Caribbean Conservation: A Grassroots Success Story

In the Dominican Republic, an unusual workshop took place —one that includes not only biodiversity experts and civil society leaders but also a rare and endangered participant: Leo, a Ridgway’s Hawk. Leo and others gathered in Santo Domingo for the mid-term assessment meeting of the Caribbean Hotspot Project, an innovative biodiversity conservation initiative that is empowering civil society organizations to take the lead in conservation efforts. With only 500 individuals remaining in the wild, Leo symbolizes the urgency of conservation efforts.

The Caribbean Hotspot Project, supported by the World Bank and executed through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), has set itself apart by providing direct financing to civil society organizations (CSOs). This innovative approach ensures that the people who live closest to the land and its challenges are empowered to drive change, creating conservation models that are both locally relevant and sustainable.

At the heart of the project is the recognition that local communities and civil society organizations have the knowledge and the will to conserve biodiversity—if given the resources and support. From beekeeping in the Dominican Republic to climate risk mapping in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the project has already demonstrated the power of community-driven conservation initiatives.

The mid-term assessment meeting brought together grantees from across the region to share their successes, challenges, and best practices. Natalia Magradze, Project Team Leader and Senior Environmental Specialist, emphasized the importance of these gatherings: “Workshops like this are essential to ensure projects stay on track and to facilitate peer learning. By bringing grantees together, we create a space where organizations can learn from each other’s experiences and refine their approaches to maximize impact.”

Innovative Projects Making a Difference

The meeting showcased several inspiring conservation efforts, each demonstrating how local communities and civil society organizations are finding innovative solutions to protect both their environment and their livelihoods:

· Beekeeping for Flora and Economic Resilience: In the buffer zones of Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, 40 women have been trained in sustainable beekeeping and flora conservation. They have planted 10 hectares of native tree species essential for pollination, creating a sustainable income source while protecting biodiversity.

· Protecting the Ridgway’s Hawk: With fewer than 500 individuals remaining in the wild, the Peregrine Fund and Fondo Peregrino are working on a ten-year action plan to safeguard this endangered bird through habitat management and community engagement.

· Climate Risk Mapping in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: In response to environmental threats, JEMS, a volunteer community organization that empowers communities to protect the natural resources has equipped districts in six watersheds with tools for climate risk mapping. This proactive approach allowed them to take life-saving protective measures during Hurricane Beryl.

· Bird-Friendly Coffee Farming: In the Dominican Republic, The Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola (SOH Conservación) is supporting local farmers in the sustainable production of shade-grown coffee. Local coffee growers have already planted 34,725 tree seedlings on more than 30 hectares, applying several bird-friendly practices on their coffee groves. Shade-grown coffee beans are considered of higher quality in the market and can provide farmers with a higher income.

Civil Society: Essential Partners in Caribbean Conservation

Civil society organizations are pivotal to the success of this initiative, providing the expertise and local connections necessary for impactful conservation work: “Civil society organizations are rooted in local communities. They are on the frontlines, working for lasting biodiversity gains. As long-standing community partners, they build trust, champion sustainable practices, and provide continuity for those most affected by biodiversity loss. That’s why they are essential partners in conservation." - says Natalia.

"If you focus on people—if you value and empower them—people will become the protectors of natural resources. They will value them; they will see that if they take care of nature, they can earn a living from these resources. That is very powerful,” said Dr. Andrew Simmons, lead of the climate risk mapping project in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at JEMS.

The workshop represented a concrete step toward strengthening these organizations' capabilities through strategic networking and knowledge sharing. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it created a platform for enhanced collaboration and capacity building. "There are a lot of barriers working in an island region – you have the sea, the language, political barriers, so bringing together people in a regional workshop is a great way to overcome those barriers, improve collaboration, networking and build alliances," says Jack Tordoff, Managing Director for CEPF.

The project is implemented across 7 Caribbean countries, making regional cooperation a strong advantage. When organizations implement parallel projects across multiple Caribbean nations, they create a multiplier effect that enhances conservation outcomes and generates economies of scale. This collaborative framework enables countries to share knowledge, pool resources, and learn from each other's experiences.

This unified regional effort leads to more effective biodiversity protection compared to isolated national initiatives, as successful practices can be quickly adopted across borders, creating a more robust and interconnected conservation network throughout the Caribbean.

As the project enters its next phase, the focus will be on expanding the collaborative efforts initiated during the mid-term assessment meeting. Building on the lessons learned and success stories shared, the aim is to scale these grassroots conservation strategies across the region. The workshop provided critical insights that will guide the future direction of the project, with an emphasis on enhancing cross-border partnerships and boosting capacity in emerging areas like climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods.

With the growing momentum and commitment to these local conservation efforts, the Caribbean Hotspot Project is poised to create lasting environmental and socio-economic benefits for the region. By continuing to support the people who know and love their land, the project has the potential to catalyze a wave of sustainable change that will reverberate through the Caribbean for years to come.