Grenada is set to take centre stage in the Caribbean’s fight against land degradation as the headquarters of the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), positioning itself as the focal point for the region’s landmark SOIL CARE Project.
“When PISLM started off we were headquartered in Trinidad—they were able to receive technical backstopping from us, then Guyana,” explained Trevor Thompson, Project Manager of the SOIL CARE Project. “Grenada would have the only indigenous IGO in the Caribbean, unlike other countries that serve as headquarters for several organizations and IGOs. It would raise the prestige for Grenada, added to which, because Grenada is now HQ, most of the high-level meetings may now be held in Grenada, which has the potential to boost Grenada’s profile as the leader in Sustainable Land and Soil Management.”
Thompson emphasized that Grenada’s new status will strengthen collaboration across the region’s two main intergovernmental bodies. “Having PISLM’s HQ in Grenada ensures its work can straddle the two regional governmental agencies; CARICOM and OECS. Grenada is an important member of both agencies and a strong advocate for environmental issues,” he noted. “Having the only Land/Soil agency for the Caribbean in Grenada positions Grenada as the focal point on the matter for both CARICOM and OECS with respect to funding and technical support.”
The SOIL CARE Project is now preparing for a second phase, which Thompson described as “transformative.” “Phase II will prepare the region for executing Phase II of the LDN strategy which is carrying out transformative projects,” he explained. “At the end of Phase II participating countries will have updated soil maps, tier 2 soil labs, and will have tested the appropriate technologies for managing land and soil degradation in selected intervention sites.” The lessons learned, he added, will serve as the foundation for a groundbreaking “Caribbean Transformative Project.”
Reflecting on the first phase of the project, Thompson said, “The fundamental factor of success in Phase I was ensuring that Caribbean solutions were used to solve Caribbean problems by Caribbean experts at all material times. Phase II will build on that legacy.” To address challenges, PISLM will expand its research and training through its Regional Advocacy and Capacity Building Facility for New Adaptation Technologies (RAC/NAT Facility).
Thompson stressed that the project’s strength lies in its inclusivity. “Local farmers, agricultural officers, and community groups are actively engaged in the project through stakeholder consultations, inception workshops, validation meetings, and participatory field assessments,” he said. Their involvement ensures local knowledge is embedded in agroforestry, climate-smart model farming, and regenerative practices that enhance soil organic carbon.
To ensure sustainability, the project will introduce several capacity-building initiatives. “The PISLM, through its Regional Research, Advisory and Capacity Building Facility on New Adaptation Technologies, will strengthen internal research capabilities, promote Caribbean-based solutions, and facilitate training and technology transfer to agricultural officers, farmers, and community groups,” Thompson outlined. Among the major initiatives is the establishment of the region’s first soil archive repository. “In addition to the regional soil archive, laboratories in each participating country will be outfitted, and their staff trained to strengthen national capacity,” he added.
Phase II will also enhance monitoring capabilities that support other regional initiatives, such as the Caribbean Drought Initiative and the Caribbean Sand and Dust Storm Initiative. “At the end of Phase II, the monitoring capabilities of participating countries would be significantly increased, thus enabling countries to track their own projects,” Thompson said.
The project’s impact will be tracked using globally recognized indicators. “Under the SOIL CARE Project, the success of land and soil management interventions is assessed using a combination of the three UNCCD Land Degradation Neutrality indicators and the four core indicators from the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management,” Thompson explained.
Looking to the future, he emphasized that SOIL CARE will remain central to regional sustainability efforts. “SOIL CARE will remain the flagship initiative for PISLM long after funding through GEF dries up. SOIL CARE will become the monitoring and evaluation mechanism for assessing the region’s compliance with their obligations under UNCCD and BPOA,” Thompson affirmed.
With Grenada now at the helm, the Caribbean’s fight against land degradation is poised to enter a new era of innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
