Sub Project 7 - Carriacou
Community based nature tourism in the proposed National Park of High North, Anse Laroche and Petit Carenage
Le tourism vert et culturel en tant que levier du developpement local dans le parc national de High North, Anse Laroche et Petit Carenage à Carriacou, Grenade.
The Foundation YWF/Kido focuses on the needs of children and the environment. It carries out biological research on land and at sea and uses the visual arts and puppet shows to illustrate situations - both good and bad.
Carriacou (belonging to Grenada) is the largest island in the Grenadines. It contains a proposed National Nature Park - High North - in the northern section of the island. This area covers 600 acres of outstanding natural beauty, spectacular topography and rich biodiversity. Together with Union Island, it is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the Grenadines and the last significant refuge in the archipelago of several rare and threatened species. The present local economy of the islanders is based on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism, fishing and the building of traditional gaff rigged schooners. There is high unemployment on the island and little prospect for diversification at present.
This project seeks to conserve and sustainably develop the natural beauty of the High North area. In so doing, it should facilitate designation of the area as a National Nature Park and actively involve the local community in promoting nature tourism in the area, thereby broadening their economic base and increasing job opportunities. The principal actions to be undertaken under the project are 1) the development of 3 trails around the island illustrating features of particular natural or scenic interest, 2) the training of 6 nature guides to maintain these trails and escort visitors who are interested in learning about the natural and cultural environment, and 3) the production of promotional material both on the island and throughout the Caribbean to encourage tourists to visit these attractions.
In addition, regular meetings are to be held with the local community to enlist their support and involvement in the nature tourism initiatives. Finally, to combat the rapid loss of the last remaining relictual forests on the island, a small experimental plot of native saplings will be planted to encourage regeneration, and soil-holding vegetation will be planted at strategic points to protect the area from erosion.
