Like a wave crashing onto the shore, Hurricane Beryl came without mercy. From July 1-4, 2024, the storm ravaged the Caribbean, leaving in its wake destruction that few could have imagined. Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines bore the brunt of its wrath—thousands of homes were destroyed, critical infrastructure was left in ruins, and communities that rely on their natural surroundings for survival found themselves in peril.
In the aftermath, local organizations and communities began the difficult process of rebuilding. Recovery isn’t just about repairing homes or restoring services; it’s also about ensuring the resilience of the land and sea that define the Caribbean way of life. That’s where the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) steps in—not as a silver bullet but as a reliable partner helping the islands regain balance after the storm. After the passage of Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the CBF awarded USD 1.2 million for hurricane recovery to the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund that resulted in 2 solar systems installed, a reduction of annual CO2 emissions by 24,000 kg2, the restoration of 445,154 sq meters of degraded ecosystems, and over 50,000 new mangrove trees planted.
Through its CBF Endowment Fund and the Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity (CRAB) Project funded by the Government of France, CBF is providing USD 950,000 in hurricane recovery grants to partner National Conservation Trust Funds (NCTFs) in the four hardest-hit countries of Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The funds will finance and provide support to ecosystem and biodiversity restoration and resilience following the impact of Hurricane Beryl and will include projects promoting habitat restoration and protection of endangered species, ecosystem-based adaptation and supporting the re-establishment of the operations of Environmental Organisations.
The Force of Hurricane Beryl
Almost every home—between 95-100%— on Grenada’s islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique suffered damage, displacing thousands of residents. Jamaica’s southern parishes faced severe agricultural losses, and disruption of health services. St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw similar devastation, particularly on Union Island and Bequia, where nearly 90% of homes were damaged, displacing over 1,700 people. In St.Lucia, the Soufriere Waterfront was devastated, damaging fishing gear, equipment and infrastructure.
For many, the effects of Beryl extend beyond shattered buildings. The Caribbean’s natural ecosystems—its coral reefs, forests, and mangroves—serve as both protection and livelihood. Yet these ecosystems were among the first casualties of the storm. When hurricanes like Beryl rip through coastal areas, they tear apart not only human settlements but also the natural resources that local communities depend on for fishing, tourism, and agriculture. For example, part of the grant money will go toward repairing damaged coral reefs and mangroves, which serve as natural barriers against storm surges. These ecosystems are crucial not only for protecting coastal areas but also for supporting marine life, which in turn supports the local fishing industry. By investing in these areas, the CBF hopes to prevent future disasters from having the same level of impact.
The CBF’s Role in Recovery From Natural Disasters
Working through its established partner NCTFs—the Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund (GSDTF), the National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ), and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Conservation Fund (SVGCF)—CBF allocated USD 200,000 to each of the three countries from the CBF Endowment. This is not the first time the CBF is providing support after a disaster strikes. In 2020, after Hurricane Dorian severely devastated ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves in the Bahamas, the CBF provided a USD 1.2 M grant with support from the German Development Bank (KfW) to our NCTF partner the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund. In addition, in 2021 after the eruption of the La Soufriére Volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the CBF provided a USD 200,000 grant through the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Conservation Fund towards the recovery of crucial infrastructure of several Natural Parks.
The CBF is pleased that the funding from the Endowment will be supplemented with an additional amount of USD 350,000 through the Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity (CRAB) Project funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Le Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM), that will award hurricane recovery grants to four CBF partner NCTFs—Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF), National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ), Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund (GSDTF) and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Conservation Fund (SVGCF). As the major donor for the CRAB Project, AFD continues to recognize and respond to the needs of the Caribbean. They have also recognised that the NCTFs are key local players, who are familiar with the local communities and have the ability to respond quickly.
Strengthening Communities, One Project at a Time
The role of the NCTFs cannot be understated. These organizations have deep roots in their respective countries and have been working on conservation and sustainable development projects in communities for years. The hurricane recovery grants will allow them to expand their work, addressing the specific needs created by Beryl while continuing their ongoing conservation projects.
A Resilient Future
While the recovery from Hurricane Beryl is far from over, the efforts led by the CBF and its partners provide hope. These grants won’t solve every problem, but they are an important piece of the puzzle—one that emphasizes long-term resilience over short-term fixes. As emphasized in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Declaration for Renewed Prosperity – adopted in May 2024 during the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, the focus is not just on returning to normal but on creating a more resilient environment that is better equipped to handle the “new normal” – increasingly powerful and destructive weather events driven by climate change. With the financial support provided, the CBF seeks to assist Caribbean nations in rebuilding better, smarter, and greener in the aftermath of these extreme events.
