Caribbean

Caribbean Conservation Challenge Fund

Specialist tour operator, Caribtours is working together with FOC to protect the endangered flora and fauna in the Caribbean.

Caribtours donate £1 for every adult who travels with them to the Caribbean to provide a 'Conservation Challenge Fund'. Local community projects are invited to submit applications for funding support.

All applications are considered by a panel of FOC scientific advisors who recommend the winning projects.

Details of the Challenge Fund and how to enter are announced in March annually.

In 2002 four projects benefited from the scheme. These were:

Paria Springs Trust Ocelot Conservation Protection, Trinidad.

The Paria Trust aims to be a model for ecotourism, providing comprehensive benefits both locally and nationally and conserve the natural and cultural environment of Trindad and Tobago. The project ideals are directed into education, research, advocacy and conservation and focus on the endangered Ocelot and its habitats.

Antiguan Racer Conservation Project

This project aims to conserve endangered wildlife on offshore Islands around Antigua, including the Antiguan Racer Snake, of which only 100 survive. The Environment Awareness Group aim to educate and advise tourists and tour operators on how to improve the 'eco' quality of their tours.

Seven Oaks Sanctuary for Wildlife

A volunteer operated facility that rescues, receives and cares for threatened endemic Jamaican parrots and other species, all victims of the illegal pet trade. Many parrots are taken from nests as babies or injured during capture and need to be cared for permanently. SOS-Wildlife is currently being developed as an educational ecotourism facility to help support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts and conservation education programmes.

Environmental Adventures with ARK - British Virgin Island

Coral Reefs are in crisis all over the world and ARK aim to preserve the British Virgin Islands reefs from damage by coastline erosion, eutrophication, anchor damage, tourism and development. ARK has been extensively involved in monitoring the environmental damage caused by land development to determine where the problems lie and how they can be repaired.