Executive Office Of The Government Of The Virgin Islands

The Executive Office of the Government of the Virgin Islands, Division of Coastal Zone Management (operating as Planning & Natural Resources), is a U.S. local government entity registered in SAM.gov since August 2005 that serves as the territorial coastal management authority for the U.S. Virgin Islands. This division provides comprehensive coastal zone management services to protect, restore, and responsibly develop the territory's coastal communities and marine resources while balancing economic development with natural resource protection. The entity has established itself as a critical partner in administering the territory's federally-approved coastal management program and coordinating collaborative efforts to address significant environmental challenges facing the USVI's marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Through its federal grant awards, the Division of Coastal Zone Management has demonstrated extensive expertise in coral reef conservation, marine debris removal, coastal resilience planning, and environmental stewardship initiatives. The entity has received substantial funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through multiple programs including the Coastal Zone Management Act (CFDA 11.419), the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CFDA 11.482), the Marine Debris Program (CFDA 11.999), and congressionally identified awards (CFDA 11.469), with awards totaling millions of dollars for initiatives such as removing approximately 50 abandoned boats from territorial waters, implementing the Territorial Coral Reef Initiative with monitoring and restoration activities, and developing Sargassum removal strategies and monetization opportunities. Additionally, the division has received funding from the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs (CFDA 15.875) for coral resilience testing, restoration activities addressing Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, and hiring a Coral Disturbance Response Coordinator. The entity has also received support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (CFDA 66.708) for pollution prevention technical assistance to food service businesses through the Clean Coasts program. Key activities funded through these grants include coral reef monitoring and restoration, Acropora palmata research, installation of marine protection buoys, coastal permitting and legal enforcement, watershed and water quality management, geospatial tool development for coastal planning, green infrastructure design, marine debris cleanup and citizen science training, and comprehensive coastal resilience planning. The division has worked with academic partners including the University of the Virgin Islands and external institutions such as the University of Florida and University of the West Indies, as well as nonprofit organizations including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Virgin Islands Clean Coasts program to execute these diverse coastal management and environmental protection initiatives across St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.