As the world paused to celebrate World Wildlife Day yesterday, Shanna Challenger touched on the difficulties in securing funding for their many projects.

United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated every year on 3 March to celebrate wild animals and plants. Every year, we recognize the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet.

The WWD2025 Theme is Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.

A fitting theme according to Challenger who is the Offshore Islands Conservation Programme Coordinator at Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), as investment has become a hardship.

The EAG is not a government run institution which means it does not receive annual budgetary monies instead the group seeks funding through grants and donors.

Challenger revealed that that has become even more difficult as the country’s improved economic status now classifies them in a higher rank which restricts the EAG from accessing specific funds under the ODA.

“There is less funding available overall. Alot of the donors we had before are now giving less money and then in the North with what’s happening there, those persons also are no longer giving us money. It is a very scary kind of time because we want to continue our conservation work that’s happening here in Antigua and Barbuda and Redonda, but things cost money,” Challenger said.

Efforts are now being made to focus on local organizations and donors.

The EAG has a new program which focuses on partnership and development.
“We have someone who is specifically employed to build these partnerships with individuals and businesses around Antigua and Barbuda.

“Our thing is Antigua is for are we. Why should we have to be relying on these international donors alone. We want to see everybody supporting local and one of the things that has come out of this is we have put together these packages and had conversations with these businesses and said this is how you can support our work directly,” Challenger added

The Community First Cooperative Credit Union and Carlisle Bay Resort are the first two corporate sponsors on board.

She is admonishing others to join.

Interested persons can call 462-6236 or visit the EAGs social media pages at EAG Antigua.