Workshop to Tackle Invasive Green Iguanas to
The Government of the Virgin Islands will host a four-day Invasive Green Iguana Action Planning and Management Training Workshop from 17–20 March 2026 at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Learning Resource Centre, organised by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change with local and international partners (BVI Government). The workshop will build local capacity in survey, population estimation, humane capture and disposal, and development of a targeted action plan; the announcement has been updated to include additional contact and media information from the Government of the Virgin Islands.
The Government of the Virgin Islands will host a four-day Invasive Green Iguana Action Planning and Management Training Workshop from 17–20 March 2026 at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Learning Resource Centre, the Government announced on 16 March 2026. Organised by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change in partnership with HLSCC’s Centre for Applied Marine Studies (CAMS) and the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat (GB NNSS), the training aims to strengthen local skills across key management areas for the invasive Green Iguana (Iguana iguana).
According to the BVI Government, topics will include field survey techniques, population estimation, humane capture and disposal methods, and the development of a targeted action plan to address the species’ growing impacts on the Territory’s biodiversity, agriculture and built environment.
The Government release highlights particular concern for the endemic and critically endangered Anegada Rock Iguana (Cyclura pinguis), which faces risks from competition and potential hybridisation with invasive Green Iguanas. The Ministry says the workshop is a coordinated step to address that escalating threat across the Territory. "The invasive Green Iguana poses a growing challenge to our native ecosystems and species, the agricultural sector, and infrastructure," said Angela Burnett Penn, Director of Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, in the Government statement. "This workshop is an important investment in the expertise and tools our Territory needs to respond effectively.
We are grateful for the support of the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat, HLSCC and our international partners in making this training possible." Visiting specialists confirmed by the BVI Government include scientists and practitioners from the GB NNSS and the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency, the Swedish Association of Hunting and Wildlife, the King Cobra Conservancy (Florida), the University of Puerto Rico, and WildDominique (Dominica).
Local participants will include staff from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change; the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; HM Customs; the BVI Airports Authority; the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands; and CAMS at HLSCC. As part of the workshop week, the Ministry and HLSCC will host a public panel discussion on invasive species at the HLSCC Learning Resource Centre starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
The Government encourages members of the public to attend to learn more about invasive species impacts and engage directly with both local and international experts. The workshop is funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Government release says, and represents a significant step in the Territory’s work to manage the presence and impacts of invasive Green Iguanas.
For enquiries, the BVI Government lists the Department of Information and Public Relations contact email bmckelly@gov.vg and the Government of the Virgin Islands switchboard at (284) 468-3701. The Government’s release also provides an international media contact (BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com), a WhatsApp number (1 (284) 468-9760) and other service information for those seeking more details.
Residents who wish to attend the public session or learn how they can help are advised to contact the Ministry directly using the provided Government contact channels.
Primary source: BVI Government