By Natalia Collier | Executive Director
For a nature lover like Lorcan Martineau, it is a blessing to have been raised among the beautiful Grenadines islands. Coming from a long tradition of boatbuilders and deep sea fishermen, Lorcan was introduced to the ocean and its wonders starting at an early age. By the age of 17, he had built his first boat and soon became a scuba diver, coral gardener, and sea turtle monitor, while also sharing his knowledge with children as an environmental educator.
His quiet demeanor belies his passion for the environment, conservation, and knowledge. Even when he's not working, he's busy at home reading up on turtles, corals, birds, etc. and trying to learn as much as he can.
When Lorcan heard about the training workshop for the Grenadines Volunteer Patrol, he jumped at the opportunity to learn more about seabirds and how to protect them. Today he is an active member of the Patrol team, sending reports of his seabird sightings while travelling among the Grenadine islands.
It is heartbreaking to see the devastation possible on even the most remote seabird nesting island, caused by fire, invasive predators, or harvests by people. It is especially hard to bear when you know it is your natural heritage which is disappearing, areas that are part of family and cultural traditions. The Grenadines Volunteer Patrol empowers local citizens like Lorcan to help protect the remaining seabird colonies, collecting data and reporting sightings from wildlife refuges and serving as advocates.
Thank to supporters like you, we have been able to host annual workshops to recruit and train members of the Grenadines Volunteer Patrol, members who are ready to take action to learn about and protect their natural heritage. In fact, this project is now at 90% of our annual fundraising goal! Please consider a year-end contribution to get us to 100% funding.
There are still areas with amazing seabird colonies, hosting thousands of nesting birds, which need to be patrolled. With your help, we can continue to expand the scope of the Grenadines Volunteer Patrol, reaching these remote areas by empowering more concerned citizens to make a difference. Thank you!
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