Environmental policy and administrative management

This project focuses on conservaiton of soils and the production of natural dyes through an agoroforstry approach which will re-introduce and promote the planting of a suitable species of Indigo in Barbados. The goal of the project is to "create a sustainable source of natural, environmentally friendly dyes in Barbados, from locally grown indigo and other local plants". The objectives are as follows: (i) to "reduce the negative environmental impact of dyes in Barbados and globally through the development of ecologically sound and economically sustainable cultivation systems including cleaning of waste (where necessary) and decomposting of plant residues by natural processes"; (ii) to "provide indigo and other plant textile dyes that are safe and non toxic to users, wearers and the environment"; and (iii) to "provide economic opportunities to producers of plants, dyes, and finished products and other skilled artisans". The project will have activities in research, production, capacity development, busisness development, enviornmental impact assessment, and monitoring and evaluation. By the end of the project it is expected that soil consevation will be reduced on selected farms, toxic dyes will be slowly phased out and an environmentally sound fashion industry will evolve in Barbados.

Barbados