St. Lucia Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit

Do You Know Your Native Plants?

2012-03-06T12:10:00.002-04:00

By: Forestry Department/ Roger Graveson

Photos: © Roger Graveson

In the past we have shared information on endemic birds and reptiles. In this issue we would like to introduce you to some of our endemic / native plants.

What is an endemic plant? It is a plant that occurs naturally in one place and nowhere else. An endemic species may restrict to a specific area such as an island or continent.

Vegetation is one of the earth’s most vital natural resources. Only indigenous /endemic vegetation can support local animals, birds and insect populations. Over thousands of years they have developed and adapted together and are reliant on each other for pollination, habitat etc.

As well as maintaining biodiversity vegetation cleans the air, filters water, and stabilizes the soil. This is why it is imperative that our slash and burn agricultural practices and deforestation must cease if we are to maintain a healthy, vibrant environment ensuring a better quality of life.

Local name: Bwa senn

Botanical name: Miconia Luciana

This is a small tree or shrub of lower montane forest and forest edge, and roadsides close to the forest which is very common.

Local name: Bwa mang, Palitivyé wouj

Botanical name: Chrysochlamys caribaea

Bwa mang is a quite common tree of lower montane, montane and cloud montane rainforest. It is also common in steep ravines and its sap is almost white.

Botanical name: Acalypha elizabethiae

This is a rare shrub of semi-open and shady Caribbean moist forest, semi-open river valleys at lower elevations and, rarely, on exposed slopes in montane tropical rainforest.

Botanical name: Bernardia laurentii

This was discovered by a St Lucian, Laurent Jn Pierre. It is a shrub of open, rocky, dry summit of Petit Piton. It is quite common but in a very small area.

More information about Endemic plants!

LOVE LOBSTER ~ RESPECT THE RULES OF THE CLOSE SEASON

2012-03-06T11:49:00.001-04:00

By: Sarita Williams-Peter, Fisheries Biologist, Department of Fisheries

Valentine’s Day is a day of romance as many loved ones are showered with gifts and a special dinner too. The culinary inclined may whip up an intimate meal; others may just go out to eat. Yet, whatever decided lobsters are usually a part of a luxurious Valentine’s Day meal like “surf and turf”.

The “surf” part of the meal is often the Caribbean spiny lobster, scientific name Panulirus argus. Spiny lobsters lack the distinct big claws of the Maine lobster - the most common lobsters in the U.S.A., but the succulent tail meat of the spiny lobster is sort after by many tourist and locals alike – making the spiny lobster a highly demanded delicacy in St. Lucia.

It’s this high demand coupled with illegal fishing practises that is threatening the population of the Caribbean spiny lobster and its future supply. One of the strategies adopted to protect the future supply is to limit the time of the year lobster can be caught or used; this is called a close season. The annual close season for lobsters in St. Lucia is from March 1 to August 1. When the season is closed it is illegal to fish for, sell or purchase spiny lobsters.

More than 90-95% of spiny lobsters will die during the transition from baby to adult life. Death is also very high during their teenage life, so that very few actually make it to be adults. Fishing targets the few survivors that become adults. To ensure that the population of lobsters continue to grow we must leave some adults in the sea to reproduce. The close season prevents all the adult lobsters from being removed from the sea and it also coincides with the time of year that reproduction of the Caribbean spiny lobster is at its highest.

So during the month of February enjoy lobster because from March 1 to August 1 the fishery will be closed to give the lobsters time to "enjoy” each other – making more lobsters for years to come.

Contact the Department of Fisheries at Tel. +1758-468-4143 for more information.

World Wetlands Day 2012: Are Wetlands in Peril?!

2012-03-06T11:44:00.001-04:00

By: Nicole La Force

Every 2nd of February commemorates “World Wetlands Day” and this year’s theme is: “Wetland Tourism: A great experience”. The fact that tourism is our main foreign exchange earner contributing 30% to our GDP, the potential of wetlands as a great tourism product cannot be overlooked. Responsible tourism supports wetlands and people.

Wetlands which includes; marshes, swamps, peatlands, mangroves etc. are critical habitats to a wide variety of biodiversity including waterbirds. It is important to note that wetlands also provide a host of ecosystem services that directly benefit people and local communities. For example wetlands are great recreational sites for fishing, bird watching, relaxation, research and don’t forget a natural nursery for the breeding and spawning of many fish. Without wetland save havens many species of fish can become extinct and the fishing industry of many countries can be crippled.

In St. Lucia there are two Ramsar sites; the Makoté Mangrove and Savannes Bay in Vieux Fort. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty devoted to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. This treaty was adopted and signed by 18 countries in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. Today with over 160 countries the Convention's member countries cover all geographic regions of the planet.

The convention on wetlands came into force for St. Lucia on June 19^th, 2002 where two (2) Ramsar sites designated as wetlands of International Importance with a surface area of 85 hectares were selected. These include the Makoté Mangrove in Vieux Fort, an area of 60 hectares which is a vital nursery for the local fishery as well as a charcoal production resource. The other is the Savannes Bay area comprising of 25 hectares of mangrove forest, sea grass beds and coral reef. Other beautiful and important wetland areas in St. Lucia include Boriel's Pond and La Tourney wetlands all in Vieux Fort.

The Forestry Department is urging everyone to help safeguard our mangroves and other wetland areas. How? Don’t litter, don’t pollute our rivers and waterways with harmful chemicals which contaminate our wetlands. Don’t cut down and destroy our mangroves for what passes as development.

The potential of our wetlands as a tourism product has not been fully realized. There’s the need for their protection and sustainable management for the betterment, not only of the plant and animal species which inhabits such ecosystems but for the country and especially the people of communities adjacent to these wetland areas.

Together let’s do the right thing and protect our wetlands for by so doing we are safeguarding our own future.

Forest Fires

2012-03-06T11:37:00.000-04:00

Article By Nicole La Force

Fire! Fire! Not Everywhere!

A great truth in this environmental age in which we live is that it is far better to complement natural systems than to manipulate them for single-purpose gain. Through recognition of ecological interrelationships we are better able to manage natural resources for the good of all.

In the forest ecosystem fire can be both an enemy and a friend. How so? Raging forest fires which indiscriminately consume everything in sight causing almost inestimable damage is no friend. We especially have to be careful now that the dry season (cowhem) is here. If it is anything like the drought we experienced in 2010 then we have to be doubly cautious. During this drought burnt hillsides were evident in many places looking quite ghastly.

However, prescribed forest fires can be quite beneficial and are actually necessary to keep the forest healthy and growing. Prescribed fire is defined as the knowledgeable and controlled application of fire to a specific land area to accomplish planned resource management objectives. Fire management in full partnership with other environmental factors, is necessary for quality land management. Prevention, protection and fire prescribe for ecological benefits are required to meet the demands of future environmental demands. Climate change is one of the major components to be factored in when it comes to forest fire management.

Prescribed burning can be used to reduce material in the forest which would serve as fuel and encourage the spread of wild or uncontrolled forest fires. Such burnings also opens up the very dense forest canopy providing heat and allowing sunlight to penetrate the lower forest level to encourage the germination of otherwise suppressed forest species.

The Forestry Department continues to put measures in place to minimize the threats of wildfires to St. Lucia’s forest especially with the dry season on and who knows how dry it will get! An early warning system is being developed as well as continued establishment of fire lines and use of fire resistant vegetation such as fat poke is being utilized.

So dear citizens, when you’re driving or walking, don’t fling your cigarette buts carelessly out the window. Better yet quit smoking it’s bad for your health anyway. Don’t throw glass bottles in the dry grass which can focus the sun’s rays and catch fire to dry kindling.

