Antigua and Barbuda / Special Interests / Conservation

The island’s natural life, both on and offshore, has been adversely affected over the years and is in considerable need of restoration and care. A couple of areas have been officially designated national parks, but they have not really been effective. Up until now efforts towards preservation and conservation have been down to a few individuals and small groups of conscious islanders and expatriates.

Officially the Dockyard is contained within a National Park that runs along the whole southern coastline (both offshore and onshore) from Cades Reef in the west, through Carlisle Bay, Rendezvous Bay, Falmouth Harbour and round the corner to Marmora Bay. Activity is supposed to be restricted, but even the boundaries are currently under dispute.

There are a couple of other designated areas around Antigua and Barbuda, at Diamond Reef off Dickenson Bay and Palaster Reef off Barbuda. Also in Barbuda is the Frigatebird Sanctuary. While it is not actually a national park, it is actually quite well protected because the numbers of visitors is relatively low and the fishermen who take the tours keep an eye on it.  See Antigua Birdwatching. There is legislation to protect the Wallings Forest area in the South of Antigua, but little happens in support of it. Conversely though, the Victoria Park Botanical Gardens in St John’s are actually undergoing restoration.

With the groundswell of change there is beginning to be pressure from community and environmental groups for the preservation of other parts of the island, including the North Sound (off the north-east), a lovely area of small islands set in shallow sea. One of the islands is already home to the Antiguan Racer Conservation Project (a project to protect an indigenous snake). There is a project afoot in the Half Moon bay area and a number of community-based sustainability projects are in the earliest stages. They are definitely needed. There has recently been serious erosion to some of Antigua’s beaches, including the Dickenson Bay area, Antigua’s most developed beach, and farther down the west coast. There is even a project for a wind farm, which might be able to generate a quarter of the island’s electricity needs

A key player in Antigua conservation is the Environmental Awareness Group, which is housed in the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. Their main brief is to bring the importance of the preservation of the natural resources of Antigua and Barbuda to the attention of visitors and islanders (so they hold awareness days), but they are particularly involved in the Antiguan Racer Conservation Project on Great Bird Island.

The Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), occasionally arranges field trips. These can include hikes, usually on 3rd weekend of the month (either a Saturday or a Sunday).

Non-profit organisations and Government links:

Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), Museum of Anrtigua and Barbuda, Long Street, St John’s, t 462 6236 | eag@candw.ag | www.eagantigua.org

Antigua Racer Conservation Project, c/o EAG | www.antiguanracer.org

National Parks Authority, Nelson's Dockyard National Parks, PO Box 1283, St John's, t 481 5028 | natpark@candw.ag | www.nationalparksantigua.com