News Releases

 The Technical Cooperation Agreement, in the amount of USD 996,000, will implement a Monitoring, Verification, and Reporting (MRV) system for mangrove ecosystems that will provide a science-based data platform on the sequestration and release of blue carbon in participant country sites of the United Kingdom Blue Carbon Fund. Research into blue carbon, the term for carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems – like the mangroves in Trinidad and Tobago - is critical because of their possible contribution to climate change mitigation.

 Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine noted the importance of this research since “they provide resilience against extreme weather events, like a buffer zone between the raging sea and the land and they help to slow and reduce coastal erosion which is accelerating due to rising sea levels.”

 She also pointed out that all parties agreed on the stipulation that women and vulnerable groups are adequately represented in training activities connected to the project. This fits well with The UWI’s consistent focus on gender justice and social egalitarianism, including for persons with disabilities.

 Also speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms Carina Cockburn, IDB country representative for Trinidad and Tobago spoke on the benefits of this agreement to countries.“As the global discourse on carbon markets increases the knowledge and lessons learnt from the implementation of this programme will help countries not only improve their understanding of the value of their natural assets, but also sound management and utilisation of these for the benefit of citizens, nature and the climate.” 

The UWI, which is very active in research on climate change and resilience - especially in the highly vulnerable Caribbean – established the Global Institute for Climate Smart and Resilient Development to lead research in the area.  The Advisory Board comprises representatives of Higher Education institutions and private sector research partners.

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 About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Monain Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hillin Barbados, Five IslandsinAntigua and Barbuda and itsOpen Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

 The UWI is the only Caribbean-based University to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 For more, visit www.uwi.edu