A climate resilience initiative led by IAMovement and supported by CCRIF SPC, using the Vetiver System (VS) to combat erosion, stabilize slopes, and empower communities in Moruga and Paramin through hands-on training, green engineering, and micro-insurance education.

As the climate crisis continues to pose increasing threats to vulnerable communities, IAMovement, with the support of CCRIF, spearheaded a groundbreaking initiative called Building Community Climate Resilience with Cost-Effective and Soft-Approach Green Engineering Solutions. This project leveraged nature-based solutions, specifically the Vetiver System (VS), to combat soil erosion, stabilize slopes, and enhance disaster resilience in rural communities across Trinidad.

Focusing on the communities of Moruga and Paramin, the project integrates community training, green engineering alternatives, and knowledge sharing to create sustainable, long-term solutions. Through capacity building and on-the-ground interventions, IAMovement has empowered local communities with the skills to implement and maintain these systems, ensuring their resilience to climate change related disasters.

This initiative was designed with a clear vision to strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities through sustainable, low-cost solutions. A key focus was mitigating the effects of extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and landslides, by implementing the Vetiver System (VS) to stabilize slopes and prevent soil erosion. Community education and capacity building were central to this effort, ensuring that residents not only understood the benefits of vetiver-based solutions but were also equipped with the skills to install and maintain them independently. To sustain these efforts long-term, the project has established vetiver nurseries, creating a continuous local supply of plants for future interventions.

Beyond the physical implementations, IAMovement has placed strong emphasis on academic research and technological innovation. A key component of this has been the experimental watershed study in Paramin, which monitors soil stability and hydrology conditions to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the Vetiver System in preventing erosion. Researchers from the University of the West Indies (UWI) have played a crucial role in data collection, ensuring a scientific foundation for the project’s findings. By contributing to global research, we aim to refine and expand the impact of nature-based solutions in climate adaptation. Beyond research, innovative financial tools, such as micro-insurance were explored to help farmers and community members safeguard their livelihoods against climate-related challenges. These efforts ensure that sustainability is not just about environmental protection but also about building economic security and resilience for the people who depend on the land.

What began as a focused intervention in Moruga and Paramin has evolved into a larger movement toward sustainable climate solutions across Trinidad. By leveraging partnerships with the Green Fund and the IDB Labs projects, the “ME-WE-GREEN Programme” and “Building on Vetiver!”, IAMovement has expanded its reach to additional communities, extending training opportunities and increasing public awareness of green infrastructure solutions. This scaling effort has opened doors for vetiver-based interventions in new areas such as East Port of Spain, Sangre Grande, Lopinot, Cedros, Santa Cruz, Diego Martin, and Brasso Seco, where communities face similar environmental challenges. The initiative’s success has also sparked interest from other stakeholders, demonstrating the viability of nature-based solutions for disaster mitigation.