Caribbean Nations Protect Wetlands, Beaches, Other Natural Sites
FrontLines - April 2009
By Sophia Cave
When you think of the Eastern Caribbean, you picture pristine beaches, blue water and beautiful birds. But this fragile splendor could vanish unless governments, aid groups, and experts unite to protect the environment.
In 2007, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) secretariat secured funding from USAID for a project to conserve biodiversity in their countries by improving legislation, management,
and conservation.
Seven sites were identified for support, including forests, watersheds, lagoons, wetlands, trails, and peaks across several islands.
The Wallings Forest and Watershed Area in Antigua hosts 31 species of birds and attracts 10,000 tourists a year. Plans for the site include an assessment of the forest and an interpretation center for eco-tourists and locals.
The Codrington Lagoon is the largest wetland in the State of Antigua and Barbuda and the nesting site for the second largest
colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds in the Western hemisphere. It contains environmentally
sensitive areas. Proposed activities include a biodiversity inventory and sewage
needs assessment for the Codrington Village, an interpretation
building, and a sewage treatment demonstration
system. 
The hawksbill turtle is a species indigenous to USAID-funded conservation project areas in the Eastern Caribbean..
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The Levera Mangrove Wetland in Grenada supports a number of bird and aquatic species. It is part of the 450-acre Levera National Park and includes reefs and beaches. Proposed activities include a biodiversity inventory and management
plan along with a boardwalk and bird watching tower. These activities will be submitted to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands secretariat
for recognition as a protected
wetland of international importance.
The Sandy Island/Oyster Bed Marine Protected Area comprises 1,944 acres on the southwest coast of Carriacou. It contains an extensive reef system, seagrass beds, and mangroves, which are critical habitat for mangrove oysters
and serve as nursery grounds for several reef species. Protected under the Grenada Fisheries Act, proposed activities include a biodiversity
inventory.
The Nevis Peak of St. Kitts and Nevis ascends from the shoreline to 3,232 feet. The area includes watershed and nesting grounds for a number of birds and other species including the endangered hawksbill turtle and juvenile Caribbean spiny lobsters. It’s also a foraging area for the Caribbean queen conch. Proposed activities include a biodiversity
inventory and development
of a management plan.
The Millet Nature Trail in Saint Lucia is contiguous with the Central Forest Reserve and forms part of the water catchment area for the largest dam in the eastern Caribbean. The area is home to a number of the island’s endemic birds. Plans under the project include a biodiversity inventory, development of a management
plan, and reconstruction of an interpretation site.
The King’s Hill Forest Reserve of Saint Vincent occupies 52 acres on Sugarloaf Hill reaching an elevation
of 600 feet. It protects one of the oldest coastal forests in the Caribbean. The reserve is home to a number of the island’s endemic vegetative species, reptiles, and micro-faunal species such as spiders
and scorpions. Proposed activities for this site include conducting
a biodiversity inventory, a management plan, and a communications
strategy.
These USAID-financed projects
will improve the capacity of member states to increase public awareness of biodiversity conservation.
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