Let’s continue working together to protect our forest which enriches our lives more than we know!

Water Shortage: What can we do?

2012-01-31T14:50:00.000-04:00

By: Te-Hsin Tsai (Grace)

Taiwan ICDF Overseas Volunteer

Forestry Department

~Imagine there are, an apple and a liter of water in front of you. Now guess how many liters of water we need to produce this apple…~

I am pretty sure that most St. Lucians have the knowledge that saving water is very important and everyone has the responsibility to conserve water. Every day when you go to some public places, especially in the toilet, you can see many sensational posters or signs saying “Water is Life!”, “Save water, save life”, or “when there is no more water , then there is no more you!” Also, teachers in every school teach students to save water. WASCO tells everyone to save water. TV and radio broadcast this message all the time and so on.

But with St. Lucia being an island surrounded by water; the sea, you may think to yourself don’t you see we have lots of water?! So why do we need to save water if we have plenty of it?

Yes, I know some may also say “it’s sea water. We can’t use it.” And I will respond to you that “yes you are very right!” It is true that we need to save freshwater as we only have less than 1 % of the total amount of earth’s water being freshwater, so saving freshwater is very important!

However, let me tell you another truth. In this less than 1 % of freshwater, the water we use everyday such as the water for washing dishes, cars, taking showers, drinking, cooking etc. accounts for only 8 % of freshwater use. The other 92 %, is used by agriculture and industry. So, yes, you are saving water but just from the 8 % of domestic water consumption, which is also important, but unfortunately it is not enough!

Most of the things we can see now either comes from industry or agriculture, they cost direct and indirect water consumption. For example, we need water in the factory to cool down machines or wash products. And we need water for agriculture to grow crops and rear animals.

Now let’s get back to “how much water is needed for producing an apple?” The answer is 70 liters of freshwater (Water Footprint Network, 2012). From irrigating, harvesting, processing such as washing, delivering to shops and then your home, it takes 70 liters of water! Can you believe that! Do you think you can save 70 liters of water a day?

How about other things? A cup of coffee takes 140 liters of water. 1 kg of rice takes 3,400 liters of water and 1 kg of beef takes 15,500 liters of water (Water Footprint Network, 2012). These are just foods, how about tables, clothes, cars and other products? They need even more water to be manufactured!

Let me stop scaring you with the numbers. Maybe you already feel bad for having wasted water today. So let us do something instead of feeling guilty. What we can do is actually quite simple – just keep it simple. Think carefully when you eat or buy things. Ask yourself twice “do I really need these things?” before you buy them. Moreover, reuse old things. Eat simple foods instead of highly processed ones which are less healthy. Eat less meat or become a vegetarian; you can save water and also become healthier. In addition, eat seasonal foods because foods which are not planted in the right season need extra energy and water to produce them.

So, let us not only save domestic water but other freshwater by living more simply. And by the way, an additional piece of good news is that this can help you save lots of your money too.

Why Water Resources Management Agency: A necessary and timely response for water resources management in Saint Lucia.

2012-01-31T14:46:00.001-04:00

By Fitzgerald John
Water Resource Management Agency

Many people argue that the world faces an impending water crisis. This debate is fueled by the following facts:

· Approximately 0.4 % of the total water in the world is available for humans.

· More than 2 billion people are affected by water shortages in over 40 countries.

· Over two million tonnes per day of human waste are deposited in water courses.

· Half the population of the developing world are exposed to polluted sources of water that increases the incidence of diseases.

· Increase in water demand due to the expected growth in the world’s population, from 7 billion to 9 billion people over the next 50 years.

· The question of urbanization on the local economies.

In summary, water resources are increasingly under pressure from impacts of population growth, increasing water withdrawals, increasing economic activity, improper land use management practices, high levels of pollution, infrastructural development, and the effects of climate change.

A situation analysis of water in Saint Lucia indicates that the island is facing a water stress which will worsen and reach crisis proportion if a business as usual approach should continue. The analysis also revealed that water resources are managed in a very fragmented manner. There was no single agency responsible for the overall management of water resources in

Saint Lucia

. Management of water resources was shared among 12 government agencies, each operating independently of each other. This implies that the planning, development, conservation and management of such an important resource was not undertaken in an integrated and holistic manner. These shortcomings led to conflicts in use, allocation, and mismanagement of our water resources.

The situation of water management in Saint Lucia was highlighted to the government of the day, who agreed that the current situation was far from ideal and would support the adoption of an integrated approach to water resources management. It was further agreed that there was a need to rationalize the institutional arrangements within the public sector for the effective management of water resources and the adoption and implementation of a water policy. To this end a new Water and Sewage Act (No. 14 of 2005) was enacted to provide, inter alia, the enabling environment and the necessary legislative framework and institutional arrangements for the establishment of a Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA).This piece of legislation was further revisited in 2008 with the necessary amendments enshrined. The new Agency is charged responsible for the management, protection, control, allocation and use of Saint Lucia’s water resources and was under the portfolio of the minister responsible for agriculture, however with new dispensation, the WRMA will now be operating under the Ministry for Sustainable Development, Science, Energy and Technology.

Though the WRMA was established by the promulgation of the Water and Sewage Act No. 14 of 2005, it was formalized and became functional three years later towards the end of 2008. Thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture personnel who did all in their powers to enable the eventual birth of the Agency at a time when the water resources of our country needed to be managed efficiently and sustainably. The sustainable management of the country’s water resources is the primary objective and mandate of the Agency along with its many functions and this could only be achieved through an integrated approach in which all stakeholders are brought on board to participate in the activities and decision making processes of the Water Resources Management Agency. Recently the agency conducted several consultative sessions on its draft strategic action plan with the aim at receiving feedback on the way forward for the agency. To date we are in the process of consolidating these ideas so that the agency can make a formal presentation to the Permanent Secretaries and Ministers for ratification.

Question: Is St. Lucia’s Exotic Pet Trade Industry creating a pathway for Invasive Alien Species (IAS)?

2012-01-31T14:41:00.002-04:00

By: Dr. Ulrike Krauss & Timotheus Jn Baptiste

Have we noticed how big pet trading has become lately? As an emerging world issue our small island nation is not exempt from the potential threats of these exotic pets. The phrase “One man’s pet is frequently another man’s problem” springs to mind. Whilst we watch, this silent problem walks, crawls, flies or swims, into our homes, offices, farms and forests via numerous formal, informal, poorly-regulated or even illegal outlets.

The exotic pet trade will remain a silent problem until people are educated about the dangers, identify the victims, and are aware of the growing size of the problem. Education is a major component of a current drive to improve our understanding of the issues involved in the trading of exotic pets and to create a better relationship with persons within the pet trade industry. Although pets provide many emotional and psychological benefits, gaps in the industry can create many unwanted and severely detrimental situations for everyone.

The physical safety of the public is not only an issue for owners of exotic animals; the spread of disease is a much larger threat. Exotic animals often carry diseases such as herpes B, salmonella, monkey pox and rabies, all of which are easily transmittable to and potentially lethal to humans.

Most people who buy exotic animals have no idea what they're getting into. Even the most well-meaning person can become frustrated after trying to meet the high demands and special needs of a "pet" monkey for 30 years. As wild animals age they become more difficult to handle.

Even smaller pets like; parrots, reptiles (e.g. terrapin turtles) and small mammals, such as hamsters, are often mistakenly thought of as easy "starter pets" for children. The truth is these small exotic animals require very special care and maintenance and veterinary costs can be very high. When people discover that they are unprepared or unable to provide for their exotic pets' costly needs, these animals are often abandoned or die from inadequate care.

Ultimately, our local government and taxpayers bear enormous responsibility and costs when exotic animals are set loose or escape and must be recaptured, or when they are seized due to neglect or because they are endangering the community.

