Antigua & Barbuda Environment Foundation – Grant Announcements

Adoptacoastline Youth Ambassador Training Program
Funding: USD 15,000
Grantee: Adoptacoastline
Duration: October 2025 – March 2026

Background
Antigua and Barbuda’s coastlines and ecosystems face mounting pressure from plastic pollution, unsustainable waste practices, and the impacts of climate change. Since 2016, Adoptacoastline has championed nature stewardship through youth-led action, removing over 500,000 gallons of trash, training more than 250 youth stewards, and engaging thousands of community volunteers. Building on the success of its 2025 Old Road Primary School pilot programme, the organisation is now poised to expand its reach by equipping more young leaders with the skills, tools, and confidence to inspire change.

The Project
With ABEF’s support, Adoptacoastline will launch its Youth Ambassador Training Programme—a structured, 30-hour certification course for six young leaders (aged 18+). Over six months, participants will receive training in environmental stewardship, community organising, public speaking, and circular economy innovation. Sessions will combine classroom learning, hands-on coastal cleanups, and skill-building workshops in upcycling and media production.

Led by three experienced youth ambassadors—Esquire Henry, Kaiesha Joseph, and Chrysean Jarvis—together with founder Jennifer Meranto, the programme will culminate in each trainee organising at least three cleanups, producing educational content, and leading peer-to-peer outreach in schools and coastal communities. A final showcase reel will capture the programme’s impact and serve as an introduction to future school and ocean-edge training initiatives.

Objectives

• Recruit, train, and certify six new youth ambassadors to lead stewardship initiatives.
• Remove significant volumes of plastic waste from coastlines and waterways.
• Expand circular economy practices through product-making workshops.
• Grow awareness campaigns across social media, local press, and schools.
• Build long-term youth leadership capacity for environmental protection in Antigua and Barbuda.

Broader Impact
This programme marks the first step in a multi-phase strategy to embed environmental stewardship into Antigua and Barbuda’s schools and communities. By training passionate, skilled ambassadors now, Adoptacoastline is laying the groundwork for a generation of leaders ready to defend, restore, and care for the nation’s natural heritage.

Barnes Hill Reservoir & Nature Park Revitalisation

Funding: USD 15,000
Grantee: Barnes Hill Community Development Organisation
Duration: September 2025 – February 2026

Background
Once a thriving hub for recreation, environmental learning, and community pride, the Barnes Hill Community Park in St. John’s has fallen into disrepair. Over time, invasive vegetation, neglected infrastructure, and a stagnant pond have diminished its ecological health and reduced public use. This decline has not only impacted local biodiversity but also limited opportunities for residents to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, and enjoy safe, green spaces.

The Barnes Hill Community Development Organisation (BHCDO), founded in 2013 to restore and protect the park and reservoir, is committed to reviving it as a model of community-driven conservation. By combining ecological restoration, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental education, the organisation aims to transform the park into a vibrant, climate-resilient space for wildlife and people alike.

The Project
With ABEF support, BHCDO will undertake a six-month programme of targeted restoration and infrastructure improvements. Key activities include:

• Butterfly Garden Creation – Establishing a pollinator-friendly habitat with native flowering plants and educational signage, serving as both a biodiversity hotspot and outdoor classroom.
• Bush Clearing & Native Planting – Selectively removing invasive species, improving access, and restoring ecological balance with native trees and ground cover.
• Building Completion – Finishing a multi-use eco-friendly structure to host community meetings, environmental workshops, and events, while providing a potential income stream for ongoing maintenance.
• Pond Rehabilitation – Removing debris and silt, adding native aquatic plants, and improving water quality to create a healthy habitat for wildlife and a serene learning space.

Community volunteers—especially youth—will be engaged in every stage, ensuring local ownership and long-term care.

Objectives

• Restore native biodiversity through habitat creation and rewilding.
• Improve water quality and aquatic habitat in the park’s pond.
• Increase accessibility, safety, and use of the park for recreation and learning.
• Strengthen community stewardship and environmental awareness.

