Every time local beekeepers in the buffer zones of Sierra de Bahoruco National Park in the Dominican Republic announce a new batch of honey for sale on Facebook, it sells out the same day. The demand for their high-quality honey far exceeds supply, highlighting both the success of their efforts and the growth potential.
This thriving beekeeping initiative, led by Fondazione AVSI and supported by the World Bank’s Caribbean Hotspot Project, is transforming lives while promoting conservation. Forty local women have been trained in beekeeping and the preservation of key flora species essential to honey production. Together, they have planted 10 hectares of native trees valuable for pollinators, laying the foundation for a sustainable livelihood.
Now, with new equipment that eliminates the need for manual processing, they are poised to scale up production and meet growing demand. The next step is to establish a "payments for ecosystem services" scheme, where communities will receive financial incentives for the ecological benefits—such as pollination—provided by the trees they have planted.
What began as a conservation effort has become a model for sustainable growth, proving that protecting biodiversity and strengthening local economies can go hand in hand.
Across the Caribbean, similar efforts are taking root. Implemented by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, the Caribbean Hotspot Project is helping local organizations to create innovative solutions to conserve biodiversity, protect endangered species, and empower communities. Whether through beekeeping, shade-grown coffee, climate risk mapping or species recovery programs, these initiatives highlight the power of local civil society organizations to drive conservation efforts while building a sustainable future for its people.
Bird-Friendly Coffee and Biodiversity Conservation in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, The Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola (SOH Conservación) is working to protect the country’s unique ecosystems by supporting local farmers in the sustainable production of shade-grown coffee. Highly valued in the market for its superior quality, shade-grown coffee offers farmers the opportunity to earn a higher income while contributing to conservation efforts.
Thanks to this initiative, more than 56 coffee growers have been trained in organic agriculture, agroforestry, and the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® program, a certification developed by scientists to preserve habitats and protect migratory songbirds. Equipped with this knowledge, local farmers have planted 34,725 tree seedlings on over 30 hectares, integrating bird-friendly practices into their coffee farms.
Now, their efforts are paying off. The coffee has successfully obtained Bird Friendly® certification, and local producers are already exporting their specialty Bahoruco coffee to Japan, the EU, and the United States at premium prices. Given the complexity of the certification process, the initiative’s grant to SOH covers the cost of a certification specialist to guide farmers through the requirements, ensuring long-term success.
By aligning sustainable farming with conservation, this initiative is not only safeguarding biodiversity but also creating economic opportunities for local communities.
Protecting the Critically Endangered Ridgway’s Hawk in the Dominican Republic
With fewer than 500 individuals remaining in the wild, the Ridgway’s Hawk is one of the most critically endangered raptors in the world due to habitat destruction and human persecution. To address the urgent need for their protection and prevent their extinction, The Peregrine Fund and Fondo Peregrino developed a ten-year conservation action plan to safeguard this iconic species. Their efforts, supported by CEPF, have led to the management of 125-150 hawk pairs in Los Haitises National Park and its surrounding areas.
The project has also spurred environmental outreach and capacity-building programs in ten communities, raising awareness about the hawk’s ecological significance. Through outreach and capacity-building programs, the project empowered communities to take an active role in conservation efforts, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for the species’ survival.
A landmark achievement is the proposed special law for the protection and reproduction of the Hispaniolan Hawk, which, if passed, will legally protect the Ridgway’s Hawk and establish May 25 as Ridgway’s Hawk Day.
Climate and Conservation Risk Mapping in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, six communities along the Central Mountain Range have embraced climate and conservation risk mapping to safeguard their ecosystems. Led by JEMS, a volunteer community organization that empowers communities to protect the natural resources, the project developed a 30-layer GIS map that gathered valuable data on various environmental factors, such as vegetation, species distribution, and climate vulnerabilities, to guide conservation efforts and improve the understanding of ecosystem risks. Additionally, the NGO conducted training for local communities on how to use climate risk mapping tools. This training helped communities better understand potential climate-related threats, such as hurricanes, and prepare accordingly. When Hurricane Beryl struck in July 2024, the communities that had participated in the risk mapping activity felt more prepared and were able to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their environment.
JEMS has also helped establish a Climate Change Association that has been effective in responding to emergencies and mobilizing resources, especially during the Beryl Hurricane. The core principle of the NGO is that communities have the power to shape their own future—they simply need the right tools and support to do so. With the support of the CEPF, this vision is moving closer to reality.
Collaborative Action Plans and Knowledge Sharing for Protecting Endangered Species across the region
Across five islands in the Caribbean, CEPF is supporting the development of Conservation Action Plans (CAPs) for nine priority species, including the Antiguan Racer, Bahamian Oriole, and Saint Lucia Whiptail. Spearheaded by Re:wild, these plans emphasize capacity building, cross-island collaboration, and technical conservation actions.
The Jamaican Blackbird is the first species to benefit from an implemented CAP, while plans for the rest are under review. In addition to the action plans, Re:wild is creating platforms for knowledge exchange, such as the Conservation Call to Action webinar series. These webinar series has united conservationists across the region, fostering knowledge-sharing and collaboration. The series has also inspired the creation of the Caribbean Species Conservation Action Network (CSCAN), a platform dedicated to advancing biodiversity protection.
A Future Built on Empowering Communities
The Caribbean Hotspot Project is a unique initiative for the World Bank, as it directly supports civil society organizations through the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund. The project’s team leader and senior environmental specialist at the World Bank, Natalia Magradze, views this as a promising model for biodiversity conservation and community empowerment.
