribbean countries and territories, the Conservancy is committed to protecting the ocean and coasts, safeguarding against impacts from climate change, and conserving and restoring habitats that provide fresh water for the benefit of Caribbean communities.

I was first introduced to the Caribbean’s extraordinary beauty and abundant biodiversity as a child. Having personally witnessed the steady decline of the region’s once magnificent coral reefs, pristine beaches, life-supporting mangroves and abundant fisheries over the past 50 years, I am heartened by the work The Nature Conservancy is doing throughout the region to ensure a sustainable future. Much more work needs to be done, but the way forward is clear and within our grasp. It is now time for us to act upon the moral responsibility we have to future generations and to the natural world. We must do our part to leave behind a place every bit as beautiful and complete as the one we inherited.

Michael J. Kowalski Chairman, Caribbean Board of Trustees

Letter from the Executive Director For decades, The Nature Conservancy’s Caribbean Division has advanced critical conservation work throughout the region. We continue this work with a focus on high-impact and scalable initiatives to protect oceans and freshwater, while learning to adapt to climate change. This report highlights our accomplishments in 2016. From the successful deployment of artificial reefs to sustainable fishing workshops for local fisher communities, the Conservancy continues to impact both nature and people in the Caribbean, a region where communities and livelihoods are inextricably linked to natural resources. I am very proud that this year, we were able to complete our financial commitment to the first-ever regional fund for conservation—the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund. This is a very important milestone worth celebrating and we are deeply grateful to our many supporters for making it possible.

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Luis A. Solórzano Executive Director, Caribbean Division COVER The volcanic Pitons overlook the town of Soufriere, Saint Lucia, and the surrounding Soufriere Marine Managed Area. © Tim Calver

THIS PAGE The Conservancy’s Nealla Frederick holds a young red mangrove shoot, the species the Conservancy is replanting on the shores of Grenville Bay, Grenada, to build coastal resilience and reduce erosion. © Tim Calver OPPOSITE PAGE top to bottom (l-r) Luis A. Solórzano and Michael J. Kowalski © Kemit-Amon Lewis; Coral, yellow tube sponge and black sea urchin © Tim Calver; Reef hermit crab © Jeff Yonover

United States

The Bahamas Gulf of Mexico

North Atlantic Ocean

Turks & Caicos Islands

Cuba

Cayman Islands

Dominican Republic

Jamaica

WHERE WE WORK BOARD OF TRUSTEES Michael J. Kowalski, Chair, Kinnelon, New Jersey Cathy Rustermier, Vice Chair, Lincoln, Nebraska 4

Jonnie Swann, Treasurer, Merritt Island, Florida

THE CARIBBEAN 2016 IMPACT REPORT

Rosa Bonetti de Santana, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Joyce Coleman, Dallas, Texas Ramón Lloveras, San Juan, Puerto Rico Alicia Miñana de Lovelace, Hermosa Beach, California

U.S. & British Virgin Islands

Haiti

Caribbean Sea

Puerto Rico

Antigua & Barbuda Saint Kitts & Nevis Dominica Saint Lucia Saint Vincent & The Grenadines Grenada

BY THE NUMBERS $42M

60%

224,813

500+

374

200,000

goal reached to endow Caribbean Biodiversity Fund*

fishers trained in sustainable fishing practices

6,398

corals outplanted to help restore reefs

Robert O’Brien, Charlottesville, Virginia

of St. Kitts & Nevis’ nearshore and coastal areas protected with creation of new marine managed areas

miles traveled by the Conservancy’s satellite-tagged sea turtles

6,860

volunteer hours donated

square kilometers of ocean evaluated to inform protection of Eastern Caribbean islands

trees planted

4,754,321 hectares of marine and coastal areas protected to date under the Caribbean Challenge Initiative**

Stuart Goode, Bridgehampton, New York THIS PAGE Stephanie Placide from the Pilot Project in Biological Conservation in Haiti © Tim Calver inset top to bottom Greggory Harrow shows off a sea moss farm that produces a healthy beverage and is an environmentally sustainable source of income for coastal communities. © Tim Calver; Hawksbill sea turtle © Ken Marks

Susan Smith, Eastham, Massachusetts

*The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) is a U.S. $42 million regional endowment to support protected area management through annual disbursements to national trust funds in CCI** member countries.

**The Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI) is an effort to triple the coverage of marine managed areas in the Caribbean by 2020 by inspiring Caribbean nations to commit to conserving at least 20% of their marine environment.

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OCEANS

Tracking Savannah, Dionne, Victoria, Emily, Annette and Cheryl

Protecting marine habitats through marine managed areas and sustainable fisheries

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Embracing New Technology Throughout the Caribbean Coral Bleaching – There’s an App for That

Ocean Health Assessment Tools

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, DOMINICA, GRENADA, SAINT KITTS & NEVIS, SAINT LUCIA, SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

It’s now easier than ever to monitor coral bleaching in the U.S. Virgin Islands, thanks to a new mobile app called BleachWatch. The app allows any diver or snorkeler to report minor reef disturbances, such as bleaching or disease, and contribute to the Conservancy’s coral conservation work. LEARN MORE: reefconnect.org/bleachwatch

State-of-the-Art Coastal Mapping PUERTO RICO & U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS A state-of-the-art mapping and visualization tool called the Caribbean Regional Ocean Partnership (CROP) Data Portal and Marine Planner was officially launched by the Conservancy in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The maps produced with this tool help those who manage the oceans and coasts of these U.S. territories make better, more scientifically informed decisions to benefit both people and nature.