Current international regulations on the pet trade as a pathway for Invasive Alien Species (IAS) have very limited scope. Notwithstanding, national laws and regulations exist and are implemented through the Veterinary Department and the Forestry Department. The Wildlife Act 1980 regulates pet import procedures and restricts the keeping of local wildlife as pets.

As pet keepers, we should not only follow the law, but also use good judgement on what species we can care for throughout their lifespan. Under no circumstances should pets (including fish, live feed and aquarium plants!) be released into the wild. Pet keepers need to ensure their animals do not escape accidentally either.

Pet breeders and vendors have a vested interest in the safe and responsible running of the industry. Their long-term business success depends on taking informed and professional actions. This, in turn, requires regular capacity-building and seeking expert advice, e.g. from the Wildlife Unit of the Forestry Department (Tel. 468 5644).

Presenting a case study for your discussion, what do you think?

Case in Point Red-eared Slider Terrapins Wreak Havoc in Freshwater Ecosystems

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) enjoys great popularity as a pet. Over 52 million individuals have been exported from its North-American origin to foreign markets between 1989 and 1997. Its robustness, which renders it an uncomplicated pet even for children, is a two-edged sword: this terrapin has a remarkable ability to adapt to a range of climates and invade novel habitats. Red-eared sliders are omnivores: they feed on plants and prey on small waterfowl, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates and are strong competitors to native fauna. The basking behaviour of the slider may impact nesting water birds: if nests get pushed into the water, eggs are killed. Red-eared sliders are also known to be carriers of Salmonella bacteria. Given its longevity (up to 40 years) as well as invasive and destructive history, imports of T. scripta elegans into the European Union have been banned.

Alien Invasive Green Iguana; a Threat to Iyanola, St. Lucia’s Iguana

2011-12-21T12:36:00.001-04:00

By: Jeanette Victor

Forestry Department

An iguana is an iguana is an iguana! Some say but that is not the case!

Although the invasive iguana located in the Soufriere area has similarities with our unique St. Lucia iguana found at the North East coast; there are marked differences.

Similarities between St. Lucia Iguana and Alien Invasive Iguana

v Both iguanas are known scientifically as Iguana iguana having the same local name The Green Iguana.

v Their offspring are bright green.

v They feed on the same umbrella vine known as lyenn dous.

v Their defense mechanism is lashing their opponents with their long hard tail.

v They both are tree lovers and are able to conceal themselves in the tress.

v The nesting period is from February to May.

Differences between the St. Lucia Iguana and Alien Invasive Iguana

Characteristics of the St. Lucia Iguana:

v Found along the North East Coast of the island; Louvette and Grand Anse.

v Adults are light green with predominant black stripes.

v Adult males have a piece of black skin hanging from their neck which is called a dewlap that could be inflated to attract females during courtship.

v The female lays 25 eggs in one clutch

v Scales to the back of their head near the jawbone is smaller.

v Their iris is white or cream

Characteristics of the Alien Invasive Iguana

v Occupies the west coast (Soufriere) of the island and was brought to the island by individuals as pets from Canada.

v Adults color remains the same bright green as the young ones.

v Adult males have a bright orange dewlap.

v Females lay more than 50 eggs in one clutch. Larger scales to the back of the jawbone.

Threats to our Native Iguana by the Invasive Alien Iguana?

Oh Yes!

Here are a few of the threats that may arise

v Loss of our unique iguana if it happens to cross- breed with the alien iguana.

v Extinction of our native iguana through competition for habitat and food.

v Future generations may be robbed of the history of our island never knowing our native iguana.

Let’s all play our part and educate one another to help in the eradication of this Alien Invasive Iguana before it’s too late!

Map showing location of Native and Alien Invasive Iguanas

Pigs Gone Wild; A Real Nuisance!!

2011-12-21T12:18:00.001-04:00

By: Alwin Dornelly

Forestry Department

Feral or wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are described world-wide as one of the worst invasive species and are considered to be an enormous liability to natural ecosystems, biodiversity, agricultural production and human health. They compete directly with native fauna, and have even caused the extinction of some of those species.

Their omnivorous diet and their burrowing habits contributes to altering forest processes, reducing the growth of native plants, and consequently paving the way for the introduction of invasive plants. Feral pigs are especially attracted to waterlogged and riparian habitats, and so alter the structure and functioning of important water courses. Feral pigs also cause significant damage to agricultural crops and livestock, directly resulting in the loss of several million dollars in revenue to national economies. Furthermore, they are known to act as vectors and reservoirs for a number of livestock and human diseases, both exotic and indigenous.

In Saint Lucia, the Forestry Department is growing increasingly concerned about the activities of feral pigs in the Government Forest Reserve and adjacent private lands. Several reports from the public and direct observations from department staff have shown that feral pig activities are increasing and causing damage to the natural vegetation and wildlife found within St. Lucia’s rainforest. Feral pig activity, seen near important water courses such as rivers and streams, may be contaminating our water sources. The situation may be worsened by their reported presence on private lands and other areas adjacent to the Forest Reserve, significantly contributing to economic damage to private farms.

How did these pigs get into Saint Lucia’s forest in the first place? Pigs are native to Europe and continental Asia, as far south and east as the Malaysian Peninsular, as well as to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java. It is generally believed that domestic pigs were introduced to the West Indies during the voyages of Christopher Columbus in the 1400s, and that there was a subsequent spread to other islands, which he did not visit. Pigs have been farmed in Saint Lucia ever since colonial times, right up to the present, where they have proliferated, escaped through negligence or otherwise, and in some cases have become pests. Many farmers have perhaps allowed their pigs to forage freely in adjacent areas and were not successful in re-capturing them. Some of those pigs strayed into the forest areas and over several generations have survived there.

The effort required to eradicate (completely remove) feral pigs may be too expensive. What is needed is a sustainable management method, where population size is kept at a minimum threshold minimizing the damage caused by wild pigs. The Forestry Department has been challenged in organizing the known pig hunters on the island into organized community groups and training them in newer methods of entrapment than the traditional method of using dogs and guns. Most hunters do not own a licensed gun. They mostly form hunting expeditions with someone who owns a licensed gun.

Any response by the Forestry Department at solving the problem must take on a strategic and coordinated approach and must involve all stakeholders. Efforts must be sustained over time through adequate funding, adequate monitoring, and actions taken must be evaluated. This will ensure that desired results are achieved.

The task is great but we must continue to forge ahead in order to mitigate the damage caused to our forest ecosystem, waterways and farms by these feral pigs!

ALIEN INVASIONS - Lionfish

2011-12-21T12:11:00.002-04:00

Allena A. Joseph

Department of Fisheries

Colorful tropical fish are fun to watch in an aquarium or a home fish tank. But what happens when exotic fish are released into the wild? Most often these fish survive and start taking over the sea. One such example is the Lionfish- an invasive alien species that may soon threaten our St Lucian waters as it comes down to our seas in ocean currents.

The Lionfish, known scientifically as Pterois volitans, is hard to miss with its red and white stripes and long venomous spines. This fish is native to the tropical Indian and Pacific region from Japan to Australia. Officials and scientists believe that the lionfish was introduced into the Atlantic Ocean in 1992 after escaping from an aquarium in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. Since then the Lionfish have made our Caribbean waters their home and confirmed sightings have been on the rise since 2004.

