 The Riverbank restoration project has entered a critical phase, as workers involved in the rehabilitation of the ancillary, cul-de-sac and cannery's riverbanks have received an orientation, aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure the project's success. Workers were educated on the different aspects of the restoration process, including protection measures, safety protocols, and the proper handling of snakes. A range officer for the Millet range, Shamin Donovan Augustin, says this comprehensive training ensures that the workers remain safe while undertaking this crucial work. One of the major issues we have, especially in the Ancillary area, is the snakes, the phadilus. So it was very important to educate the workers who would be on the project, how to handle the phadilus. If a snake bite happened, what to do, how to prevent it totally. So this was one of the most important things, apart from the planting that we had to do to educate them on how to deal with the phadilus because we know it's present in the area. According to the National Project Coordinator of the ACPMEA's three project, Lisha and Monroe's, the community of Ancillary has welcomed this project with open arms, recognizing the critical importance of protecting their natural resources and the need to improve their water systems' current state. Last year, as part of the first phase of the project, we conducted an assessment of the Ancillary River and it went up through the middle portion of the river. So we'll be starting our resolution from the middle of the river and come all the way down. We're not going to be doing the entire length of the river but degraded pockets and we'll be planting native trees. So also for our species, in certain areas, we will be using the vets, depending on how degraded and what is required, what we will best for that particular area. It's intended for the revegetation activity to lead to increased biodiversity in the area. The reason why we're engaging the community and we're making points to have that community participation is that the community will take ownership of the project. The community will look after the trees in the long run and assist with the maintenance of those trees. The riverbank restoration project is a vital initiative that aims to strengthen the degraded riverbanks with agroforestry crops and forestry species, ultimately reducing erosion, deforestation and waste disposal, and improving the quality of river water. Through this partnership with the FAO, the Department of Forestry continues to take proactive measures to build a resilient and sustainable future, where the environment, economy and society are in harmony. The workers' orientation and training signify a crucial step in achieving this goal, demonstrating St. Lucia's unwavering commitment to preserving its natural resources and achieving food security. From the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Anisia Antoine reporting.