Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
In memory of Theodore “Lester” Jn Baptiste
◎Born 17th November 1955◎Employee of the Forestry Department from 1976.
◎Retired 1990
◎Re -contracted on Parrot Project in 1994 and 2007-2008.
◎Re-contracted on Alien Invasive Iguana project, March 2009.
Lester was killed in a landslide at 4 a.m. on Sunday the 31st of October 2010, as he slept at his home in Fond St Jacques, near Soufrière. His body was recovered and identified on the 9th of November 2010. Sadly, his son Gabriel Joseph and child mother Theresa Joseph also perished during hurricane Tomas.
He is described as a hard working gentleman who loved working in the field and was quite an expert at maneuvering through the mountainous rainforest. He had great love and knowledge of the forest. He was also noticeably a good cook and everyone enjoyed his meals.
He will be greatly missed and many have shared tears at his passing. May he always be remembered for the industrious person that he was and his valuable contribution to the Forestry Department and his country as a whole. Let’s continue to pray for his family.
His funeral will be held November 17th 2010 @ 3:00pm at the Soufriere Catholic Church.
The many faces of Theodore “Lester” Jn Baptiste, doing what he loved best.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
St.Lucian National Bird
Do you know this bird??
The answer is ........
"St.Lucia Parrot"!!
It is called "Amazona versicolor" or "Jacquot" as well.
This beautiful bird is mainly green in color, with a cobalt blue forehead,merging through turquoise and green on the cheeks with a scarlet breast.
It's amazing!!
There are two St.Lucia Parrots at the Union Mini Zoo.
A male Jerry and female Lucy.
They love to eat fruits, nuts, berries, buds, seeds and so on.
You can see them at the Union Mini Zoo in St.Lucia.
The St.Lucia Parrot can also be seen in the forest canopies and the mountainous interiors of Quillesse, Edmund, Millet, Barre de L'isle and Piton Flor forest.
The answer is ........
"St.Lucia Parrot"!!
It is called "Amazona versicolor" or "Jacquot" as well.
This beautiful bird is mainly green in color, with a cobalt blue forehead,merging through turquoise and green on the cheeks with a scarlet breast.
It's amazing!!
There are two St.Lucia Parrots at the Union Mini Zoo.
A male Jerry and female Lucy.
They love to eat fruits, nuts, berries, buds, seeds and so on.
You can see them at the Union Mini Zoo in St.Lucia.
The St.Lucia Parrot can also be seen in the forest canopies and the mountainous interiors of Quillesse, Edmund, Millet, Barre de L'isle and Piton Flor forest.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Have You Ever Been Escorted to the Airport by a Lizard?
Press the picture to read article!
Article from: http://www.rareconservation.org/blog/2008/10/23/have-you-ever-been-escorted-to-the-airport-by-a-lizard/
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Biodiversity Expo 2010
Students loved animals and enjoyed the introductionThe Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry & Fisheries
Biodiversity Expo
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010
"Biodiversity is life, Biodiversity is our life"
"Biodiversity for Development and Poverty Alleviation"
Forestry Department Environmental Education
Interview of forestry personnel
Volunteer from Japan helped raise money
Teacher providing information on seeds
Volunteer from Taiwan giving introduction on the local plant
People liked to take pictures with Iyanola the St. Lucia Iguana
Volunteers from Japan and Taiwan selling popcorn to raise funds
Photos from: Te-Hsin Tsai 蔡德馨
Post by: Te-Hsin Tsai 蔡德馨
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Outdoor training for tour guide.
On 23rd of September we had an outdoor training for foresrty tour guides. We went to Rain Forest Aerial Trame for a great, fun and educational forest adventure.
Post by: Te-Hsin Tsai 蔡德馨
Government calls for national cooperation in combating desertification and drought in St. Lucia
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Castries, St. Lucia (Sept 30, 2009) – The Banana Industry Trust and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) are this week calling for national support for the adoption of the National Action Plan and Strategic Action Plan (NAP/SAP) to Combat Desertification and Drought for St. Lucia.
St. Lucia's Chief Forestry Officer Michael Andrew. * Photo credit: www.iisd.ca
Since signing the 1997 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), St. Lucia still continues to be faced with challenges with land degradation and drought-like conditions, particularly in watersheds with high agricultural activity.
Chief Forestry Officer, Mr. Michael Andrew stated that the persistent problem of soil loss and land degradation in key watersheds and coastal areas highlighted the need for sustainable land management practices in the agricultural and construction industries. “It is estimated that soil loss is as much as 25 to 63 tons per hectare per year for some of the larger watershed and approximately 300,000 tons annually due to banana cultivation alone,” Andrew said. “For every ton of bananas produced, some 2 to 3 tons of soil is lost. Almost half of this erosion is due to cultivation on steep slopes which has increased sedimentation of waterways and the dwindling of the islands water resources,” he said.
In order to stem the continued loss of land productivity and reverse the declining trend in the availability and quality of the island’s water resources, the NAP/SAP for Land Degradation and Drought was undertaken.
