Saint Lucia Welcomes Conservation Fund

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]fter seven to eight years of planning, the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLNCF) was finally able to pronounce its practicality. The World Bank, the Nature Conservancy and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) all provided crucial technical assistance toward the launching of SLNCF, whose stated mission is to “catalyze and support the conservation, restoration, and effective management of Saint Lucia’s biodiversity and natural resources”. The SLNCF will provide funding for public and private sector entities wishing to embark on environmental conservation projects.

SLNCF boasts a trendsetting inauguration. Executive director Dr. Vasantha Chase said at Monday’s launch: “Today, of the CBF participating countries that have operational national conservation trust funds, we stand next only to Dominican Republic and Antigua and Barbuda.”

The chairman of SLNCF, Mr. Roderick Cherry, added: “There are some 52 standards for a conservation trust fund and we can safely say that the SLNCF has achieved at least 80% of those standards.”

There were also announcements on Monday that the SLNCF will soon be signing an MOU with the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association’s Tourism Enhancement Fund. SLNCF is also “in discussions with the IGY Rodney Bay Marina and Capella Resorts in Marigot for partnership to develop an environmental marina programme through co-financing of such programmes,” according to Cherry.

Maybe it’s something that only conservationists or environmentalists can   appreciate but members of ministries of sustainable development, natural resources and agriculture, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, the Saint Lucia Archaeological and Historical Society and the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) were obviously elated during Monday’s activities, some even to the point of tears. They revealed that funding for environmental and conservation-based projects is not easily come by, and a new established source brings hope.

However, the SLNCF is an endowment fund that can only reach so far. Public sector agencies will have to provide a 1:1 match from in-kind or cash contributions. Private sector entities must make a 1:2 match and ensure that no profits will be made from the project. Local non-governmental organisations, colleges, community associations and other credible organisations are eligible to apply for funding from the SLNCF with varying requirements.

Last year, the government halted a EC$700,000 subvention to the SLNT from its annual budgetary allocations. The SLNT is eligible for funding from SLNCF; however, this is not a “saviour” to organisations like the SLNT but merely “potential assistance” for specified projects. The maximum amount offered by SLNCF is EC$50,000.

Most of the speakers on Monday emphasized that there needs to be a balance between conservation and development and that Saint Lucia’s natural and historical resources are its most viable tourism assets. The SLNCF hopes to help with just that.