Fond Assor/Talvan, Babonneau Community, Saint Lucia

Lead organization: the Forestry Department within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Saint Lucia Implementing organization: Talvan Water Catchment Group Funding organization: Organization of Eastern Caribbean States/Natural Resources Management Unit

The water quality in the Talvan water catchment has been affected by some of the inappropriate agricultural land management practices that take place within the water catchment. The Talvan Rapid Riverbank Rehabilitation project addresses the issues of soil erosion along riverbanks through stabilization measures and reforestation. The problem of water pollution via solid waste and agro-chemicals
prompted the establishment of vegetative wattles, community education programmes, and river clean-up campaigns. One of the most salient components of the project is community empowerment, addressed through workshops, technical training sessions and exchange programmes with similarly established groups, which are located in Saint Lucia as well as in foreign countries. The improvement of drinking water obtained from the catchment necessitates the reduction of riverbank erosion through implementation of short-and long-term bio-engineering strategies and decreasing the level of pollutants, such as agrochemicals, human effluents and animal waste. Eliminating livestock grazing along riverbanks, creating mechanisms to facilitate and empower community and farmer groups for the management of the water resources within the Talvan catchment and developing effective methodologies for rapid riverbank rehabilitation that can be replicated within other catchment areas in Saint Lucia will also improve the quality of the water supply.

• Freshwater resources (Chapter V of the Barbados Programme of Action)
• Land resources (Chapter VI of the BPoA)
• National institutions and administrative capacity (Chapter X of the BPoA)
• Regional institutions and technical cooperation (Chapter XI of the BPoA)

• A database of landowners within the Talvan water catchment was developed.
• A reconnaissance survey of the riverbanks was conducted. The main tributaries of the river draining into the intake were surveyed. Detailed notes were gathered in terms of degree of soil exposure as well as relative erosion rates at various points on the riverbank.
• A series of meetings, consultations, workshops, media coverage
of the project and the involvement of the parliamentary representatives for the area resulted in sensitizing the community as well as farmers on environmental issues.
• The Talvan Water Catchment Group (TWCG) held Public Awareness Month, a month of activities in June 2000, which included field trips and site visits with students, teachers and the media to the project site, in addition to a river clean-up campaign and the installation of various signs to promote the work of the group. A video featuring the work of the TWCG was also produced. This video was televized on the
national television station.
• Installation of rehabilitation measures. To date, a total of 3,733 feet of riverbank has been stabilized and 751 vegetative wattles have been laid down along the riverbank. The first set of wattles installed closest to the water intake are growing rapidly and are between 10 to 12 feet in height. A land slippage area, measuring 10 by 10 feet, was treated
with geo-textile material.
• The secretary of the TWCG and the Forestry Officer assigned to the project have traveled to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to serve as resource persons on a similar project.
• Five members of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines water catchment group have visited Saint Lucia for a week-long trip to work and share experiences with members of TWCG.

• Group empowerment is a must.
• Group formation is a gradual process and leadership is key to project implementation and success.
• The continuation of group performance and longevity depends on group dynamics and strength.
• Community participation and involvement are critical starting from the inception of the project.
• An understanding of community culture is important for the implementation of the project.
• Targeting influential persons (teachers, civil servants and other land and water resource users) within the community is essential to form part of the project team.
• Group promotion through national media houses is an essential component for the development of group confidence and identity.
• Regional cooperation enhances success.

Mr. Christopher Cox, Mr. Michael Andrew, and Mr. David Lewis
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Forestry Department),
Water Front Buildings, Block B Castries,
Saint Lucia, West Indies
Tel.: (758) 450-5540
Fax: (758) 450-2287
E-mail: chiefforest@slumaff.org

Mr. David Popo, Watershed Programme Manager
OECS-NRMU, Morne Fortune
P.O. Box 1383
Castries,
Saint Lucia, West Indies
Mr. Innocent Roserie, Chairman TWCG
Tel.: (758) 450-5818

Ms. Claudia Robert, Secretary TWCG
Tel.: (758) 453-5352