St Lucia / Special Interests / Conservation

With such dramatically beautiful and varied terrain, St Lucia has plenty to protect both on land and offshore in the constant battle between development and conservation. The island has a number of groups that involve themselves with the protection of species, habitats and historic sites. The St Lucia National Trust was formed in 1975 and oversees the preservation of buildings, objects of historical and cultural interest and animal and plant life. They offer a range of eco-tours. The Forestry Department oversee conservation of forests and mangroves and they also offer guided walks. In 2004 the island’s famous Pitons were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some of the conservation projects overseen by the National Trust include:

The Frégate Island Nature Reserve and the Atlantic Coast Trail, see Hiking, the Maria Islands Nature Reserve, see Nature, Morne Fortune Historic Area and Pigeon Island National Landmark and Marigot Bay, see Places to Go/Activities. They also control Anse la Liberté, a valley with a campground and Anse Galet.

They run tours to Pigeon Island, Morne Fortuné and Maria Islands

The Forestry Department, t 250 2331, is responsible for managing forest and wildlife resources, the Forestry Department also offer guided hikes through the rainforest.

The endangered St Lucia parrot, or Jacquot, the national bird of St Lucia, has seen considerable efforts to protect it. At one stage there were thought to be fewer than 100 birds but now it is doing well and the parrots are extending to a greater range.

Turtles

The best independent conservation project is the turtle protection programme at Grand Anse on the east coast, to which turtles come to nest between March and September. It is a community project in which the villagers have become part of the protection of the site and benefit from the visitors in return. You will need to drive to the village of Desbarra along quite rough roads (better if you have a jeep). Call t 284 2812 to discuss price and arrangements. Otherwise you can book through Heritage Tours, t 458 1454, who offer an overnight camp where you can turtle watch and participate in the conservation process.

The Pitons

The Pitons Management Area was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2004 for the two mountains and their extreme beauty. The twin pyramid peaks sit in 2909 hectares on the west coast of the island, and they have habitats that vary from dry littoral forest on the coast, through subtropical moist and wet forest to wet elfin woodland at the summits of the peaks (2619ft and 2461ft). Around 150 species of plant exist on the Gros Piton and 100 on the Petit Piton. There are also 27 species of birds, three rodents and three bats and an opossum. Offshore some 60% of the area is reckoned to be covered with coral reef. There are over 160 types of fish and around 60 other species including corals, sponges, molluscs and worms. Hawksbill turtles, whale sharks and pilot whales also pass through the area.

Soufriere Marine Management Association (SMMA) - There is a marine management area around Soufrière, covering the eleven kilometres of shoreline between Anse L’Ivrogne just south of the (southerly) Gros Piton and Anse Jambon to the north of Anse Chastanet. It has a number of zones which allow for mooring, scuba diving and preservation areas that enable the regeneration of the fish stocks.

Non-profit organisations and Government links:

St Lucia National Trust, PO Box 595 Castries, t 452 5005 | f 453 2791 | natrust@candw.lc | www.slunatrust.org

Soufriere Marine Management Association Inc (SMMA), 3 Bay Street, PO Box 305, Soufriere, t 459 5500 | f 459 7799 | smma@candw.lc | www.smma.org.lc