The developing relationship was initiated as part of a UK Darwin Plus Initiative-funded Multi-purpose Soil Survey led by the BVI’s Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in partnership with Portsmouth University and HLSCC. Photo: Provided

The purpose of the agreement with Portsmouth University is to support the exchange of information related to teaching and research in fields of mutual interest, especially including ecological resilience, environment and geosciences President of HLSCC, Dr. Richard E. Georges said. Photo: VINO/File

The developing relationship was initiated as part of a UK Darwin Plus Initiative-funded Multi-purpose Soil Survey led by the Virgin Islands' Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in partnership with Portsmouth University and HLSCC. 

“The purpose of the agreement with Portsmouth University is to support the exchange of information related to teaching and research in fields of mutual interest, especially including ecological resilience, environment and geosciences,” President of HLSCC, Dr Richard W. E. Georges said. 

Dean of Workforce Training at HLSCC, Ms Marva Wheatley said HLSCC’s Centre for applied Marine Studies hosted four workshops in soil sampling and soil analysis during 2023 with participants from several public sector environmental agencies as part of the ongoing study.  

She went on to explain that one key aim of the project was to help establish a soil lab.

Lab a great value to HLSCC - Dean Whealtey 

HLSCC Mangrove Nursery Manager Miss Jian Jeffers further explained that the new HLSCC Soil Analysis Lab would be of great value to the marine centre’s Mangrove Nursery, supporting training of interns in soil analysis at mangrove restoration sites, especially at sites where regeneration has proved to be problematic.

Lead Scientist in the Multi-purpose Soil Survey and Professor at Portsmouth University, Dr Richard Teeuw said the laboratory will provide data on the management of soil. 

“The new soil analysis laboratory at the HLSCC Marine Centre is providing much-needed data for improved management of soils under different types of land use, from farming and biodiversity conservation, through to construction and waste disposal.”