Cave Hill and TNC Strengthen Marine Conservation Partnership
August 11, 2026
Professor Winston Moore, Deputy Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus (front row, centre) with representatives of The Nature Conservancy and CERMES.
Four years after Barbados launched a groundbreaking initiative that redirects a portion of its sovereign debt repayments into marine conservation, key stakeholders continue to explore ways the programme can deliver even greater benefits for the island and the wider region.
Those discussions were advanced during a recent visit to The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Cave Hill Campus by representatives of the Caribbean Division Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), one of the world’s leading environmental organisations.
The delegation met with the Deputy Principal of Cave Hill Professor Winston Moore, and Dr. Janice Cumberbatch of the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) to review progress under the Barbados Nature Bonds project and identify new opportunities for collaboration.
The initiative has helped position Barbados as a leader in innovative conservation financing. Through a US$150 million debt conversion arrangement, the country has been able to redirect funding towards the protection and sustainable management of its marine environment. The agreement is backed by US$50 million guarantee from TNC and a US$100 million guarantee from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Supporting Environmental and Sustainable Development
CERMES has played a critical role in supporting the initiative by providing technical and logistical expertise to TNC while contributing to the development of the Barbados Marine Spatial Plan, a framework designed to guide the sustainable use and protection of the island’s marine resources.
A major outcome of the programme has been the establishment of the Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund (BESF), which supports environmental and sustainable development projects across the country. The Fund provides grants to community groups, non-governmental organisations, researchers, government agencies and businesses pursuing initiatives that promote environmental sustainability.
CERMES represents the Campus as Deputy Chair of the BESF and helps oversee the implementation of conservation funding linked to the Nature Bonds programme.
Addressing Environmental Challenges
While the meeting at Cave Hill focused on the progress of the marine conservation initiative, attention was also given to the future. Professor Moore showcased a portfolio of research and innovation projects being developed at the campus to address some of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.
These include solutions for managing the influx of sargassum seaweed, reducing chemical waste and pesticide overuse, strengthening climate resilience, advancing renewable energy technologies and enhancing biosecurity systems. Many of these projects have moved beyond the laboratory stage and are being prepared for practical application.
The discussions focused on how the partnership with TNC could support and advance the most promising of these projects toward deployment and regional impact.
