The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) is strengthening regional conservation through its Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity (CRAB) Project. A component of the CRAB Project is its internship program which places emerging environmental professionals with partner organisations across the Caribbean. Laurine D’hobermez is currently completing one such placement with the Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund (GSDTF), where she is supporting the “Our Bay, Our Future” project within the Woburn–Clarke’s Court Bay Marine Protected Area.
Laurine is a Master’s student in Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, specialising in Tropical Marine Ecosystems, at the Université des Antilles in Guadeloupe. Since arriving in Grenada, she has engaged with a wide range of project partners including scuba diving instructors, fishermen, shop owners, yacht operators, and local children to understand the community’s relationship with the marine environment and build support for conservation efforts.
Her community engagement has included participating in World Wetlands Day, where the GSDTF team hosted an information booth showcasing the project, distributed outreach materials, and promoted upcoming coral reef monitoring training sessions. Laurine also led a school-based education session on coral reef conservation and environmental stewardship.
In addition to community outreach, Laurine has visited the project’s study area both on land and at sea, developing educational materials for training workshops and reviewing scientific literature to ensure content is both rigorous and accessible. In the coming months, she will play a key role in training community reef monitors in data collection and supporting participants working toward scuba certification as part of the broader Marine Protected Area management programme.
“Since my arrival in Grenada, the members of the GSDTF have warmly welcomed and strongly supported me. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful and enriching experience,” said Laurine.
CBF CEO Karen McDonald Gayle noted that “through the CRAB Project’s internship program, CBF continues to invest in the next generation of environmental leaders while strengthening conservation capacity across the Caribbean. Laurine’s commitment and contribution to the ‘Our Bay, Our Future’ project are a testament to the talent of emerging environmental leaders.”
Clara Dufresne, AFD’s Adviser to the Regional Director for the Atlantic Area, added that the programme demonstrates the value of supporting young professionals in contributing directly to community engagement and coral reef conservation.
GSDTF CEO Jenifer James highlighted Laurine’s impact: “She has assimilated exceptionally well into both our team and the wider community. We are truly delighted to have her contributing to this milestone project.”
Laurine’s placement exemplifies the CRAB Internship Program’s broader mission: fostering collaboration between regional institutions, community stakeholders, and the next generation of conservation professionals to protect the Caribbean’s vital ecosystems.
About the CRAB Project
The Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity (CRAB) project is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Global Environmental Facility (FFEM). The CRAB Project was designed to contribute to the development of sustainable and sufficient resources for the conservation of ecosystems in the Caribbean Region. Learn more about the CRAB Project.
