Montserrat is set to strengthen its water security, forest management and climate resilience through a new project launched under the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC).
The initiative dubbed Agroforestry and Sustainable Land Management Solutions, is funded through a UK Government initiative supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Speaking at the launch ceremony at the Montserrat National Trust on Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture Honourable John P Osborne said protecting and restoring nature must be recognized as an essential part of development.
The project will focus on four interconnected areas, namely, water, forests, climate and livelihoods.
Activities will include assessing springs, boreholes and aquifers, identifying priority watersheds for protection, developing a national forest inventory and collecting more detailed climate data specific to Montserrat.
The initiative will also explore agroforestry and sustainable land management opportunities to improve agricultural resilience and create new forest-based business opportunities.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) UK Overseas Territories (UKOT) Officer for the Caribbean, Lyndon John, in giving an overview of the project said it presents a significant opportunity for Montserrat to be the first Overseas Territory possess a forest inventory.