Sandwatchers on St. Vincent conduct a beach profile 

My name is Sternley Walker from the beautiful Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I am very excited to share my experience in a beach profile training I attended from August 19-21, 2015. The group was energetic for the process and the facilitator’s method of teaching was very easy to follow.

I was particularly happy to know this training was facilitated by one of our very own, a local Vincentian whose name is Mr. Herman Belmar, and hid Sandwatch his team who reside in Bequia, one of the exquisite Grenadines Islands of St. Vincent. Usually, most training of such are conducted by persons from the regional or international community.

The training consisted of a class room session, a day of field practice and the last day was the entering of data into the Sand Watch database and to interface with the web site.

I was confident using the equipment, namely a measuring tape, a compass, Global Positioning system (GPS), a pole, and the Abney Level. My experience gained are in the measuring of long shore current with the use of a colour dye; using tablets to do water quality testing; sand analysis and monitoring of beach erosion and accretion. I love to use the Abnel Level.

The data collected from beach profiling is very important and can be used by decision makers, planners, contractors and many others who can influence change and progress in order to have our coastal resources sustained. I was reminded that climate change and its effects are real and can impact all sectors of our society. Therefore it’s imperative for us to act now in order to build resilience for adaptation. I have committed myself to work in a group to monitor three beaches. I am so happy and ready to commence working with my colleagues.

I take pleasure in sharing these pictures with you on some of the activities during the training.