The grenadines archipelago is comprised of more than 80 volcanic-origin islands, islets, rocks, and cays, which emerge from the shallow grenada bank, situated at the convergence of the atlantic…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $749,309 Cooperative Agreement to Environmental Protection in the Caribbean Inc. (EPIC) under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) program. The goal of this 5-year project is to increase seabird nesting success and productivity in the Grenadines archipelago of the Caribbean by creating approximately 150 acres of improved seabird nesting habitat through the removal of invasive goats on Battowia and the Pillories Islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. EPIC will also conduct public outreach to educate the region on environmental issues and encourage seabird nesting habitat stewardship, as well as continue building the capacity of local Grenadines seabird guardians to take an active role in conservation.

The grenadines archipelago is comprised of more than 80 volcanic-origin islands, islets, rocks, and cays, which emerge from the shallow grenada bank, situated at the convergence of the atlantic ocean and caribbean sea. The grenadines are highly productive due to the geography of the grenada bank, with oceanographic processes providing nutrients for fauna such as fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. However, this region faces numerous conservation threats, including non-native mammals. The goal of this project is to increase seabird nesting success and productivity through conservation actions to improve and restore available nesting habitat on battowia and the pillories islands in ST. Vincent and the grenadines in the caribbean. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (USFWS), the ST. Vincent and the grenadines forestry department (forestry), and science initiative for environmental conservation education (science), environmental protection in the caribbean (epic) will work towards the following objectives: a. Create approximately 150 acres of improved seabird nesting habitat through removal of goats. B. Conduct outreach in the region to educate the public on environmental issues and encourage seabird nesting habitat stewardship on islands.c. Increase breeding success of target species on battowia and the pillories by removing goats from nesting colonies. D. Continue building capacity of grenadines seabird guardians and empower citizens to take an active role in conservation.