Press Release

For immediate release

9 September 2021

Photo caption:

1) Drones can be used to monitor biodiversity, such as remote seabird nesting colonies. Photo: Juliana Coffey

Drone Training Program to Assist in Conservation

Representatives from government agencies and local organizations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will participate in a one-week training program in the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles, also referred to as drones.  The purpose of the training is to build local capacity to use drones for conservation purposes, such as monitoring wildlife and threats to biodiversity like fires, illegal harvest, and non-native mammals.

The training is being led by ConservationDrones, based out of the United Kingdom, and Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), based in the United States.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines provides crucial habitat for plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. Some areas, such as the uninhabited islands of the Grenadines, are difficult to access yet are home to globally and regionally important seabird nesting colonies. Drones are a useful tool in monitoring remote and often inaccessible habitats from the air. Participants will be trained in safety guidelines including avoiding disturbing wildlife.

This project is made possible with support from the Bio-Bridge Program of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development.

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ENDS

For more information contact:

Natalia Collier

Program Director

Phone/WhatsApp: +1 (707) 845-4261

Email: ncollier@epicislands.org

Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is an independent non-profit founded in 2000 with the mission of protecting the Caribbean environment through research, restoration, education and advocacy. EPIC is a results-driven organization that works on challenging, under-addressed issues through holistic programs resulting in strategic community-based actions. By recognizing the connections between ecological health, economic vitality, and the quality of life for Caribbean residents, EPIC’s work supports the vision of Caribbean communities leading the way towards a more resilient and sustainable future for everyone. To learn more about EPIC and its Caribbean initiatives visit our website at epicislands.org or find EPIC islands on social media.