Department Of Planning & Natural Resources

The Department of Planning & Natural Resources (DPNR), doing business as the Division of Territorial Parks & Protected Areas, is a U.S. government entity registered in SAM.gov, specifically representing the U.S. Virgin Islands government. As a territorial government agency, DPNR focuses on environmental conservation, resource management, and community resilience initiatives across the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is responsible for protecting natural and cultural resources, managing territorial parks, and developing strategies for sustainable development and climate adaptation.

DPNR has recently received multiple significant federal grant awards that demonstrate its comprehensive approach to environmental and resource management. In October 2024, DPNR was awarded a $69 million cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to implement climate resilience and risk reduction projects, including property acquisition, community-led initiatives, and youth training in nature-based solutions. Additionally, the agency secured a $156,509 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct a comprehensive water resource assessment, creating a spatial database of water infrastructure and collecting data on water usage across the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Park Service also provided two project grants totaling approximately $439,197 to support outdoor recreation planning and administrative capacity building, specifically focusing on developing parks, trails, and recreational amenities while preparing a Territorial Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. These federal grants collectively underscore DPNR's critical role in environmental protection, water resource management, and community development within the U.S. Virgin Islands.