Caribbean Conservation Community of Practice

The Caribbean Conservation Community of Practice webspace is hosted and supported by the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center based at NC State. While several organizations help coordinate and support the community, the CCCoP belongs to everyone in the community and does not fall under the jurisdiction of a single organization.

Who We Are

The Caribbean Conservation Community of Practice (CCCoP) is composed of community leaders, researchers, universities, non-profits, as well as federal, state, and territorial governments. All partners are working together to build an applied science and resource management network, counteracting data inequities and the historic marginalization of island people in the Caribbean communities. So far, roughly 90 people from 30 different agencies and organizations are participating in this network. 

Progress to Date

Partners across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have come together to identify shared priorities and challenges in the U.S. Caribbean. In February 2023, 45 attendees from 13 different agencies and organizations met in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to participate in the first in-person CCCoP meeting. The goals of this meeting were to:

• Support the development of a strong community of practice in the Caribbean by creating opportunities to learn about existing work across the region,
• Elicit feedback on developing Caribbean indicators to include and help drive conservation priorities in the Southeast Conservation Blueprint, and
• Engage in discussions about the data inequities and conservation challenges that are unique to island people in the Caribbean.

During this meeting, participants shared current research, data, and tools that can help guide conservation action and adaptation with an emphasis on identifying shared priorities and information gaps. Some areas of particular concern are the lack of data accessibility, long-term consistent monitoring and modeling data, and decision support (i.e., guidance on how to use relevant science to inform decision-making). Representatives at the meeting agreed that freshwater availability and climate change threats are most relevant and concurred that continued engagement through the CCCoP will be a tool for growing partnerships to increase the relevance and accessibility of science. 

How to Get Involved

The CCCoP is in the early stages of forming and plans to begin meeting more regularly via virtual meetings, with at least one in-person meeting each year. Anyone is welcome to join this community of practice! The CCCoP welcomes researchers and partners who have an interest in including the Caribbean in their work to help advance science and conservation.

Add your email to the mailing list and stay informed about the latest updates, the next in-person meeting, and opportunities to get involved, click here to request to join the listserv. If you have any issues or problems, please contact Alex Lamle at <alexandria_lamle@fws.gov>.

Past Meetings