Wallings Nature Reseve

Have you ever walked through a rainforest teeming with life? Welcome to Wallings Nature Reserve in Antigua. It’s more than just a pretty place. This reserve is a living testament to community spirit and environmental stewardship. Wallings started as a reservoir in 1890. It was completed in 1900. It was designed to hold 13 million gallons of water. This water supplied 30 tanks across 15 villages. Nine years later it needed repairs. Imagine a time of drought. In 1912 Wallings ran dry. Heavy rains in October and November of that year refilled it. A new dam was built in 1945 creating the scenic Fig Tree Drive. Today Wallings isn’t just a water source. It’s Antigua and Barbuda’s first community-managed national park. Established in 2018 it’s an international case study in community-led conservation. It demonstrates the impact a community can have on fighting climate change. It empowers women youth and vulnerable groups. It promotes gender equality. It’s a non-profit non-governmental organization managing 680 hectares of rainforest. This rainforest is in the Sherkley Mountain Protected Area. Even during droughts the watershed once supported 15 villages. The clever design ensured even light rain collected. Cleaning these catchments is vital today. This ensures water for crops and livestock. Wallings also promotes sustainable tourism. It provides livelihoods for the local community. The reserve has partnered with the Department of Environment. They collaborate on biodiversity monitoring. They work with local colleges and universities. They manage and monitor the 680 hectares of forest. They’ve embarked on a significant reforestation project. Over 80% of the primary forest was lost due to invasive grasses. They are reforesting over 30 acres planting over 1200 trees. This was done with the help of 400 volunteers. In a few years hikers can enjoy snacks while on the trails. Wallings has improved trail safety reducing accidents. They’ve cleared waterways benefiting forest crab populations. They offer educational tours and health and wellness activities. The reserve created jobs for young people and women. Men also hold management positions. There’s a volunteer program that allows volunteers to transition to full-time staff. Reforestation at Signal Hill has a ripple effect. This protects the sea via the ridge-to-reef model. Wallings has strong partnerships locally and regionally increasing visitor numbers. The work at Wallings is an example of resilience adaptability and self-sufficiency. They proactively removed invasive lemon grass. They’re replacing it with secondary forest impacting over 30 acres. They’ve fostered an environment where young people learn about forest protection through internships and volunteer programs. Wallings incorporates traditional knowledge from local elders. Many groups contribute to the protection and development of the forest. Wallings was founded and is led by a woman. She’s the Executive Director managing operations and public relations. The board is all-female ensuring the organization’s goals are met. The project team is 90% female. Wallings contributes to national environmental strategies. They offer yoga meditation volunteer opportunities and educational tours. Wallings has been ranked as a top Caribbean attraction. This recognizes the work they’ve done to allow people to enjoy nature while contributing to conservation. Their success is inspiring other communities and national parks. Their business plan is being used as a model. Come explore Wallings Nature Reserve. Be a part of its story.