 The issue of feral pigs and their impact on the forest ecosystem, as well as on farmers and land owners, was the focus of a stakeholders' consultation meeting held by the Department of Forestry. Feral pigs are known for their destructive foraging behaviour, which can damage forest vegetation, disrupt native plants and animal communities, and degrade water quality in streams and rivers. The meeting was attended by representatives from various stakeholder groups, including pig hunters, government officials and other agencies who gathered to discuss the challenges posed by feral pigs and potential solutions to mitigate their negative effects. Project manager of the feral pig project funded by the St Lucia National Conservation Fund, Aloysius Charles, in highlighting the ongoing problem of feral pigs stressed the need for operative measures to control their populations. There was a lot of damage reported on these farms in close proximity to the forest reserves, and some farmers had to actually abandon their farm where they tried to engage some of the hunters on a small scale to try to get rid of the feral pigs, but because of the habits of feral pigs, we know that when they are put under pressure in one area that they actually move to another area and just evade the hunt, so we're hoping to have a more collaborative approach this time to be able to deal more holistically with the problem of feral pigs. Chief Forest Officer Alwyne Donnelly highlighted the importance of taking a holistic and integrated approach that considers the ecological, social and economic aspects of feral pig management while also prioritising the conservation of natural resources and the interests of farmers and land owners. Initially, while we would have been thinking of trying to get rid of every last feral pig in the forest, we have sort of taken on a different view, and we're more looking to manage what is there to a point where it is not having that negative effect on our resources, on our natural resources, on the forests, on the water resources and even on other wildlife species. The stakeholders' consultation meeting on feral pigs highlighted the complex and multifaceted nature of the issue, which requires a collaborative effort among stakeholders to find effective solutions. With ongoing discussions and concerted actions, it is hoped that a balance can be struck between preserving the integrity of the forest ecosystem and protecting the interests of farmers and land owners affected by feral pigs. From the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, I am Anisia Antoine reporting.