The Lionfish traveled to the Bahamas over ten years ago, but it was not until 2004 that reports of the sightings were confirmed. The number of Lionfish sighted has increased significantly as the population spreads across the Caribbean region. Lionfish have been observed all over the Bahamian archipelago, including the Turks and Caicos Islands. These alien fish have found their way to as far south as Bonaire where the first confirmed report was on October 26^th 2009. Since then, approximately 60 lionfish sightings have been reported in Bonaire. Also increasing numbers of lionfish have been sighted in neighboring Dominica, St. Kitts Nevis, Antigua and more recently Martinique!

Lionfish are a threat to our already stressed marine ecosystem. They have a BIG appetite and feed on all the fish found on our coral reefs. Lionfish are able to grow and reproduce faster than native species like our snapper or pot fish. There are few fish that can eat the Lionfish; therefore their population keeps growing much faster than that of other fish. Because of this, they can pose a serious threat to native fish, their habitat, coral reefs and overall ecosystem function. They feed on many of our important fish species. They eat young snapper, grunt and grouper species, leaving none behind to reproduce to support the fishery that is important for food here in Saint Lucia.

Lionfish are also harmful to humans with its venomous spines and pose a threat to sea bathers, divers and fishers. The lionfish spines release a venomous sting that is fatal to its prey and can be very painful and dangerous to humans. A lionfish sting is very unpleasant and can make a person quite sick. Its painful sting can cause a wide range of symptoms from bellyache and swelling to chest pain and seizures. If you or someone you know is stung by a lionfish there are steps you can take to reduce the effects of the sting.

Once the Lionfish invades the marine environment they are here to stay. There is no way to completely get rid of them from our waters. However, every Saint Lucian can play a part to help control this invasion by staying informed and following proper guidelines. Together we can protect our fisheries from the harmful effects of the lionfish. Let us all do our part! And be prepared for the invasion.

One could say that it was just a matter of time till the invasive Pacific Lionfish was spotted in St. Lucia's waters. It was spotted at the Honeymoon Reef by a visitor on a dive with Sandals Dive Center at the end of October and an official response on this serious Fisheries matter has been made by the Fisheries Department.

If you spot a lionfish do not touch it. Report ALL Lionfish sightings to the Department of Fisheries at telephone number (758) 468-4140/43 or the Marine Police at (758) 456- 3870 or the Soufriere Marine Management Association at (758) 459- 5500.

Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

2011-12-21T12:06:00.000-04:00

According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB) 2009, “Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health”. Invasive alien species are introduced accidentally or intentionally by human or their activities.

Invasive species negatively impact on a country’s unique biodiversity by reducing species abundance and diversity and are capable of causing extinctions of native plants and animals by competing with native organisms for limited resources, forcing native species to decline in population or disappear from their natural environment. IAS tends to be highly adaptive and can live in a wide range of environments and they are also highly competitive and very successful at reproducing. IAS negatively impact on the resources that humans need for survival such as food, clean water and shelter; these species carry diseases and can directly harm humans and also impact the species humans depend on for livelihood such as farm animals and crops.

The spread of IAS is already creating a complex challenge that threatens the natural biological riches of the earth and the well being of our people. In the Caribbean for example, many of the unique plants and animals are amongst the most endangered in the world mainly because of the size of most of the islands which means that the total population size of these species are naturally small and make them especially vulnerable to any disturbance. While this problem is global, the nature and severity of the impacts on the society, economic life and health are unequally distributed across nations and regions and for this reason decision makers must give awareness raising and education regarding IAS high priority in their action plans.

There are a number of steps that can be taken depending on the invasive situation such as:

Prevention: such as keeping species out or exclusion by quarantine.

Eradication: once the species has reached the island, the next best option is to eradicate; this reduces the pest impact and the cost of managing the pest.

Containment or exclusion means preventing the pest from spreading out of or into a defined area. This can be used to keep important (but invasive) crop species from escaping from farmland, or to keep invasive from spreading into nature reserves or other natural areas.

Site-specific control means keeping the pest’s population below a certain level in defined areas, such as reserves or other natural areas.

Biological control means introducing a natural enemy of the pest, such as a predator or disease of it, to control its population; properly researched bio-control using carefully selected agents that attack only the target species and nothing else can sometimes bring serious pests under control without causing additional problems.

Celebrate the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) 2011-2020

2011-12-21T11:54:00.000-04:00

By: Anita James

Biodiversity Unit

Ministry of Agriculture

Japan

hosted the 10^th Conference of Parties (COP) Meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2010 in October. It called on the COP to recommend to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to declare 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity. This decision was passed at a resolution during the sixty fifth session of the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) in 2010.

Now you may be wondering why there is a need for a decade dedicated to biodiversity after there was a full twelve months in 2010? The answer is simply that it was deemed that the rate of loss of biodiversity would have been reduced by 2010. However, that turned out not to be the case. As a result, there is need to focus concerted effort on conserving biodiversity over a longer period of time. It is hoped that by implementing the strategic plan for biodiversity agreed upon at the COP in 2010, for the period 2011-2020, that that noble goal will be achieved. It is felt that with such a decision taken at such a high political level to observe the decade of biodiversity, that countries would be more encouraged to implement the plan. The resolution asks The Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon to lead the coordination of activities for the decade, on behalf of the UN system, with the support of the secretariat of the CBD and the secretariats of other biodiversity-related conventions and relevant UN funds, programmes and agencies.

The decade will seek to promote the involvement of a variety of national and intergovernmental actors and other stakeholders in the goal of integrating all relevant issues related to biodiversity into broader development planning and economic activities. No longer will biodiversity be expected to be a side issue. This will be done by ensuring that biodiversity concerns will be mainstreamed throughout government and all sectors of society, through communication, education and awareness, appropriate incentive measures and institutional change. Biodiversity will therefore cease to be a marginalized issue for many countries. To achieve this goal, throughout the decade, countries that are party to the CBD will be encouraged to develop, implement and communicate the results of time-bound national strategies for implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including interim milestones and reporting mechanisms on progress achieved. There will be close monitoring of the implementation of the strategic plan. Biodiversity must be taken down from the global and national level to the individual level for the decade to be effective.

In order for you and I to mainstream biodiversity in our lives, we must know what biodiversity means as far as, not just the variety of species that exist but also the variety of ecosystems and services provided for the well being of humankind by these systems. You and I must understand how our actions affect biodiversity locally and how the loss of biodiversity can severely impact our lives. You and I must be aware of the actions that we must take to help conserve biodiversity. You and I must grab hold of opportunities to get familiar with the natural resources that Saint Lucia is blessed with, to help us better appreciate Saint Lucia’s biodiversity.

To help us best meet your needs where the above questions are concerned, we would be grateful if you would send in your comments and questions on this article to the YO magazine. In subsequent editions, we will attempt to answer your questions to help you make you and Saint Lucia proud, to meet the objectives of the decade of biodiversity.

Kits for invasive species

2011-12-06T10:44:00.000-04:00

Dear reader,

Some great resources have been created to help teach children about the problems caused by invasive species in Bugwood Blog. Also if you know about other resources please send them the information so they can share it with everyone.

Union Trail Interpretive Centre is reopen!

2011-12-05T15:30:00.002-04:00

Dear all friends, visitors and students,

We have good news for you! The Union Trail Interpretive Centre is REOPEN.

You are very welcome to visit our Union Trail, Mini Zoo, Medicinal Garden and Interpretive Centre just by a simple visit! In this centre you can learn many things about plant, wildlife, nature environment and others.

So come and visit us any day of the week from 8 to 4 if you wish!

More! More! Migratory Birds

2011-10-25T11:08:00.001-04:00

By Janice Mathurin-Poleon
Photos © Tseng Chiu-wen Hank

In the last century almost a hundred migratory species have been recorded on this island therefore they represent the majority of our avian diversity. They are seen around home gardens, shorelines or water treatment ponds. Many of these birds are either fully protected or partially protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (1980) and by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Common name: Snowy Egret

Scientific name: Egretta thula brewsteri

Snowy Egret can be found in North America. It is common in the breeding season and occurs in the wetlands at Vigie, Cul de Sac and Vieux Fort.

