CBCL Ltd presents Coastal Stabilisation Solutions for the PSEPA to Local and National Stakeholders 

By SAINT LUCIA NATIONAL TRUST

The Pointe Sables Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA) has for some time experienced increased high wave action and erosion, and recognising this, a Coastal Stabilisation Solutions Study was undertaken to identify the causes of the coastal degradation and appropriate green-grey coastal stabilisation solutions.
This study formed part of the Ecosystem Based Approach (EbA) Project being implemented by the Saint Lucia National Trust through funding from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) EbA Facility with co-financing provided by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature, Conservation and Nuclear Safety (KfW). 

Upon completion of the study, the Canadian firm CBCL consultants who were contracted for the study, presented their findings and recommendations at various stakeholder consultations held from February 13 to 17, 2023. The green-grey solutions would reduce erosion and loss of infrastructure, stabilize the shoreline, build the resilience and enhance the naturalness and attractiveness recreational beaches and the surrounding environment and protect coastal and marine ecosystems. Measures proposed included vegetated sand dunes, a road revetment alignment, removal of abandoned structures in the lobster pot area, a perched beach alignment and revetments for the Coconut Bay area.

The study included data collection and modelling, and extensive stakeholder engagements with government agencies and locally based Tourism and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) including the Departments of Infrastructure, Forestry, Fisheries, Invest Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA), the Vieux Fort North and Vieux Fort South Constituency Councils, Council of the Saint Lucia National Trust, Aupicon Charcoal and Agricultural Producers Group, and Eau Piquant

The final reports of the study will be provided to the relevant government agencies, with the mandate to decide on feasibility of implementation of the proposed solutions.

For further information on this subject please contact the Conservation Manager at the Southern Office of the Saint Lucia National Trust via telephone at +1(758) 454-5014 or email at [email protected]