The project inception workshop for a new initiative aimed at strengthening sustainable land and soil management, improving water security, and reducing drought was conducted in Petite Martinique with the engagement of stakeholders, including residents, farmers, businesses, and other beneficiaries.
The project, which aims to directly benefit 400 people, with more than 50% of the beneficiaries being women and girls, is funded by the Global Environment Facility and executed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The stakeholder consultation was facilitated by Dianne Roberts of Roberts Caribbean, who was recruited by the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) to develop the project document for the 3-year project.
The 4-component project aims to reverse the impacts of land degradation, which is not new to Petite Martinique but has been exacerbated by the passage of Hurricane Beryl, placing further pressure on soils, agricultural areas, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
The project will seek to build local capacity in Sustainable Land and Soil Management (SLM) through landscape restoration. Key activities would include the establishment of a seedling nursery to produce heat-tolerant and drought-resistant trees and grasses; cultivation of economically viable plants; restoration of grasslands and forested areas covering approximately 356 acres of land, including the formal restoration of 40 hectares; and development of farmer-managed plots and paddock systems to promote best practices in land and livestock management.
The inception meeting follows a site visit to Petite Martinique on 3 September 2025, by a technical team from the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management, led by the organisation’s Executive Director Dr Francis, a soil scientist, along with Bernard McIntosh, Project Manager for the Carriacou ILM Project; Trevor Thompson, Project Manager for the CSIDS SOILCARE Project Phase I; and Leon Williams, UAV Operator for the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry. The assessment covered affected areas including Madam Pierre, North Point, and nearby locations.
This inception meeting, attended by 20 stakeholders, is an important step in the transition from assessment to planning, and from planning to action. It provided an opportunity for PISLMa regional IGO — that is based right here in Grenada — to obtain from the residents information on the land and soil that affect the stakeholders in Petite Martinique, and for representatives from the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and technical partners, to review the initial findings of the assessment, identify the priorities, share their concerns, and agree on the pathway for targeted interventions on the ground.
Following the meeting, Roberts will prepare a draft project document for submission to the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management and the United Nations Environment Programme for submission to the Global Environment Facility.
The initiative is designed to deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits by restoring ecosystems, improving agricultural productivity, strengthening water management, supporting biodiversity, and creating more sustainable livelihood opportunities for residents of Petite Martinique.
PISLM
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