Our Impact in 2018
A Year of Inspiring Achievements and Innovations Throughout the Region
The year 2018 was full of exciting and innovative advancements throughout TNC’s work in the Caribbean. Moving forward in the wake of last year’s Category 5 hurricanes that devastated multiple islands, we were more determined than ever to rise up to the grave challenges facing the Caribbean as the impacts of climate change escalate. Throughout the year, we worked hard to protect and restore the ocean, coasts and coral reefs across the region and bring about tangible, lasting change for communities and the natural resources that sustain them.
Partnering with some of the world’s best coral science organizations, we commenced a groundbreaking aerial mapping initiative to create the first-ever map of coral reefs throughout the Caribbean basin—allowing us to fight for the survival of these essential ecosystems like never before. In just the first phase of this work, we gathered data from nearly 100,000 acres of ocean covering roughly 800,000 coral colonies.
We launched our new Resilient Islands initiative, which develops and implements ecosystem-based interventions to foster coastal resilience and empower communities to reduce climate-related risks while protecting vital coastal habitat. And we culminated almost a decade of work improving the Bahamian spiny lobster fishery by achieving the renowned Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification and securing the future of this critical fishery for future generations.
Explore our 2018 achievements and impact—from the lush green mountains to the deep turquoise waters of the Caribbean—as we work to create a bright, sustainable future for nature and people in this magnificent region.