Common name: Blue-winged Teal

Scientific name: Anas discors

They are normally present from October to April, and are seen in the fresh water swamps of Cul de Sac, Grand Anse and Vieux Fort.

Common name: Lesser Yellowlegs

Scientific name: Tringa flavipes

Local name: Pied Jaune

Their best sites are the Aupicon Pond, Savannes Bay and the end of the airport in Vieux fort, Beausejour Sewage Pond, and Bois D’orange wetlands in Castries.

Common name: Semipalmated Plover

Scientific name: Charadrius semipalmatus

Local name: Becasse a collier

They are often seen in flocks on the tidal flats of Vieux Fort, Grand Anse and the Gros Islet area.

Common name: Red-billed Tropicbird

Scientific name: Phaethon aethereus

Local name: Trios woo

They can be seen around sea cliffs at Moule-a-chique and Maria Islands in the south end of the island during the breeding season, November to May.

For Your Information!!

IUCN-International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the best-known worldwide conservation status listing and ranking system and was founded in 1963.

Aim: to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community to try to reduce species extinction.

Conservation Status by risk of extinction.

Extinct

Extinct in the Wild

Critically Endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near Threatened

Least Concern

Meet More of our Visiting Friends - Migratory Birds

2011-10-25T10:55:00.001-04:00

By Janice Mathurin-Poleon
Photos© Tseng Chiu-wen Hank and Jo Ann Mackenzie

As migratory birds make their journey from North America, through the Caribbean to South America they are faced with many threats on this perilous journey. It is estimated that more than 60 percent of some bird species never complete a full roundtrip migration, often due to threats such as:

Inadequate food and subsequent starvation
Collisions with windows, buildings and wind farms along migration routes
Stopover habitat loss from ongoing development or pollution
Predators, including wild animals, feral cats and loose dogs
Poor weather and storms that cause injury or disorientation
Light pollution in cities that disorients birds navigating by stars
Hunting, both legally regulated hunting as well as poaching

Migration is a dangerous but necessary journey for many birds. Fortunately, they are well equipped to survive the task.

Bird migration is a fascinating and inspiring phenomenon. In ancient Greece the bird of Athena represented the renewal of life. A dove, with an olive branch in its beak, returned to Noah's ark to announce the end of the deadly flood. To this day the dove has remained a symbol of peace and hope.

During the era of the Pharaohs in Egypt, the falcon had protective powers and was linked to royalty. For the Native Americans birds had different meanings, but always positive and linked to the concepts of unity, freedom, community, safe return, love and celebration of life. These birds have long affected the culture and thinking of many civilizations.

Common name: Great Egret

Scientific name: Ardea alba egretta

The Great Egret can be seen in wetlands at Vieux Fort and Cul de Sac.

Common name: Greater Yellowlegs

Scientific name: Tringa flavipes

Local name: Pied long

Pied long may be found in Vieux Fort, Cul de Sac and Bois D’orange wetlands.

Common name: Barn Swallow

Scientific name: Hirundo rustica

Local name: Hirondelle Roux

The Barn Swallow can be seen on the island from September to October, and April to May. Habitat along the south coast over open areas such as fields and swamps, or perched on utility wires.

Common name: Blackpoll Warbler

Scientific name: Dendroica striata

Blackpoll Warbler is an uncommon migrant that occurs on the island during the months of October and November. Habitat includes mangroves, scrub forests, open areas with scattered trees and mixed woodlands.

OUR VISITING FRIENDS -MIGRATORY BIRDS-

2011-10-04T15:11:00.001-04:00

Janice Mathurin-Poleon

Hey folks, for the past few weeks we have been sharing information with you the public on our endemic birds such as the St.Lucia Oriole and St.Lucia Pewee as well as the endemic sub-species like Black-bird and Lesser Antillean Bullfinch. This time around we will be educating you on Migratory Birds.

St. Lucia is visited by many birds between July and November on their long journey from as far as North America and travel through the Caribbean to winter in South America. Those birds are referred to as migratory birds. They travel from the different poles in pursuit of food, suitable breeding sites and or to escape bad weather or other environmental conditions.

They are such amazing creatures to journey thousands of miles and not get lost. I wish I had such a great internal compass.

The Caribbean Islands including St. Lucia form important resting places where the birds can feed up before continuing their long journey south. From January to April, those birds return home, although many tend to spend less time in the Caribbean during their journey some of the migratory birds remain in the Caribbean throughout the winter rather than going to South America.

Migratory birds are of great ecological and economic value to our country. They contribute to biological diversity and bring tremendous enjoyment to St. Lucians as well as tourists who study and watch them. They add an interesting and mysterious element to our wildlife since they are only here for part of the year.

Some of the breeding sites for the migrant birds in St. Lucia are Grande Anse Ponds, Esperance mangrove, Bois D’orange swamp, Auberge Seraphine swamp in the north, Praslin mangrove, Fregate Islands on the east and Maria Islands and Point Sable in the south.

Migratory birds should not be considered as a foreign element but as an indigenous part of our wildlife. Birds such as the masked duck (Nomonyx dominica), tricoloured heron (Egretta tricolour ruficollis) and many others visit our shores annually.

We hope you look forward to meeting more of our migratory friends in our successive articles!

Enjoy nature, go bird watching today!!

Rufous-throated Solitaire and Yellow Warbler Chit Chatting!!

2011-10-04T15:09:00.006-04:00

Janice Mathurin-Poleon

Rufous-throated solitaire: Hey! You there yellow bird, what is your name?

Yellow warbler: Why do you want to know my name?

Rufous-throated solitaire: Because I’ve never seen you around here.

Yellow warbler: In that case then, I’m Yellow warbler. I am an endemic subspecies of many Caribbean islands; Bahamas, Cuba, Martinique, Dominica, St. Lucia and others. I am known scientifically as dendroica petechia babad a mouthful I know. Just call me sucrier mang as the locals do. It’s much easier.

Rufous-throated solitaire: Why are you here in the rainforest? Where do you live?

Yellow warbler: I got distracted and found myself here. My home is confined to mangroves such as Makote, Vieux Fort and coastal scrub forests areas like Praslin. I eat mainly insects although sometimes I’ll eat small berries too. I build a neat cup-shaped nest low down in a bush or low tree.

Rufous-throated solitaire: Are you male or female?

Yellow warbler: I am male. I am 11.5-13.5cm (4.5-5.25 in). As you can see I am mostly all yellow, including patches on my outer tail feathers. My upperparts are greenish-yellow though with reddish streaks at my breast and sides. My head is yellow but with this cool, distinct reddish-brown cap.

My wife is similar to me, but she has faintly reddish streaks below with no reddish brown crown. She lays 2-3 spotted, greenish-white eggs mainly between February and June. I have told you so much about me would you mind telling me about yourself?

Rufous-throated solitaire: I am Rufous-throated solitaire, endemic subspecies of St Vincent, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Dominica, Martinique but specifically the myadestes genibarbis sanctaelucia is unique only to St Lucia. Commonly I am known here as siffleur morne.

Yellow warbler: Hey, we’re found on some of the same islands! Is this all?

Rufous-throated solitaire: I grow to a length of 19cm (7.5in). I am mostly grey above, with white chin; reddish brown throat, neck and undertail coverts; light grey breast; yellow feet; and a tail with white outer feathers. I live in the dense mountain forest of Quillesse, Micoud and Edmund Forest Reserve, Soufriere. I build my nest cup-shaped in a crevice, center of a tree fern or bromeliad. My lady love lays two eggs, bluish-white or blue with white spots during the months April to August.