The NAP/SAP will serve as one of the fundamental components of the National Land Policy (NLP) by promoting and enforcing the adoption of sustainable land management in St. Lucia. The NAP/SAP will establish a system for monitoring and evaluation of land degradation and drought using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications and Geographic Position System (GPS) as assessment tools. A user-friendly manual has also been developed identifying sustainable land management approaches and practices.
For more effective participation in and adoption of sustainable land management, Andrew emphasizes the need for partnerships between the public and private sector, and non-governmental organizations. “Land degradation is largely due to limited knowledge or poor attitudes towards the management and utilization of land resources. As such, sustainable land management calls for public and private sector organizations, Government, communities, corporate citizens and individuals, to take actions to manage land resources sustainably and correct negative impacts that may have been brought about by their actions,” Andrew states.
Managing the EU SFA2003 program which financed the NAP/SAP, BIT’s Executive Officer Mr. Bertram Clarke states that countries with a history of poor land use practices are extremely vulnerable to drought like conditions. “One hundred and fifty years of low technology agriculture like slash and burn, down slope tilling, absence of contouring and excessive land clearing has left indelible scars on the landscape, and has negatively influenced the lives of thousands of inhabitants,” he said.
“Exposed land is the most vulnerable to drought. Forest land and protected water source stand a better change at weathering drought conditions. We cannot prevent drought but we can mitigate the effects of drought.”
The NAP/SAP was developed by a team of four consultants under the aegis of Agricultural Consultancy and Technical Services Limited (AGRICO). It is currently being reviewed by the Minster for Agriculture upon which it will be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval and adoption.
For further information, please contact Mr. Michael Andrew or Mr. Lyndon John, Forestry Division at 468-5635.
Photo: St. Lucia's Chief Forestry Officer Michael Andrew.
News from: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/author/admin/page/31/
Photo credit: www.iisd.ca
Monday, September 27, 2010
BIRD WATCHING
Bird watching tours can be arranged with the Forest and Lands Department. Visitors can observe some of St. Lucia's rare indigenous species, The colourful St. Lucia Oriole, White breasted Thrasher, Lesser Antillian Peewee, St. Lucia Wren and many other tropical endemic birds. The following areas are recommended for your Bird watching excursion
Piton Flore Reserve
North
Grand Anse
North
Edmund Forest reserve
West
Millet Bird Sanctuary
West
Bois d'Orange Swamp
North
Eau Piquant Pond
South
Boriel's Pond
South
Piton Flore Reserve
North
Grand Anse
North
Edmund Forest reserve
West
Millet Bird Sanctuary
West
Bois d'Orange Swamp
North
Eau Piquant Pond
South
Boriel's Pond
South
MILLET BIRD SANCTUARY TRAIL
Located inthe heartland of St. Lucia, the Millet Bird Sanctuary Trail is a haven for birdlife. Over 30 species of birds can be found there, including five endemic species: The St. Lucia Black Finch, St. Lucia Parrot, St. Lucia Warbler, St. Lucia Oriole and St. Lucia Pewee.
It takes approximately one hour to complete the 1.75 miles walk which is moderate to strenuous, and perched at about 1000 feet above sea level. The trail provides a breathtaking view of the John Compton Dam, which is the largest in the Eastern Caribbean, at 2 kilometere long with an output capacity of 6.3 million gallons of water daily.
Come and experience nature, relax and take away memories that will remain with you for a lifetime.
It takes approximately one hour to complete the 1.75 miles walk which is moderate to strenuous, and perched at about 1000 feet above sea level. The trail provides a breathtaking view of the John Compton Dam, which is the largest in the Eastern Caribbean, at 2 kilometere long with an output capacity of 6.3 million gallons of water daily.
Come and experience nature, relax and take away memories that will remain with you for a lifetime.
FORESTIERRE RAINFOREST TRAIL
The Forestierre Trail is only (30) thirty minutes away from the City of Castries, and is situated in the community of Forestierre. The trail is part of an Old French Road, which traverses through mature pristine rainforest. Perhaps some of the most distinctive features on this trail are the abundance of large spectacular figtrees, ephytes, and ferns. This (5) kilometer long trail begins as a gentle downward slope through natural, dense foliage meandering among l'encens trees (protuim attenatum) that produces a white sap with a highly astringent smell. Also common is the majestic chataignier tree, which is supported by a system of elegant buttresses spreading around its base like the gentle folds of a regal gown. The walk back to the main road allows time for peaceful reflection and simple enjoyment of nature's green botanical wonder.
BARRE DE L'ISLE TRAIL
The Barre de L'isle Forest Reserve gets its name from the fact that it is a ridge that divides the Eastern and Western halves of St. Lucia. It takes approximately on hour to walk this one mile trail and another hour to climb Mt. La Combe ridge.
The Barre de L'isle trail provides panoramic views of certain parts of the island from four lookout points along the trail. Observe the mystic view of the ragged Mount Gimie and the blue green mountain rainforest from a distance. One can see Cul-de-Sac valley and the Caribbean Sea from a vantage point, and a commanding view of the community of Aux Leon, viewing the expansive Mabouya Valley and Fond d'Or beach on the Atlantic coast.
