Episode 41: Rooted Solutions: Vetiver Grass and Climate Action

In this episode, we sit down with Kevan Kalapnath Maharaj, Managing Director of IAMovement, an environmental NGO based in Trinidad and Tobago, to explore how vetiver grass is emerging as a practical, locally relevant nature based solution for building climate resilience. Together, we unpack what makes vetiver so effective for stabilising soil, reducing erosion, and supporting green infrastructure, and why projects like these deliver stronger, longer lasting results when communities are meaningfully engaged from the start.

Kevan shares how IAMovement, founded in 2014, works through education, empowerment, and public awareness activities that connect social, environmental, and economic issues across Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Drawing on his background in Chemical and Process Engineering (UWI St Augustine) and certification in Project and Facilities Management, he also reflects on co leading the Caribbean Green Infrastructure Conference in 2022 and 2025, a platform that brought together regional and international stakeholders to advance green infrastructure, nature based solutions, and innovative climate finance mechanisms for Small Island Developing States. This conversation is a grounded reminder that real impact sits at the intersection of strong science, practical tools, and community trust.

To learn more visit https://iamovement.org/

https://www.instagram.com/IAMovement/#