In 2015, SACD established the Community Researcher programme, aimed at providing structure to the internship component of the SACD Volunteer and Internship programme. It has increased the present and future local human capacity for monitoring of CBWS conservation targets and strengthened the Research and Monitoring sub-programme. Furthermore, it has increased the participation of youth members in conservation and stewardship of the biodiversity of CBWS.
The Community Researcher programme trains a cohort of community researchers (CRs) and engages them in on-going research and monitoring activities in CBWS. The main focus of the programme has been to build capacity and encourage active participation of the CRs in the management of their local protected area. To date, SACD CRs have participated in gathering data in the following key conservation target areas:
- Catch monitoring of the local fishery
- Water quality monitoring
- Mapping of benthic vegetation
- Mangroves and coastal vegetation
- Monitoring of Antillean manatees in CBWS
- Bird surveys