The Caribbean Conservation Community of Practice and its partners, Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS) and the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, held its annual meeting from March 25th to 27th, 2025, on St. Thomas at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Laverne E. Ragster building. “The CCCoP is composed of community leaders, researchers, universities, non-profits, as well as federal, state, and territorial governments.” DPNR’s Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas’ entire team was in attendance. Patricia Valentín-Llorens, a NOAA Coastal Fellow with TPPA, helped organize the event. TPPA Director Kitty Edwards hosted a table to showcase the division’s resources and its newly launched Climate Resilience Regional Challenge webpage.
The conference aimed to create a connected network to support ecosystems and communities, align priorities for better conservation, raise awareness of available resources, and strengthen collaboration among conservation partners in the Caribbean. The first day featured a keynote by Dr. Kim Waddell, Research Director at UVI, who emphasized the need for cross-territory collaboration and research to advance conservation efforts. Other topics of concern were emerging environmental challenges, STEM education, climate adaptation, hazard mitigation, and workforce development.
Day two focused on breakout discussions, where CCCoP members shared experiences related to conservation efforts. TPPA team members contributed to discussions on outreach, land use changes, and fostering partnerships. Participants also identified action items for future implementation.
The final day offered a unique opportunity for attendees to contribute to revisions of the USVI Wildlife Action Plan and participate in field trips. The morning field experience was a kayak trip sponsored by Virgin Islands Eco Tours at the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER), which is managed by Territorial Parks. The kayakers, led by TPPA Director Kitty Edwards, were able to explore the mangroves while enjoying the serene beauty of the marine protected area.
The afternoon field experiences included a hike at Magen’s Bay led by UVI Agriculture Professor and VI Trail Alliance Board Member Olasee Davis, where hikers learned “about the watershed, and marine resources in addition to the natural, cultural, historical, and archaeological context of the site.” Additionally, attendees participated in a guided tour of Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) led by Associate Director Dr. Sam Eliades, who discussed “the important work being done by CWORI in conservation through research, resource management, and education.” Observing the processes behind CWORI’s meticulous coral restoration and propagation efforts was truly captivating.
Overall, the Caribbean Conservation Community of Practice meetings provided valuable opportunities for the Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas team to share ideas, engage in meaningful discussions, and visit conservation sites on St. Thomas.
