TNC Board Strengthens Marine Protection Collaboration with Barbados Government
Board holds high-level governmental engagements in Barbados to advance conservation priorities.
It is not every day that conservation leaders find themselves at the center of conversations shaping a nation’s environmental future. Yet, TNC’s Caribbean Board of Trustees did just that, convening in Barbados on July 7–8 for a series of high-level engagements with government leaders and key partners to advance the groundbreaking Barbados Nature Bond and its flagship outcome: the Barbados Marine Spatial Plan (BMSP).
The governmental and stakeholder meetings held during the first day of the visit centered on that major national initiative that aims to forge a balance between users and uses of the marine space and how to preserve both the ocean resources and people’s livelihoods. The discussions brought board members and TNC Caribbean leadership face to face with the Hon. Santia Bradshaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries; the Hon. Ryan Straughn, Minister of Finance; and several senior civil servants. The conversations underscored the importance of the Barbados-TNC collaboration in delivering the sustainable outcomes included in the BMSP.
The Board also met with representatives of the Coastal Zone Management Unit, the lead implementing agency for the BMSP, to learn about the significant progress being made implementing the plan and meeting its milestones. During the meeting, they also discussed challenges being encountered and opportunities to strengthen collaboration.
Additional stakeholder engagements were held with the Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund (BESF) and the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus. These exchanges provided trustees with valuable insights into the progress being made to enhance marine conservation, climate resilience, and other opportunities for strengthening sustainable development in Barbados.
On July 8, the Board’s formal meeting was hosted at Walker’s Reserve, a pioneering nature-regenerative project located on the island’s east coast. The day began with a tour of the 227-acre property, where trustees learned about ongoing ecosystem restoration efforts and the site’s transformation into a model for environmental regeneration. The visit concluded with a tree-planting exercise, symbolizing the Board’s commitment to long-term conservation impact.
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From lush, biodiversity‑rich mountains to colorful reefs teeming with life, natural beauty permeates the Caribbean. For more than 40 years, The Nature Conservancy has worked with 17 Caribbean nations, communities and supporters to restore ecosystems and protect what makes this region extraordinary.
