Climate Change, Unsustainable landuse practices such as deforestation, overfishing and pollution have all had a negative impact upon the natural ecosystems of the Canaries river valley and the Canaries Bay. The CCIF have successfully applied for and been awarded a grant of US$45,000 by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP) to undertake a pilot project to start the process of
Ridge to Reef habitat rehabilitation. The goal being to help re-establish a healthy environment that is more resilient to the impacts of climate change, the effects of which are already being felt in the village during heavy rain events that bring flooding, landslides and extensive damage to property. Tree planting and vetiver grass terracing to stabilise slopes, whilst producing crops for food and the raw ingredient for essential oil production from vetiver. Vetiver will be cultivated and planted in accordance with global examples of best practice as highlighted by the Vetiver Grass Network www.vetiver.org
2. Sewage treatment - the retrofitting of an energy from waste sewage treatment system for the community toilet facility that will help reduce pollution entering the environment and provide a sustainable source of biogas for the community to utilise.
3. A coral nursery and fish sanctuary to re-establish a healthy coral reef system within the North of the Canaries Bay (La Chie) and support the protection of fish within the coral nursery from which a healthy fish population can spill out to benefit a sustainable fishery within the village. The coral farm and fish sanctuary will also be a new tourist attraction for the community from which other economic spin offs can be derived.
4. Training of community members in small business development and entrepreneurship, good agricultural practices and the practical knowledge to maintain and operate a thriving coral nursery. Point 4 is critical as only with sustainable livelihoods being associated with the environmental rehabilitation will the project generate sufficient buy in and support from the community, which so badly needs economic upliftment.
