PROCARIBE+  through the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) implemented by UNDP is supporting activities under the Flowing Clean project to protect the Soufrière Watershed in Saint Lucia. A group of thirteen professionals, from five local organizations, gained technical skills through the Drone Pilot and Participatory Mapping Course to collect aerial data, identify changes in land use, and better monitor threats such as erosion and pollution.

Participants learned to pilot drones safely, conduct aerial mapping, and use photogrammetry software to create high-resolution maps of the Soufrière watershed. 

“This training enables local partnership in environmental monitoring”, said Nadia Cazaubon, Program Director, WaterWays Caribbean.

All trainees passed the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and received National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) certifications of proficiency. A multispectral drone, capable of capturing environmental data across light spectrums, was formally handed over during the course's closing ceremony. 

It is hoped that the drone will be successfully deployed for both pre-disaster planning and post disaster response in the event of an extreme weather event in la Soufriere.  

A DroneDeploy license will enable teams to analyze imagery and produce detailed annotated maps useful for managing the Soufriere watershed. During the course’s closing ceremony, the newly certified pilots concluded with a flight demonstration showcasing their precision and confidence.

Mr. Giles Romulus, National SPG Coordinator in Saint Lucia, proudly stated that: “Soufriere is now the first community in Saint Lucia with a dedicated drone team and we can now generate our own data to support better watershed management and train other communities in using drone technology.”  

The PROCARIBE+ Project remains dedicated to empowering Caribbean communities through innovative technologies that directly contribute to a healthier marine environment and help secure the livelihoods of their coastal inhabitants.