The Barre de L'isle trail provides panoramic views of certain parts of the island from four lookout points along the trail. Observe the mystic view of the ragged Mount Gimie and the blue green mountain rainforest from a distance. One can see Cul-de-Sac valley and the Caribbean Sea from a vantage point, and a commanding view of the community of Aux Leon, viewing the expansive Mabouya Valley and Fond d'Or beach on the Atlantic coast.
DES CARTIES RAINFOREST
The experience of a botanical paradise. Get off at Mahaut to explore St. Lucia's most hidden lush rainforest. Explore the possibility of seeing the rare St. Lucia Parrot (JACQUOT). Trek through the ultimate rainforest and view the wonderful verdant forest, discover many of St. Lucia's endemic wildlife as you walk this two kilometers trail. It takes one and a half hours from Castries to get to this reserve. This is a full day tour.
EDMUND FOREST RESERVE
In just over three and a half hours a guide from the Forest and Lands Department would have taken you through the heart of the island into the forest reserve on the Western side of the island, to experience some of nature pristine opportunities.
As one treks along, one can see numerous plants such as bromeliads, orchids, mushrooms, lianes and others can be seen attached to their host, sitting on large buttress roots or branches, on the spondy forest or even cascading the sides of the trail. At intervals you are able to take long distance views of the Caribbean Sea. Emerging from the dark shade of the forest as you continue your walk westward of the island in the open, a magnificent view of Mt. Gimie, St. Lucia's highest peak, fills the eyes along the scenic natural beauty extending northwards.
As one treks along, one can see numerous plants such as bromeliads, orchids, mushrooms, lianes and others can be seen attached to their host, sitting on large buttress roots or branches, on the spondy forest or even cascading the sides of the trail. At intervals you are able to take long distance views of the Caribbean Sea. Emerging from the dark shade of the forest as you continue your walk westward of the island in the open, a magnificent view of Mt. Gimie, St. Lucia's highest peak, fills the eyes along the scenic natural beauty extending northwards.
THE ENBAS SAUT FALLS TRAIL
This trail is within the Central Rainforest Reserve; six miles East of Soufriere at the foot of the highest mountain peak (Mount Gimie) in St. Lucia.
The Enbas Saut Falls Trail is 4km long. Remote, wild and unbelievably scenic, with a combination of Rainforest, Cloud forest, Elfin woodlands and wildlife. Perhaps an opportunity to capture the elusive St. Lucian Parrot (Amazona versicolor), The St. Lucia Oriole, St. Lucia Black Finch, Blue Hooded Euphonia, and the Mountain Whistler.
The hilly terrain of Piton Canarie, Piton Troumasse and Mount Gimie stands predominant not too far from the trail. Enbas saut when translated to English means "below the falls." Thus the trail is most famous for its two cascading waterfalls and pools at the head of the Troumasse river. It is rated Moderate to Strenuous.
The Enbas Saut Falls Trail is 4km long. Remote, wild and unbelievably scenic, with a combination of Rainforest, Cloud forest, Elfin woodlands and wildlife. Perhaps an opportunity to capture the elusive St. Lucian Parrot (Amazona versicolor), The St. Lucia Oriole, St. Lucia Black Finch, Blue Hooded Euphonia, and the Mountain Whistler.
The hilly terrain of Piton Canarie, Piton Troumasse and Mount Gimie stands predominant not too far from the trail. Enbas saut when translated to English means "below the falls." Thus the trail is most famous for its two cascading waterfalls and pools at the head of the Troumasse river. It is rated Moderate to Strenuous.
UNION NATURE TRAIL, MEDICINAL HERB GARDEN, WILDLIFE COLLECTION AND INTERPRETIVE CENTRE
Come spend some time with nature on a looped trail which takes you through a secondary dry forest in just about an hour. Many dominant tree species which thrive here, are still utilized. Pretty birds can be spotted along the trail such as humming birds, finches, warblers etc.
Discover the unbelievable magic and wonders of important herbs in the medicinal herb garden. Bush medicines are becoming an increasing form of alternative therapy. It is quite possible that you may find out about your long-looked for remedy here. To complement your trail experience, satisfy your curiosity with close-ups of some indigenous and a few exotic wildlife of our small collection of animals. (Popularly known as the Union Mini zoo).
An Interpretive Centre provides you with information on endangered species, vegetation zones and the forest. It takes ten-fifteen minutes drive form most hotels in the north to get to this trail. This is a half day tour.
Discover the unbelievable magic and wonders of important herbs in the medicinal herb garden. Bush medicines are becoming an increasing form of alternative therapy. It is quite possible that you may find out about your long-looked for remedy here. To complement your trail experience, satisfy your curiosity with close-ups of some indigenous and a few exotic wildlife of our small collection of animals. (Popularly known as the Union Mini zoo).
An Interpretive Centre provides you with information on endangered species, vegetation zones and the forest. It takes ten-fifteen minutes drive form most hotels in the north to get to this trail. This is a half day tour.
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