Category: News

A reception celebrating St Helena’s Cloud Forest Project (SHCFP) was held at the Speaker’s House State Rooms in the Palace of Westminster, London, on Monday, 07 April 2025. The SHCFP, previously funded by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF)/Integrated Security Fund (ISF) through the CSSF Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change, and ISF Climate Security programmes, has received four years of funding from the UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with additional support for this and other conservation projects on St Helena provided through Darwin Plus funding from the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).  

Over 75 guests were in attendance who included, UK Parliamentarians, St Helena Cloud Forest Project partners, people connected with St Helena through charities and other groups, officials from the FCDO and Defra, and St Helenian students currently studying in the UK.

During the event, speeches were made by the Speaker of the House of Commons the Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, St Helena Government’s Environment Minister, Christine Scipio; Sarah Hulton, Interim Director of the FCDO Overseas Territories and Polar Regions Directorate representing Minister Doughty of the UK Government’s FCDO, opposition spokesperson to the Overseas Territories Andrew Rosindell MP, and Katie-Jo Luxton, Executive Director of Global Conservation of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

These celebrations highlighted the work of the St Helena Cloud Forest Project since 2021, focusing on habitat restoration, climate and water monitoring, innovative research, infrastructure upgrades and capacity-building. This work aims to safeguard our cloud forest’s habitat, crucial for St Helena’s water security, wildlife and people.  

During her speech, Sarah Hulton announced the FCDO’s Overseas Territories Climate Security Programme will provide a one-year bridging grant to ensure the continuation of this vital work whilst alternative funding is secured. 

Thanks are extended to HMG’s FCDO for their continued support and to Defra for the Darwin Plus initiative, which also plays a vital role in conserving St Helena’s natural heritage. 

The event was hosted by Speaker Hoyle and sponsored by Andrew Rosindell MP and Will Stone MP.

For more information on the SHCFP, please visit: https://www.sthelenatourism.com/st-helenas-cloud-forest-project/.  

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Sarah Hulton OBE, Kedell Worboys MBE, Will Stone MP, Katie-Jo Luxton, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, Andrew Rosindell MP

#Sthelena #CloudForest #RestorationProject #FDCO #Defra #DarwinPlus

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Smokefree St Helena, today announced the launch of it’s new, user-friendly online referral system, designed to streamline access to vital smoking cessation support. The new online form simplifies the process for individuals seeking to quit smoking.

Smokefree St Helena provides stop-smoking services, including behavioural support and a recently expanded range of Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT). All clients utilising the Smokefree St Helena service will be provided with NRT. Our trained practitioners offer personalised guidance and encouragement to help individuals achieve their goal of becoming smoke-free.

The Smokefree St Helena programme is a six-week initiative, featuring weekly support sessions. During these sessions, clients can discuss their progress, address challenges, and receive ongoing advice and medication management from their practitioner.

To sign up for Smokefree St Helena’s behaviour change support and NRT via the online referral system, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SmokeFreeSH or scan the QR code. After completing the form, a practitioner will contact you to schedule an appointment.

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#StHelena #Smokefree #HealthPromotion

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CHARITY COMMISSIONER

St Helena Government (SHG) is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the role of Commissioner of the Charity Commission of St Helena.

The Charity Commission operates under the Charities Ordinance 2005, which outlines its key responsibilities. Full details of the legislation can be found here: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/legislation/laws-of-st-helena/alphabetical-list-st-helena/.

As a Commissioner, you will play a vital role in:

• Encouraging and facilitating better management of charitable organisations
• Ensuring compliance with legal obligations, investigating mismanagement and misconduct of operations where required.

This is an opportunity to bring fresh energy and reform to the role, helping to revitalise the charity sector and further embed it within the island’s social fabric and future development.

The appointment is for a three-year term. Commissioners receive a remuneration of £35 per meeting, along with a mileage allowance of 77p per mile for personal vehicle use when attending meetings.

The relevant form – “Expression of Interest” – Charity Commissioner can be obtained from Information and Research Support Officer, Linda Benjamin, at The Castle by telephone on 22470, via email at linda.benjamin@sainthelena.gov.sh or on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EOI-Form-Charity-Commissioner.pdf

Completed forms must be returned to Information and Research Support Officer, Linda Benjamin by Friday, 25 April 2025.

SHG

01 April 2025

During Marine Awareness Week, from the 17th to 21st March 2025, St Helena showcased the critical impacts of climate change on its marine life. As part of this local initiative, which has been running for over 20 years since its inception in 2003, the Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section hosted a talk at the Museum in Jamestown on Tuesday, 18 March 2025. This event was funded by the Blue Belt programme.