Yellow warbler: I bet you love living in this tranquil environment. It is cool and private.

Rufous-throated solitaire: Yes I do. I feel quite at peace. The mangrove sounds like a good place but as far as I have heard, people do not understand let alone appreciate the value of your habitat. Maybe we should educate these humans on the importance of protecting and conserving the mangroves of our island.

You know they think they know everything and they just keep destroying our environment but what they don’t know is that they are destroying themselves also.

Yellow warbler: It was sure nice meeting you. Hope to see you around some time if I get distracted. Have a pleasant day.

Pere Noir (male) et Maisson (female)

2011-10-04T15:07:00.001-04:00

I often wonder how many of us actually take note of our environment and the different species of animals and plants that are all around us. We often see plants and animals but do not know them by their local name let alone their scientific name. Let’s see how well we observe them by solving the common name of this bird.

The scientific name of this bird is Loxigilla noctis sclateri and is also one of the endemic subspecies of our island. The local name is Pere Noir for male and Maisson for female. Can you guess the Common name?

This bird is seen everywhere, they fly in your homes and business places feeding on food scrapes. The male is black with a reddish-brown patch to the chest area unlike the female that has dark olive-grey upperparts, some brown on the wings and grayish under parts.

It builds a round nest with a side entrance in a bush or low tree. It usually lays two or three spotted eggs during the months of February to August. It feeds mainly on seeds but also thrives on buds and petals of flowers as well as fruits. Pere Noir has a sharp shrill or a sharp tseep-tseep as its call.

Have you guessed what bird I have just described or do you want to solve this simple puzzle to find out the common name?

Solve: The numbers provided corresponds to the letters in the alphabet.

B I R D

Example: 2 – 9 – 18 - 4

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

12 -5-19-19-5-18 1-14-20-9-12-12-5-1-14 2 -21-12-12-6-9-14-3-8

Say Hi to the Lesser Antillean Flycatcher (Myiarchus oberi sanctaeluciae) Pipirite Gros Tête

2011-10-04T15:05:00.003-04:00

By: Nicole La Force (Forestry Department)

For the past weeks we have been writing about our endemic and sub-endemic birds. We hope that it has been an eye opener and that your appreciation for the beautiful birds found here is growing.

Birds serve many wonderful functions which enrich our ecosystems and our lives. Birds are great pollinators as well as seed dispersers ensuring the continuity of our plant species; not only locally but also regionally. Regional ecosystems develop diversity as this process continues. It can be seen as a mutual relationship, as well, because the migratory birds will help to build and maintain an area where they can feed and nest.

Birds also play a role in the predator/prey relationship in forest ecosystems. Though the majority of bird species eat only fruit, some eat insects and larger birds kill live prey to eat. These omnivorous and carnivorous species play an important role in maintaining healthy populations of small mammals and reptiles. In forest ecosystems that lack adequate bird populations, these smaller animals begin to overtake the area, causing disturbance in the food chain and overall ecosystem.

Today we are going to meet the Lesser Antillean Flycatcher or Pipirite Gros Tête as it is locally called. It is a beautiful bird which is a bit elusive. It grows to a length of 19–22cm (7.5–8.5 in) with mostly yellow underparts from the upper belly to the undertail coverts. The tail feathers have reddish inner webs. It has a loud voice with a mournful whistle peeu-wheeet and also a short whistles oo-ee, oo-ee, or e-oo-ee. Its head is relatively larger in proportion to its body hence the name Pipirite Gros Tête.

Locally it is found in the transition forest at medium elevation and in the rainforest in the interior of the Castries Water Works Reserve, Quilesse, Edmund Forest and Millet areas.

The breeding season is from March to July. The nest is made of loose plant fibers, feathers and is built in a tree cavity, where the female lays 3 to 4 creamy buff eggs, heavily spotted and scrawled with purplish-brown and violet-grey.

Flycatchers are agile fliers who catch their prey while flying. They feed extensively on true flies caterpillars, other winged insects and also beetles. These birds are premiere pest insect controllers.

So go out in nature and enjoy the beautiful birds and appreciate their wondrous song!!

Beauty Queens Scaly-breasted Thrasher & Carib Grackle.

2011-10-04T15:03:00.003-04:00

By: Jeannette Victor & Khervelle Pamphile

It’s here once again the most anticipated show of the year; The National Bird Beauty Pageant. Come one come all, this show will be an exciting and extravagant one. Miss it and you miss out on all the excitement!!!!!!

Carib Grackle: My girl, you eh see the poster for the Beauty Pageant yet?

Scaly- breasted Thrasher: What poster? What Beauty Pageant? What you talking about deh girl?

Carib Grackle: The Annual Beauty Pageant that will be held next Saturday. You know, the show most people look forward to every year.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher: Oh! You mean the show that full of excitement and various beauties put their all to capture the crown.

Carib Grackle: Yes pal, “that show”. This year I want to take part so I will need some help to practice my intro, will you be kind enough to do so?

Scaly-breasted Thrasher : Hmmm, you are not the only one who wants that title. I’m entering too. So we work as a team and help each other with our weak areas.

Carib Grackle: What a brilliant idea! If either of us wins we could bask in the ambience of winning and as friends celebrate together.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher: Well let’s not waste any more time. Let’s work on our intro You go first.

Carib Grackle: Good evening distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen of the Animal Kingdom, I am known scientifically as Quiscalus lugubris inflexirostris, locally as Blackbird or Carib Grackle or Merle. I am quite handsome with my jet black feathers and a violet, green or steel-blue gloss. To compliment my appearance I have a yellowish-white iris and a long V shaped tail. My chaperon who is also my companion is smaller and dark- grey overall. I must say that I cherish her for she lays three to four greenish-blue eggs with black scrawls in our home, a bulky structure made of grass, plant fibers and leaves with a deep central cup that sits on a tree. We thrive on insects and could be seen almost everywhere in St. Lucia. Thanks for coming out to support me and will be sure not to disappoint you my fans.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher: Short, sweet and straight to the point. Wonderfully said. Let me see if I could do better . Protocol established I will forge ahead. Though I may be considered a shy individual I will wow you the audience this evening. Margarops fuscus schwartzi is the name those scientists refer to me as but you know me as Scaly-breasted Thrasher and your elders as Grieve. I belong to the Thrasher family which consists of three of us. My under-part is white and heavily scaled with grayish-brown from my Throat to my belly. I have one white wing-bar, yellow-brown eye and a Black bill with white tail tips. I live comfortably in a rough cup-shape nest built in a tree in which my wife lays two or three greenish- blue eggs. I may not have the looks but I sure have the talent to walk away with this Crown tonight. So sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Carib Grackle: Looks like the competition will be tight so I am off to put some finishing touches on my costume and evening wear. Good luck and see you after the pageant.

Scaly-breasted Thrasher: Thanks. Good luck to you too and may the best bird win!

Gabriel “Coco” Charles - St. Lucia’s First Chief Forest Officer

2011-09-05T11:54:00.004-04:00

Nicole La Force

On a week like this in August of 1993 St. Lucia lost one of its conservation pioneers, in the person of Gabriel Charles affectionately called “Coco” Charles. It was the 31st of August, mid morning in 1993 at the Desruisseaux junction when Coco Charles’ vehicle overturned on the side of the road. Cause of death as it was later revealed, was a heart attach. And at 58 a son of the soil who impacted greatly the protection and conservation of our flora and fauna, was gone.

Many young people today may have no idea who Coco Charles was and I as a new forester have come to appreciate the work he has done and have enjoyed the various anecdotes that those who worked with him shared and in some ways I envy them.

