James Crockett is Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Programme Manager for Fauna & Flora. In this capacity he supports the conservation and restoration of Caribbean biodiversity through assisting local partner E-NGO/CBOs assess opportunities for, and the development of, appropriate types of locally owned and managed tourism experiences that support sustainable finance strategies for conservation.

Presently, he is also focused upon the development of innovative finance mechanisms to support private sector investment in Nature-based Solutions for climate risk reduction and the development of a sustainable value chain for the valorisation of sargassum seaweed into biochar for watershed restoration that also delivers local livelihoods.

With an undergraduate degree in Geology with Oceanography from Southampton Oceanography Centre (UK) his Caribbean work started in 1997, as an ocean science and sailing instructor for a yacht-based experiential education program, that also took him to the Galapagos and Mediterranean. He subsequently spent five years sailing the Lesser Antilles during which time his love for the region and passion for its people, culture and nature flourished.

A Master’s degree in Responsible Tourism Management in 2008 preceded a full-time move to St Lucia in 2010. In 2011 James co-founded the charter company Jus’ Sail that delivers authentic sailing experiences and created an award-winning marine tourism industry work readiness training program to local unemployed youth.

Prior to joining Fauna & Flora’s Caribbean Team as full-time staff in 2020 as lead on the Union Island Climate Change Adaptation Project, James’ Responsible Tourism consultancy work focussed upon Community Based Tourism product development for clients including the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Government of Saint Lucia, The Nature Conservancy, Caribbean Development Bank and other regional organisations.