Developing a biodiversity & human well-being toolkit

Background

Land-use change is one of five main drivers of biodiversity loss. For many UKOTs, including Montserrat, piecemeal development of land is seen as a major threat to biodiversity. For Montserrat, following the destruction of the largest town in the late 1990s volcanic eruption, development for housing is an ongoing necessity. Successive Island-plans have recognised Montserrat’s natural resources as important assets in economic growth and sustainability, but, to date, there has been limited practical support or detailed guidance on how to integrate biodiversity conservation adequately into built-development practices. Since 2010 when the last island development plan was published, there has been an explosion of research linking biodiversity with human health and well-being.

Built-developments can provide an opportunity for biodiversity to flourish; however if not encouraged or widely promoted, they can result in localised biodiversity-loss and accidental or deliberate introduction of non-native species that can ultimately become invasive, resulting in negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, human health and/or the economy. 

Project outputs will provide a mechanism for the community to implement the objectives of the islands Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) and the Physical Development Plan (PDP), currently being updated in a way which acts for biodiversity and human well-being. It will extend the use of Montserrat’s valued asset, the native plant nursery and developing on-island herbarium, ultimately to promote and conserve the value of endemic and native wildlife. This is important because native plant nurseries can reduce reliance on imports for landscaping in developments and contribute directly towards species conservation and education. The project will both use standardised baseline survey and build on emerging citizen-science recording to evaluate successes for biodiversity.

The project

The project takes place on Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean. It brings together many partners and builds on some previously successful projects (see Blue Iguana to Blue Vervain and DPLUS155 Adopt a Home for Wildlife). It is funded by the UK Government’s Darwin Plus; part of its Biodiversity Challenge Funds. It started in April 2023 and ends in 2026. It aims to enable the community to input into future planning and developments on island by doing the following: (1) bring together voices that may not otherwise feed into public consultations, specifically on sustainable development; (2) create a biodiversity and human-well-being toolkit for the community, physical planners and developers; (3) monitor and evaluate outcomes for biodiversity and human well-being; (4) share outcomes with other UKOTs via existing knowledge-sharing networks.

The project has several parts to it as outlined here. Click to view them in more detail as information becomes available throughout the project. 

In addition, you can visit the newsletter section of the website, where you can view issues of the Save our Special Nature Montserrat newsletter here

Front cover of DPLUS192 Toolkit Management Options

1. Biodiversity & Well-being Toolkit

This aspect of the toolkit is to develop a framework which enables biodiversity and well-being to be incorporated into sustainable development. it has included consultations with the local community including young persons. Read more here

Higher Education Evening Montserrat

2. MNT Youth & Education Programme

This part of the project aims to expand the Montserrat National Trust's Youth Programme including provision of opportunities to get involved in conservation and the development of education materials. Highlights include the creation of Monty's Ambassadors and the Higher Education Evening. Read more soon

Herbarium specimen mounting

3. Biological Collections & Information

Working with partners at the Meise Botanic Garden (supported by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) the MNT has developed a National Herbarium fro Montserrat. Read more soon

Grade 6 at MNT

MNT Botanic Garden Development

Expansion of botanic garden to facilitate uptake of toolkit and provide source of information, demonstrations and provision of native plants. Highlight includes Grade 6 at MNT. Read more soon

Example of artwork

5. Communications and Reporting

Consutlations, public events and campaigns ensure continuous dialogue with community through outreach. Highlights include panel discussions, radio interviews and art and well-being links. Read more soon

Project Activities and Updates

Building Horticulture Capacity in Montserrat

Building Horticulture Capacity in Montserrat

A report on the horticultural up-skilling carried out in Montserrat during July & August 2024 to support the UKOTCF delivery of Darwin Plus Projects 155 & 192. Read the full report here

Environment Education on Montserrat

Building Environmental Education Links

A report on the collaborative environmental education efforts of Montserrat and the Isle of Man during November 2024 to support the delivery of DPLUS192 by Beth Penhallurick. Read the full report here

Meise Botanic Garden

Chris Sealys visit to Meise and Royal Botanic Garden Kew

A report on the trip to Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew by MNT Officer, Chris Sealys. Read the full report soon.

Project Partners and Supporters:

Darwin 192 logo