Broader Impact
This revitalisation will bring back the park’s role as a centre for environmental education, biodiversity conservation, and community gathering. By demonstrating how green spaces can be restored and maintained through community leadership, the Barnes Hill project will serve as a replicable model for other communities in Antigua and Barbuda seeking to balance ecological health with public use.

Safeguarding Barbuda’s Birds Through Science, Engagement, and Action

Funding: USD 15,000
Grantee: Environmental Awareness Group (EAG)
Duration: September 2025 – May 2026

Background

Barbuda is a biodiversity jewel in the Eastern Caribbean, home to the largest breeding colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds in the Western Hemisphere and the endemic Barbuda Warbler—found nowhere else on Earth. Yet these species face mounting threats from habitat loss, climate change, and rapid coastal development. The island’s ecosystems, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Irma, urgently need robust monitoring and community-driven conservation.

For over three decades, the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) has been a leader in species recovery, habitat restoration, and environmental education in Antigua and Barbuda. EAG’s pioneering work to save the critically endangered Antiguan Racer and restore offshore island habitats has earned international recognition. This project will bring that same expertise to Barbuda, combining cutting-edge science with local capacity building to protect the island’s iconic birds.

The Project

With ABEF support, EAG will implement Barbuda’s first pilot bird banding programme for understudied landbirds, conduct a rapid census of the globally significant Magnificent Frigatebird colony, and deliver targeted community outreach to inspire local stewardship.

Activities will include:

• Bird Banding – Using international best-practice protocols, EAG will capture, band, and safely release landbirds to collect vital data on population health, movement, and demographics.
• Frigatebird Census – Field teams will update population estimates for the lagoon’s breeding colony, assess habitat conditions, and collect samples for water quality analysis.
• Community Engagement – Educational materials, live banding demonstrations, and school visits will connect Barbudans—especially youth—with their island’s avian heritage.

Objectives

• Establish Barbuda’s first structured bird banding programme.
• Produce an updated population assessment for the Magnificent Frigatebird colony.
• Train at least 3 Barbudans in bird handling and monitoring techniques.
• Engage at least 50 community members through events, media, and school activities.
• Build pride, knowledge, and stewardship for Barbuda’s unique birdlife.

Broader Impact
This initiative will provide the scientific foundation for long-term bird monitoring on Barbuda, inform conservation management in the Codrington Lagoon National Park, and strengthen the island’s role in regional biodiversity conservation. By blending rigorous science with local leadership, the project will ensure that Barbuda’s globally important birds remain a source of national pride and ecological resilience for generations to come.

Please contact Issa@antiguaenvironment.org for more information

Antigua and Barbuda faces complex and interconnected environmental pressures — from habitat loss and species decline to pollution, waste mismanagement, and water scarcity. Tourism-driven development, while vital to the economy, often leads to mangrove destruction, coastal erosion, and marine habitat degradation, placing endangered species at risk. Climate change intensifies these challenges, bringing stronger hurricanes, rising sea levels, and prolonged droughts that strain our water and energy systems. At the same time, inadequate waste management and unplanned land use threaten both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. ABEF strives to address these issues by funding targeted, evidence-based projects that combine scientific research with local knowledge, engage communities in conservation, and build the resilience of both people and nature. By supporting grassroots action and advocating for sustainable practices, we aim to safeguard Antigua and Barbuda’s environment while strengthening the social and economic well-being of its communities.

Antigua and Barbuda Environmental Foundation (ABEF) is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the country’s natural beauty, biodiversity, and resilience for the benefit of current and future generations. Our mission is to raise funds from individuals and organizations who care deeply about our islands and direct these resources into impactful, community-led conservation initiatives. ABEF works with local NGOs, community organizations, and conservation leaders to foster unity, empower environmental stewardship, and connect local efforts to international expertise. Our areas of interest include regenerating habitats, helping native species thrive, reducing pollution, building resilience to climate change, and advancing environmental education, public engagement, and advocacy.