Caribbean Conservationist Joshel Wilson Begins Training in Jersey with Durrell Wildlife Trust
Tuesday, 13th May 2025 – Caribbean environmentalist Joshel Wilson has embarked on a transformative conservation training journey in the Channel Islands, United Kingdom, thanks to a bursary from the Government of Jersey. Over the next five months, he will participate in the prestigious Durrell Endangered Species Management Graduate Certificate (DESMAN), a globally respected programme led by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Forging Stronger International Partnerships
Joshel’s selection for the bursary comes under Jersey’s Bilateral Programme Fund (BPF), an initiative born from the Education, Sport and Cultural Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between Jersey and Antigua and Barbuda. This strategic partnership fosters international cooperation through knowledge exchange, advocacy, and practical training opportunities between small island states.
From Discovery Channel Dreams to Global Conservation Work
“Thanks to the Jersey Government, I’m here today doing the course, and I’m very grateful for it,” said Joshel. A specialist in snake conservation, he reflected on his early passion sparked by nature programmes on Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. That curiosity evolved into academic fieldwork—tracking down a species not documented in one region for over four decades.
Currently, Joshel holds a full-time position with the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) in Antigua, having initially supported a rat eradication initiative. His work is part of a broader regional conservation effort that once included the rare Antigua Racer, housed by Durrell from 1995 to 2002. Durrell’s conservation presence also extends to Saint Lucia, where they operate a facility focused on protecting the critically endangered Saint Lucia Racer.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Caribbean
“The course has been fantastic for me,” Joshel added. “Durrell’s armoury is growing, and people are taking what they’ve learned back to their countries and improving their projects. There’s a wall in the Durrell Academy with photos of people who have gone on to do great work. I hope that funding can spread out into the Caribbean, where I’m hoping to one day start a conservation and environmental department, based on climate change.”
Strengthening Ties Between Island Nations
Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda, commended the collaboration:
“The relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and Jersey continues to showcase the immense opportunities for small states to support each other in advocacy, knowledge transfer and capacity building. We understand each other through our shared realities as island nations and I am pleased to see yet another successful collaboration which will benefit both our Islands as well as the wider Eastern Caribbean.”
As Joshel continues his training, his journey serves as a powerful example of how international cooperation and targeted investment can help build a sustainable future for island ecosystems and conservation leaders alike.