The Nature Conservancy launched CaribNode, a regional marine conservation information system for the Eastern Caribbean that utilizes data from a multitude of sources. The system offers decision-making tools that aid in more informed management of marine resources across the region. With the help of CaribNode, protected area managers from these six countries can monitor the status and trends of their marine environment and the livelihoods of the communities that rely on it, as well as inform the effectiveness of management actions. LEARN MORE: caribnode.org

LEARN MORE: caribbean-mp.org

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THE CARIBBEAN 2016 IMPACT REPORT

LISA K. TERRY I

SCIENCE TECHNICIAN

“More than ever, the task of conservation is in the hands of the community as much as the hands of managers and scientists. The BleachWatch app allows people who snorkel or dive to report back on what they see in the ocean, and the more we know about the health and resilience of our reefs, the better we can determine how best to protect them.”

THIS PAGE Sea grass bed near Maria Island Nature Reserve, Saint Lucia © Tim Calver; inset Lisa K. Terry © Annie Opel

Making the Grade: Coral Reef Report Cards ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, DOMINICA, GRENADA, SAINT KITTS & NEVIS, SAINT LUCIA, SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES The first-ever Coral Reef Report Cards were published for six Eastern Caribbean countries, combining over 250 reef surveys to create a clear, visual tool that allows diverse audiences to quickly access and assess the health of their country’s marine environment. This project, implemented by the Conservancy, uses key indicators—such as the distribution of coral, amount of algae on the coral and populations of certain fish—to generate a score for how a particular reef is doing. These scores can be compared to other sites within the country and across the region. When put into the hands of students, teachers, government officials, scientists or policy makers, these concise, easy-to-read report cards can have a significant impact by making this critical information accessible to everyone. You can view the report cards at caribnode.org.

The Conservancy and partners placed satellite tags on six green sea turtles in order to monitor their movements around the Caribbean. This was the first time the technology was used to better understand the movements of turtles that nest on the Conservancy’s preserve in St. Croix. The tracking technology revealed that while three turtles stayed around St. Croix, three migrated to other islands, further supporting the case for marine protections to span across geopolitical boundaries.

Making Sustainable Fishing a Family Affair PUERTO RICO More than 500 commercial fishers in Puerto Rico are newly versed in sustainable fishing practices, regulations and management, thanks to three trainings held by the Conservancy. The trainings

THIS PAGE clockwise St. Vincent & The Grenadines Coral Reef Report Card; Lobster fisherman © The Nature Conservancy (Erika Norteman); Gray Angelfish among healthy corals © Jeff Yonover; Satellite tag attached to female green sea turtle by Savannah State University partner, Emma Shultz, at the Conservancy’s Jack and Isaac’s Bay Preserve, St. Croix © Kemit-Amon Lewis

embraced a family-oriented culture and welcomed the fishers’ children and spouses, who play a key role in tracking statistics and reporting catches.

A New Way Forward for Sustainable Fishing Regulation HAITI The Conservancy is leading the charge to update Haiti’s antiquated fishing laws, which date back to 1977. The lack of updated, well-informed laws and regulations has led to a steady decline in fish catch, but the new Fisheries Sector Action Plan, based on the Conservancy’s studies and assessments, offers practical solutions for sustainable fisheries on the northeastern coast of Haiti. This plan, now fully endorsed by the National Fisheries Division of Haiti, seeks to influence new fisheries policies currently being developed to promote a more sustainable future.

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Raising Conservation Awareness with Communities

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THE CARIBBEAN 2016 IMPACT REPORT

Advancing Lionfish Control and Parrotfish Protections

Sustainable Fishing Campaign Launched

Music Videos Promoting Marine Conservation Now Playing

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

JAMAICA

In coordination with local partners and community groups, the Conservancy conducted a series of seminars to raise awareness about invasive lionfish and the need to protect parrotfish in the Samaná Bay area of the Dominican Republic. Aimed at fishers, students and restaurant owners, the lectures promoted the capture and consumption of lionfish to ensure their numbers are kept in check. The series also discouraged the capture and consumption of parrotfish, which play an integral role in healthy coral reefs.

