The 2024 National Youth Awardees pose with Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith (second from left); Director of the Divisio .
A multi-sectoral approach should be taken to restore and protect Barbados’ largest wetland, the Graeme Hall Swamp, before it is too late.That call was issued at a town hall meeting on Thursday night as members of The Land Conservancy, representatives of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) of the Caribbean and other interested parties spoke of the importance of the Christ Church location to the ecosystem.Travis Gardiner, research and development coordinator with SOA Caribbean, said a more proactive approach is needed to protect the Graeme Hall wetland.He said it required a plan led by the Government and including civil society groups and academia, adding that Barbados could learn from best practices in the region.Should Barbados lose the Graeme Hall wetland, Gardiner said, that would be a major blow to the island’s environmental and sustainable development efforts.