France will finance an OECS Mangrove Restoration program for up to €3 million in 2023.
The funds will come through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The announcement came from French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie, and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou on Thursday.
The Minister visited one of Saint Lucia’s prime wetlands, the mangrove area in Marigot Bay.
“The OECS has a very ambitious agenda regarding sustainable development and I think we are totally aligned [with] President Macron on the question of climate change and the protection of biodiversity,” she noted.
The head of the OECS Environmental Sustainability Division, Chamberlain Emmanuel, thanked the French government for its mangrove restoration initiative.
Emmanuel was confident that it would positively impact livelihoods in the region.
“We certainly welcome the emphasis on the environment priorities by the French Government,” he explained.
“For us is not just an issue of protecting the environment but ensuring that there is a sustainable foundation for economic activities and for the social well-being of our people,” Emmanuel stated.
The United Nations designated February 2 as World Wetlands Day.
The day raises awareness of the importance of wetlands.
It also highlights the need to preserve them due to their rapid degradation in the last few decades.
This year, the theme for World Wetlands Day was: “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration.”
Headline photo: Stock image
Fantastic! That civility is being preserved “WORLD WIDE”Through the Forward thinking of The friends of the world!!! “AMEN to Grest Peoples Exercising Greatness by Deeds of their convictions…,,,,,
Let’s hope the “myopic misfits” in charge are aware of this very important development. We have lost quite a few of our mangroves to mismanagement of unscrupulous politicians enabling their base.