Grenadines Marine and Coastal System
These islands - St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada - are ringed by barrier, patch and fringing reefs. Seagrass beds and mangrove wetlands thrive in coastal areas.
Location
The Grenadines are on the southern end of the Lesser Antilles.
Animals
These islands are home to numerous species of sea birds and migratory birds. Species of birds found only on this chain of islands include the Lesser Antillean tanager, whistling warbler, Grenada flycatcher and St. Vincent parrot.
Scientists hypothesize that the Grenadines are at the beginning of a current that circulates throughout the Caribbean. They are studying the possibility that the area is a "nursery" for fish, corals and reef organisms that migrate to the Grenadines from the coastlines of South America, Central America and the Greater Antilles.
Why the Conservancy Works Here
Overfishing, inappropriate development and overuse of the area by tourists are primary threats to the islands' mainland, coasts and marine areas.
What the Conservancy is Doing
The Conservancy is new to this area of the Lesser Antilles. It is working with local partners to survey all of the Grenadines, identify threats and conservation strategies, and map priority sites in need of protection. Part of the plan includes developing and managing a system of marine protected areas.