To promote sustainable fishing, the Conservancy and Jamaican partners implemented a new awareness campaign that targets those who can make a world of difference: the fishers themselves. Using a wide range of channels—including billboards, puppet shows, original songs and church sermons—the campaign encourages local fishing communities to adopt more sustainable fishing practices. Launched in Bluefields Bay Fish Sanctuary, the campaign is expected to expand to other marine protected areas and fishing communities across Jamaica.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, DOMINICA, GRENADA, SAINT KITTS & NEVIS, SAINT LUCIA, SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES Using the universal language of music, famous local artists from six Eastern Caribbean countries wrote original songs and recorded music videos calling on each of their countries to protect local marine resources. These videos are part of a campaign led by the Conservancy that promotes protecting the Caribbean Sea in new and unexpected formats. In addition to music, teams for each country used a variety of other unique tactics including dance, events, art and fashion.

THIS PAGE Invasive lionfish © Jeff Yonover; inset Sustainable fishing billboard at Bluefields Bay Fish Sanctuary © Donna Blake; OPPOSITE PAGE A fisherman in Haiti poles his boat across the shallows. © Tim Calver; inset top to bottom Local fishermen in Duquesne Bay, Grenada © Tim Calver; Singer and songwriter New Starzz Keith Currency & Mentallis of Antigua’s “This is Who We Are” music video © Sean Southey; Alicia Miñana de Lovelace © The Nature Conservancy

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ALICIA MIÑANA DE LOVELACE I

CARIBBEAN DIVISION BOARD MEMBER

“As a native Puerto Rican, the conservation of my Caribbean home is very close to my heart and I feel privileged to be part of the tangible impact we are making across the region. Most of all, I am proud that our personal involvement has inspired our children to take action and to volunteer with The Nature Conservancy and get involved with school environmental programs. It’s critical to engage the next generation if we want to successfully protect this paradise.”

WATER

CLIMATE

Conserving and restoring freshwater habitats for the benefit of Caribbean communities

Building coastal resilience through the restoration of coral reefs and other coastal habitats to protect communities from the impacts of climate change

New Coral Nurseries Established GRENADA AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

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THE CARIBBEAN 2016 IMPACT REPORT

Coral nurseries were established for the first time in Grenada and the British Virgin Islands, resulting in a total of six geographies throughout the Caribbean where the Conservancy is supporting coral nurseries. In the British Virgin Islands, the Conservancy helped train local officials on the importance of nurseries to coral reef restoration. In Grenada, local youths were trained by the Conservancy

water at its source as water flows downstream into Haitian communities.

HAITI

Water Funds Legally Established

The Conservancy helped a Haitian community cultivate 200,000 new seedlings of forest and fruit trees in Saint-Michel-de-l’Atalaye as part of a reforestation project. This replanted forest will not only provide a source of food, it will help protect drinking

scientists to be “community coral gardeners” to help monitor and maintain the island’s new nurseries and reefs. This opportunity gave the group of local Grenadians an opportunity to earn a living while protecting an important community resource.

Building Resilient Coasts GRENADA Innovative reef structures designed and installed by the Conservancy have shown significant progress after one year of testing. These engineered

VINCENT “JEGG” CLARK I

Reforesting for Nature and People

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The Conservancy and partners legally established the endowments of two Water Funds in the Dominican Republic. The funds protect four watersheds

that supply water to more than 60% of the country’s population. The endowments will direct money from downstream users of water, like beverage companies, to targeted conservation work upstream in order to help provide clean, fresh drinking water for more than 2 million Dominicans.

THIS PAGE Endira Moronta Abreu, 8, plays by a clean waterfall in the Dominican Republic. © Carolyn Drake; inset Donna Blake © The Nature Conservancy; Derivert Tilionord inspects a mango tree that was planted as part of an agroforestry project in the Dominican Republic. © Bridget Besaw

structures were constructed to help protect the damaged and fragile coast of Grenville Bay, Grenada, by providing wave breaks to stand against the impacts of increased storm surges and sea-level rise. Built of concrete and stones inside steel cages, these structures are quickly being encrusted with young corals and inhabited by fish that seek protection. The success of this first year provides the necessary information to design and build out more structures along this threatened coastline to provide even stronger protection for the community.

SAINT LUCIA NATIONAL TRUST VOLUNTEER PROJECT, ASSISTANT FOR CONSERVATION

“The mangroves are of great importance because they act like a nursery for fish and they collect silt from the runoff of the hills and valleys. They also act like a windbreaker for storm surge. It is of great importance to us, especially to the fishing industry, that is why we need to protect our mangroves very much. “ THIS PAGE top to bottom Conservancy staff stand atop an artificial reef in Grenville Bay, Grenada. The structures protect coastlines from strong wave action and reduce the impacts of climate change. © Tim Calver; A tree structure in a coral nursery near Grand Anse, Grenada, grows healthy staghorn coral fragments. © Tim Calver; Vincent “Jegg” Clark © Tim Calver

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DONNA BLAKE I

JAMAICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR

“Jamaica was originally called the land of wood and water. But now we are witnessing the streams that used to crisscross our country are shrinking and sometimes don’t exist other than in times of very heavy rain. Kingston often experiences water restrictions and the people are feeling the impact of water availability and quality. This is why we are working to establish a Water Fund in Jamaica, to protect and restore water sources in the mountains that supply fresh water to the people of the capital.”

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