Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC)
is an independent non-profit founded in 2000 with the mission of protecting the Caribbean environment through research and community-based actions.
EPIC is seeking a part-time Project Coordinator for the project “An investigation of the state of Sint Maarten’s brown pelican population, for improved management of the species and its habitat.” The Project Coordinator is responsible for the successful completion of project objectives and meeting grant requirements. The long-term goal of this project is to improve management of natural resources for the preservation of biodiversity on Sint Maarten, particularly Sint Maarten’s brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis) population and associated habitats.
A recent analysis of climate change impacts for Sint Maarten shows how major storms, which are increasingly common, will have a profound effect on the Small Island Developing State (SIDS) of Sint Maarten in the Dutch Antilles. Annual damage estimates to Sint Maarten from major storms are USD $3 million. And by the year 2100, a worst-case scenario could result in 47% of Philipsburg and 29% of Cole Bay being flooded.
It’s a bit dark in the classroom as there is no electricity for lights in the village of Boukan Chat, Haiti. The children have settled into the small school building at the center of town. Dressed in their school uniforms, sitting on wood benches, they wait for the teacher to start class. They hear a commotion from the back of the dark room and turn to see a six-foot tall Black-capped Petrel walk into the room flapping its wings.
In May, a small team of Haitian petrel biologists pulled out of the small dusty town of Jacmel, and headed their pick-up truck northeast. They eased it up the heavily rutted road to begin their expedition to see if endangered Black-capped Petrels nested on the mountain called Pic La Selle. Due to the remote nature of that area, few biologists had visited it for more than 60 years, when some of the first known Black-capped Petrels in Haiti were found there by David Wingate during expeditions in 1961 and 1963.
A seabird identification workshop in the Grenadines archipelago is helping to increase the capacity of law enforcement to protect important seabird populations on remote offshore islands. During the two-day training, participants learned to identify species in the field and familiarized themselves with local conservation threats, they may encounter in their work, such as poaching.
Anderson Jean
One of the leading conservationists in Haiti, and a trained agronomist, Anderson understands the importance of a balanced ecosystem. A natural leader, he confidently guides EPIC’s Black-capped Petrel conservation program in Haiti to implement sustainable farming, educate the next generation of farmers, and monitor the status of one of the few known breeding colonies of this endangered seabird.
Lystra Culzac
Born and raised in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Lystra earned a MS in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent. Inspired to protect her home’s natural heritage, she returned to found Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education (SCIENCE). As Lead Educator for EPIC’s Grenadines project team, she’s been instrumental in inspiring the community to take action to save seabirds.
Laura Bijnsdorp
Laura’s passions for travel, art, and environment have led her all over the world but she always returns home to Sint Maarten, where she was born and raised. Working with EPIC since 2015, Laura has led efforts to educate and encourage island stewardship throughout the community. Laura continues to contribute to EPIC’s mission as an Associate.
Vaughn Thomas
Vaughn is a fisherman, sailor, and tour operator born in Grenada and living in Carriacou. His knowledge of and love for seabirds grew from his work with the Grenadines Seabird Guardians, a citizen science group started by EPIC. Vaughn’s sea experience and local knowledge has helped enable their surveys, train new members, and aid the implementation of a Seabird Conservation Action Plan.
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