Marine GIS in the Grenadines

From Mon, June 7 to 11, 2010, primary and secondary school teachers from across the Grenadines [Grenada and St. Vincent & the Grenadines] will receive hands-on training in the use of a cutting-edge technology used to create the Grenadines Marine Resource and Space-use Information System (MarSIS), the first of its kind underwater mapping information system in the Caribbean. The Grenadines MarSIS is a GIS which has been created to integrate a range of existing scientific information together with a variety of local knowledge of the Grenadines marine resources (i.e. reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves) as well as areas important for conservation (i.e. turtle nesting beaches, fish nursery areas) and livelihoods (i.e. fishing, tourism, shipping, recreation) as well as hundred of underwater pictures and videos across the Grenadines. This information system has been collaboratively developed over the past 5 years with a range of community members within each Grenadine Island in order to provide easy access to marine environmental information and allow for more informed decision-making and ultimately promote sustainable marine resource management across the Grenadines.

The first workshop will take place in Carriacou at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Hillsborough on Jun 7; the second will take place on Jun 8 in Union Island at the Sustainable Grenadines Project office; the third workshop at the Canouan Government School on Jun 9; the fourth workshop in Mustique on Jun 10; and the final workshop will be held at the Bequia Community High School on Jun 11. More than 50 teachers are expected to attend this week-long series of workshops.

Thanks to Kimberly Baldwin and Bruce Potter for the information; and kudos to Kimberly and all involved with MarSIS for staying the course for the five years it has taken to get to this stage.