The St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve (SMBR) in Cayon, St. Kitts and Nevis, has garnered significant attention from UNESCO in 2024. Launched in 2011 as the first UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) reserve in the English-speaking Caribbean, the SMBR is now regarded as a benchmark for biodiversity standards among small islands, as noted by Dr. Antonio Abreu, Director of UNESCO’s Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences. 

With support from UNESCO and the Ministry of Environment, the SMBR has accessed Earth Network funding to employ biodiversity expert Dr. Haydi Berrenstein from Suriname. She is collaborating with the SMBR National Coordinator, Mrs. Telca Wallace, and the MAB committee to tackle challenges related to agricultural practices that affect biodiversity and sustainable agriculture within the reserve.

The second phase of the Earth Network project will unfold at the Hermitage Estate in Cayon, focusing on key initiatives such as the establishment of a Neem processing plant to provide eco-friendly fertilizers and pest control solutions to local farmers, and the creation of a seed bank for indigenous, heat, and drought-resistant plant varieties.

She is in the process of finalizing a funding proposal aimed at attracting international donors to support these initiatives throughout 2025.