V.I. RC&D: doctitle

V.I. Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference

The Virgin Islands Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference provides education & outreach to the Virgin Islands community about Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution issues in the Territory. The primary Conference objective is to increase awareness, knowledge levels and skills, resulting in behavior and practice changes by government, industry and residents in order to improve water quality through-out the Virgin Islands. The Conference brings together government agency personnel, researchers, community groups, home-owner associations, non-governmental organizations, members of the construction, plumbing and boating industries, students, educators, farmers, and vendors to examine environmental issues in the territory and throughout the wider Caribbean region. For more information about the conference, contact the RC&D office at (340) 692-9632 x. 101, or via e-mail: faye.williams@pr.usda.gov, or visit the Conference Website.

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Trunk Bay St. John, photo courtesy of Westin St. John Resort & Villas.

Farm Pond Seepage Control Training

The V.I. RC&D, through the leadership of its Coordinator Ms. Lenora Haynes, provided technical assistance to We Grow Food Inc., a community-based organization in the Estate Bordeaux farming community on St. Thomas. Ms. Haynes was approached by Ms. Benita Martin-Samuel, a member of We Grow Food, Inc. and the St. Thomas/St. John RC&D District Committee, for assistance from V.I. RC&D in installing linings for several conservation ponds in Estate Bordeaux. Ms. Haynes, with support from the RC&D Board, contacted the USDA-NRCS Caribbean Area Office who provided training to the farmers on Seepage Control in Storage Ponds. A similar workshop was also held on St. Croix.

Estate Bordeaux, St. Thomas farm pond with new liner.

Grant-Writing Training

The V.I. RC&D sponsored its tenth Grant Writing for Professionals Workshops on St. Thomas and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. A total of 57 participants repr.-sending local, federal, and non-governmental agencies were provided training on acquiring funding through private foundations and the proper development of grant proposals. The workshops were conducted by Dr. Don Udell of Resource Develop-mended Specialists, Inc. from March 4th – 16th, 2002.

Grantwriting workshops conducted by Dr. Don Udell (right).

Estate Adventure Nature Trail

During his 1995 visit to the Virgin Islands Plant Material Center in St. Croix, then NRCS Chief Paul Johnson recommended establishing a hiking trail along the Estate Adventure gut. In January 2001 the Urban & Community Forestry Assistance Program funded a grant to create a nature trail to provide a learning environment in the island's natural setting. The project's objectives are to enhance youth education about the Virgin Islands' natural resources; to encourage conservation of the Virgin Islands' natural and cultural resources; to raise the awareness of the value of the Virgin Islands' natural and wildlife resources amongst both youth and adults; and to provide a hands-on experience for youth to increase their appreciation for the Virgin Islands' natural resources. The project will benefit the community by providing students from surrounding public and private schools, including the University of the Virgin Islands, as well as visitors, with an opportunity to increase their knowledge about native plant and wildlife identification. It allow visitors to experience the interaction of various ecosystem processes and components, including diverse plants, wildlife, and people.

Volunteers constructing bridge at Estate Adventure Nature Trail.

One of the four bridges.