The Caribbean Conservation Community of Practice (CCCoP) held its third annual meeting last month in St. Thomas from March 25-27. The CCCoP brings together community leaders, researchers, universities, nonprofits, and federal, state, and territorial governments—all working collaboratively to strengthen applied science and resource management efforts across the Caribbean. This year’s meeting had a slightly different feel, as several partners were unable to attend, but the event still drew more than 30 engaged participants from about 14 different organizations!

The meeting focused on setting clear conservation priorities, identifying shared challenges, and building stronger working relationships to expand opportunities for effective collaboration. Key discussion topics included partnership development, land use planning, education and outreach, and participation in shaping the U.S. Virgin Islands Wildlife Action Plan. Through breakout discussions, the attendees identified clear action items to help overcome some of our shared challenges—the greatest being limited capacity to meet the growing demands of conservation work. Participants also took the opportunity to provide valuable feedback on priority improvements to the Southeast Conservation Blueprint in the U.S. Caribbean! More detailed meeting notes will be shared on the CCCoP webpage, where you can also sign up for the listserv to stay informed about the latest initiatives and developments.

With the conservation field evolving quickly—and funding resources shifting—it’s more crucial than ever to leverage the power of partnership to protect the region’s natural and cultural resources.