He was an inspiring character who in many respects was a ‘community activist’ for the cause of sustainable development, though the term was hardly known or used back then. He preached about the potential negative effects of poor land management practices, a situation that unfortunately characterizes much of our development today. One of his principle concerns was the need to ensure sustainable livelihoods of grassroots people and local communities through education and active participation. As a result he became involved in many community environmental programmes and inspired the formation of many local environmental groups and their leadership.

Coco Charles was instrumental in the passing of many of today’s laws and legislation which now serves to protect our flora and fauna, one of which enabled the protection of and the naming of the Amazona versicolor “Jacquot” as St. Lucia’s national bird in 1980, a year after St. Lucia gained independence. He along with Paul Butler led the national campaign which restored the bird from the brink of extinction.

Regionally Coco Charles was considered an iconic figure that elevated the status of forestry to a more embracing profession of environmental conservation and management.

During his life, Gabriel Coco Charles received the prestigious Fred Packard Award and was named a Member of the British Empire and was nominated to the United Nation’s Global 500 list of people who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of conservation. He received this in 1988 alongside the world famous Jacques Cousteau and upon his death was RARE Center’s Assistant Director for Conservation Education.

For his zeal and passion with regards to environmental protection and sustainability he should always be remembered. He has left a great legacy on which we as foresters, environmentalists and citizens of this fair Helen should build upon and emulate.

Meet the Thrashers

2011-08-23T14:38:00.001-04:00

Jeannette Victor

Khervelle Pamphile

Pearly-eyed, Scaly-breasted and White-Breasted; huh?! Do you know what category of animals they belong to? Maybe not but I am here to share some information with you, so worry not. They are part of the thrasher family which is birds.

The Pearly-Eyed Thrasher is the largest of the thrasher family as well as the most aggressive. Margarops fuscatus klinikowski is how this bird is referred to by scientists but your grandparents may know it as Gros-Grieve.

How can you distinguish this thrasher from the others?

The Pearly-eyed Thrasher grows up to 28-30cm (11-12 in) and has many harsh calls including “Chook Chook”. The upper-parts are light brown while the under-parts are white with brown streaks. The white eye, white patches to the tail and the yellowish bill all contribute to this thrasher’s distinguished appearance.

What are this thrasher’s behavioral pattern, habitat and diet?

Often seen in confrontation with the St.Lucia Parrot since they are both cavity nesters making their homes in the forest. They are omnivores surviving on fruits, berries and lizards.

What are their Reproductive practices?

Their nests are bulky and made up of twigs, dry grasses and roots that are placed in a cavity but rarely in bush or on trees. In there they lay 2 or 3 glossy blue-green eggs mainly during March and July which would hatch within two weeks.

What are the Threats / Status and Protection Polices regarding this Thrasher?

This bird is fortunately not threatened with extinction but is a known predator to many birds of the forests because it sometimes feed on the eggs and nestlings of other birds including that of the St. Lucia Parrot. The Pearly-eyed Thrasher is an endemic sub-species to St.Lucia therefore it’s a protected species.

St. Lucia Wren (Troglodytes aedon mesoleucus)

2011-08-23T14:36:00.000-04:00

By Janice Mathurin-Poleon

The St. Lucia Wren is considered an endemic subspecies of the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). It is the rarest of the remaining Lesser Antillean House Wrens and can be found as a common resident in Dominica, locally in lowlands of Grenada and uncommonly in St. Vincent.

The St. Lucia Wren locally known as rossignol is a small, active brown bird with black bars on its wings and tail, an indistinct pale stripe above the eye with a relatively large head. St. Lucia’s subspecies is slightly paler below than that of St. Vincent and Dominica. Rossignol has a moderately long tail which it sometimes cocks upwards in the manner typical of wrens. It is 11.5-13cm (4.5-5 in) in length and this species has a rich, loud bubbling song like other wrens. There is a distinct variation in the dialect between the St. Lucia race and that of the other islands.

This bird can be found in the northeast coast of St. Lucia and Gros Piton. It feeds mainly on insects but will eat small lizards. The female lays two to six whitish eggs, heavily speckled brownish-red during the breeding season May to August.

The wren is an endangered species which faces many threats especially that of habitat loss. Its population decline is also related to predation by rats and mongooses as well as brood parasitism by the shiny cowbird.

The need for conservation and protection of our endangered species can never be overemphasized.

2011 Forestry Summer Camp in la Porte

2011-07-25T16:02:00.000-04:00

See what fun we had in the Forestry Summer Camp now!!

2011 Summer Camp in la Porte Slideshow: Te-Hsin’s trip from Castries, St. Lucia to Micoud (near Vieux Fort) was created by TripAdvisor. See another Vieux Fort slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.

About the St.Lucia Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufus otiosus)

2011-07-25T13:46:00.000-04:00

Author: Jeannette Victor & Khervelle Pamphile

Jacques-pas-papa-pouw, Jacques-pas-papa-pouw with the last syllable being highlighted is the call of a nocturnal bird that is endemic subspecies to St.Lucia and referred to locally by its call.

St.Lucia Nightjar bears the scientific name of Caprimulgus rufus otiosus and is quite active during the night hence the name Nightjar. A small medium-sized bird attaining the length of 28 cm (11 in) is dark-brown with some reddish-brown edges on its feathers, short rounded wings and a white throat band.

The Nightjar is often heard calling at dusk during the breeding season; May and June. In the breeding season two white eggs with light brown spots is laid in a scrape on the ground which is considered to be its nest.

They occur from the north-east coast; Grande-Anse south to Dennery and also Anse-La-Raye where they feed on insects. The Nightjar is an endangered species due to the fact that they are faced with lots of threats. Those threats include loss of habitat, dogs, cats, mongooses and pigs being predators because they nest on the ground.

We may turn a blind eye when it comes to protecting our species, but did you know that they are protected by other species of the animal kingdom? Yes indeed! The areas where the Nightjar is found has a high concentration of the only poisonous snake in St.Lucia; Fer-de-Lance. This conservation is a blessing that we should appreciate because what is done to nature is done to us all!

The White-Breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus santaeluciae)

2011-07-25T13:41:00.001-04:00

Author: Janice Mathurin-Poleon

For the past weeks you’ve been introduced to five endemics St Lucian birds; St Lucia Oriole, St Lucia Parrot, St Lucia Black Finch, St Lucia Warbler and St Lucia Pewee. By definition endemic species are only found in one country and nowhere else in the world.

In the coming weeks we will be introducing our endemic subspecies. The white-breasted Thrasher is a Lesser Antillean Regional endemic found both in St Lucia and Martinique which comprises their entire global range. This charismatic bird is a perfect example of an endemic subspecies because of their separate island homes and an accepted subdivision of its biological classification or the difference in the third name in Latin; Ramphocinclus brachyurus sanctaeluciae (St Lucia) and Ramphocinclus brachyurus brachyurus (Martinique).

What does this bird look like?

The santaluciae race is 23 – 25 cm in length; with dark brown upperparts, white underparts and long bill. Very interestingly also is that this bird often drops its wings when excited or curious. The immature bird is dark brown, developing a creamy white patch on the breast as it ages.

How many are out there in the wild?

The White-breasted Thrasher is also rare and endangered, restricted to the northeast coast from Praslin to Petite Anse. Present research shows that the majority of thrashers (75%) of the global population are found in the dry forest areas of Praslin with between 1100 – 2400 breeding adults on St Lucia.

Where do they live and what do they eat?