Dr. Susana Lincoln, a senior scientist at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), presented findings from a comprehensive climate study, highlighting the significant impacts of climate change on St Helena’s vital marine ecosystem. This presentation coincided with Marine Awareness Week, aimed at fostering a deeper connection between communities and the ocean, with an emphasis on sustainable practices, conservation efforts, and marine biodiversity.

Dr. Lincoln’s presentation was based on research from four years of study, which culminated in the publication of the “Climate Projections and Future Thermal Suitability Assessment for Priority Marine Species in St Helena (Blue Belt report CR195).” The report, part of a multi-phase study, examines the risks climate change poses to commercially and ecologically important species. The second phase of this work focused on 23 key species identified in collaboration with the Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section. These species include (local names in brackets):

•           Humpback whale

•           Pantropical spotted dolphin

•           Whale shark

•           Yellowfin tuna

•           Skipjack tuna

•           Bigeye tuna

•           Wahoo

•           Atlantic chub mackerel

•           Mackerel scad (Kingston)

•           Bigeye scad (Steenbrass)

•           Grouper (Jack)

•           Island cowfish

•           Deepwater bullseye

•           Sergeant major (Five finger)

•           Spotted moray (Conger)

•           St Helena butterflyfish (Cunningfish)

•           Island hogfish (Parrotfish)

•           St Helena wrasse (Greenfish)

•           Strigate parrotfish (Rockfish)

•           St Helena sharpnose pufferfish

•           St Helena flounder

•           Brown spiny lobster (Crayfish)

•           Red slipper lobster (Stump)

 

The findings from this report, which detail how rising sea temperatures may affect the distribution and survival of these species, are crucial for informing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for the island. The Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section, in collaboration with the Blue Belt programme, continues to work towards safeguarding St Helena’s marine ecosystem.

In addition to the presentations, attendees were provided with Climate Cards to take away, helping to spread the message of climate change awareness. The Marine Awareness Week initiative also reached school children across primary and secondary schools (averaging 508 total students), offering them an opportunity to engage with the topic through educational activities, including a climate change-themed board game that further consolidated their understanding of climate change impacts to marine species around St Helena.

Dr. Lincoln’s presentation will also be shown on the local television channel, allowing a wider audience to access this important information and continue the conversation around protecting St Helena’s marine environment.

The Environment, Natural Resources and Planning portfolio hopes that the findings shared during Marine Awareness Week will continue to drive discussions and influence proactive measures to protect St Helena’s unique marine heritage.

Head of Nature Conservation, Elizabeth Clingham, commented:

“…climate change is no longer a distant concern, it is a reality that is shaping our oceans, coastlines, and communities and understanding these impacts is more important than ever.  We might not be able to see the direct effect of climate just yet, here on St Helena… but it will come.”

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Marine Awareness Display

Head of Nature Conservation, Elizabeth Clingham, delivering a welcome speech to the presentation

 #StHelena #MarineAwarenessWeek #Cefas

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The Emergency Planning Department would like to remind the public and visitors about the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) located around the island.

What is an AED and when and how are they used?

Defibrillators are devices that send a safe electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat when someone is unconscious and not breathing (i.e. they are in cardiac arrest).

A defibrillator may also be referred to as a Defib, an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) or a PAD (Public Access Defibrillator). Statistics show that if a defibrillator is used on a patient within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, they have a 60 – 70% chance of making a full recovery. 

The type of AEDs placed around the island are designed so that they can be used by anyone, without specialist training. Once turned on they will instruct the user through voice commands on exactly how to use the device safely, for both the patient and the operator.

If you require access to an AED, the code to the cabinet can be requested from the Emergency Control Centre when dialling 999.

A reminder of all AED locations

AEDs are placed in the following locations:

District	Location
Half Tree Hollow	Half Tree Hollow Clinic (Outside of the main entrance)
St Paul’s	The Pavilion Area (In the green shed) at Francis Plain
Levelwood	Silver Hill Shop (Outside)
Blue Hill	Blue Hill Community Centre (Outside)
Sandy Bay	Bamboo Hedge Shop (Outside)
Rupert’s	Sea Rescue Building (Outside the main entrance)
Longwood	Royal St Helena Police Post (Outside)
Jamestown	Customs Building (Near the entrance to the Immigration office)

There are also other AEDs located in Jamestown at the Royal Saint Helena Police (RSHP) Head Quarters reception and at HM Prison.

The AEDs at these locations are clearly signposted and are contained in a bright yellow box as shown in the accompanying image.

#StHelena #Defibrillator #AED

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