The Caribbean is getting greener — but there’s still a long way to go. So we thought we’d help mark Earth Day by asking a group of Caribbean experts and newsmakers about their ideas for how to make the Caribbean a greener place — and protect what makes the Caribbean the world’s most beautiful place.

“We should remember that the true wealth of our islands lies not only in our air, our soil, our beaches, our oceans, our trees, and our wildlife biodiversity, but also in our most valuable resource – our people. Equally important, it is incumbent on each of us to steward these resources wisely so that we may conserve and enhance our inheritance for future generations. Making sure that we all understand how delicate and precious are our natural assets must be a very high priority. Education is key, and leaders must teach by example. We can contribute to this mandate by encouraging residents and visitors alike to engage responsibly with delicate ecosystems, to enjoy the riches of a national park or marine protected area, or to work collectively to beautify local communities. We are all in this together.”

– Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Commissioner of Tourism, United States Virgin Islands