It inhabits dry and semi-dry woodland and scrub with abundant leaf-litter, often in areas with a clear understorey but sometimes in dense bushy areas. In the northern part of its range on St Lucia (Petite Anse-Dennery Knob) it tends to occur along ravines and river-valleys, but in the rest of its range on St Lucia it also occurs on dry hillsides well away from streams. It primarily forages on the ground tossing aside leaf litter in search for invertebrates, small frogs and lizards but have also been seen taking berries.

When can we expect to see baby thrashers?

Breeding occurs with the beginning of the rainy season. The Thrasher builds a deep cup-shaped nest in saplings or shrubs and is placed 0.5 - 3 m from the ground. Usually two eggs are laid from May to August. Those cute young thrashers spend much time on the ground before finding a home of their own and are sometimes very noisy attracting terrestrial predators like rats, mongoose and snakes.

Are there any threats to its survival?

The thrasher faces a real threat of habitat loss to agriculture, charcoal burning and wood cutting, and other development pressure. It is still legally protected but sad to say most of its home range falls on privately own land.

Major conservation measures have to be in place for the survival of the species and these are what have been proposed. Future plans include;

· Protected areas need to be established and effectively protect coastal dry woodland and scrub within the thrasher's range.

· Allow adjacent farmlands to regenerate into scrub woodland, providing additional habitat and allowing populations to expand.

· Enact legislation to protect critical wildlife sites.

· Consult with the hotel developer to preserve and protect suitable areas of thrasher habitat in a private reserve.

About the St.Lucia Pewee and the St.Lucia Warbler

2011-07-25T13:34:00.000-04:00

Author: Jeannette Victor

St.Lucia Warbler: Bonjour Madamme Gobe-Mouche, sa ke fete?

St.Lucia Pewee: Bonjour Madamme Sequia Ba Bad, mwe la cah chaybay.

St.Lucia Warbler: Sa bon! Mwe ousi.

St.Lucia Pewee: You know yesterday while looking for material for my nest, I overheard a little talk between two known gossipers; Carouge and Jacquot.

St.Lucia Warbler: Oh yeah, who were they talking about this time?

St.Lucia Pewee: No one. Would you believe that they were actually getting to know each other.

St.Lucia Warbler: You serious?

St.Lucia Pewee: Yes I am.

St.Lucia Warbler: Hmmmm. That’s strange! Something must be wrong with those two.

St.Lucia Pewee: No it is not. It was then and only then that it dawned on me to do the same, instead of highlighting the bad about our neighbors.

St.Lucia Warbler: Hmmmmm. Come to think of it that is true. Can we start now?

St.Lucia Pewee: Anytime! I will go first. Scientists refer to me as Contopus oberi, and our locals as you know; Gobe-Mouche or Pin Kaka; I am a flycatcher. St.Lucia forest is my world. My upperparts are dark-olive brown and my stomach area is reddish-brown. I make myself comfortable in a cup shape nest made of leaves, lichens and moss which sits on a branch. In there, between the months of May and June I lay two dark cream- colored eggs that have brown spots all over. And last but not least I enjoy a delicious meal of invertebrates and insects.

St.Lucia Warbler: Quite impressive! St.Lucia too is my only home. I go by the scientific name of Dendroica delicate and locally chic-chic or sequia ba bad. Unlike you I have a bright yellow stomach with bluish-grey upperparts. I have a yellow eyebrow stripe and a black crescent below my eye. My nest is a finely woven cup that is usually in a tree where three to four eggs with a few reddish-brown spots are laid from March to June. I love the forest and make insects and spiders my daily meal.

St.Lucia Pewee: Looks like we have similar characteristics.

St.Lucia Warbler: Our forest home is therefore very important to our survival and our beauty and that of our picturesque island home depends on everyone, young and old.

St.Lucia Pewee: Our sweet sounds and unique local tunes must be heard for generations to come.

2011 Photo Competition - Activity Pictures

2011-07-25T12:37:00.002-04:00

Want to know about what had going on of the 2011 My Forest, My Pictures! Photo Competition?
Watch the Slideshow now!

2011 Photo Competition - Activity Pictures Slideshow: Te-Hsin’s trip from Castries, Saint Lucia (near St. Lucia, St. Lucia) to Saint Lucia (near St. Lucia) was created by TripAdvisor. See another St. Lucia slideshow. Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker.

See the winner's pictures!

2011 My forest, My picture! - Photos Slideshow

2011-07-25T10:40:00.004-04:00

2011 My forest, My picture! - Photos of the winners

2011 my Forest, my Picture! Photo Competition - Winners! Slideshow: Forestry’s trip to Saint Lucia (near St. Lucia, St. Lucia) was created by TripAdvisor. See another St. Lucia slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.

2011 My forest, My picture! - Photos of all the participants

2011 my Forest, my Picture! Photo Competition Slideshow: Forestry’s trip from Castries, St. Lucia to Millet (near Anse Cochon) was created by TripAdvisor. See another Anse Cochon slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

Like to know what was about this activity?
Click Activity Photo Slideshow

St.Lucia Black Finch (Melanospiza richardsoni)

2011-06-27T10:19:00.001-04:00

Jeannette Victor

Did you know that apart from being the only home for the St. Lucia Parrot and the St.Lucia Oriole, St.Lucia is also only home to the St. Lucia Black Finch, thus making it another endemic species to our beautiful island? St. Lucia is home to at least five birds that are found nowhere else in the world and they all contribute to our rich biodiversity.

Melanospiza richardsoni locally known as the St.Lucia Black Finch or Moisson Pied-blanc is often mistaken for the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch. Though it is small like the bullfinch if looked upon carefully the difference is quite visible. The male Moisson Pied-blanc is all black with pale pink legs unlike the bullfinch which has a red patch to the throat area. The head of the female Black Finch is grey; however the top of the bullfinch head is brown. When the Black Finch perches they bob their tails in a vertical motion, not twitching left to right.

This bird is seen in pairs and prefers thick understory where they feed on insects and a variety of fruits and berries. They breed between November and June with the female usually laying two white eggs with evenly spaced brownish-red spots. Their nests are constructed loosely with twigs, ferns and leaves with an oval side entrance close to the ground.

The Black Finch faces many threats particularly as a result of loss of habitat which has occurred from the conversion of forested lands to agricultural land and touristic development. Another serious threat is from the alien invasive species, the Asian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus. The Black Finch is also vulnerable to Mongoose predation because they nest close to the ground.

The Black Finch is critically endangered and its survival is dependent on securing the management and restoration of forested areas by the government of Saint Lucia, controlling the introduction and spread of the Asian mongoose, conducting research on habitat restoration and alien predator control and strengthening the local understanding and support for the conservation of the black finch and its habitat.

What part can you play as a St. Lucian to secure the survival of our critically endangered, St Lucia Black Finch?

Conversation between the St. Lucia Oriole and the St. Lucia Parrot

2011-06-27T10:11:00.000-04:00

Jeannette Victor

Do you ever wonder what our animals talk about? Well wonder no more this weekend we listen in on a conversation between the St. Lucia Oriole and St. Lucia Parrot.

Carouge: Hey there Jacqout what’s happening?

Jacquot: Hello there Carouge. I’m doing good. What about you; how are you feeling today?

Carouge: Am blessed to be away from the noisy and hot areas like the urban areas. This

place is ideal; it is fresh and quiet.

Jacquot: I feel the same I just wish humans would share our opinion.

Carouge: You know I was just thinking to myself that we live in the forest and speak to each other everyday but I know nothing about you, not even your christian name!

Jacquot: Hmmmm. You know that is so true and I am now realizing that. We know nothing about each other. Maybe we should spend the day today getting to know each other.

Carouge: That is a good idea instead of gossiping.

Jacquot: Okay but only for the morning, I have something to show you, later.

Carouge: Before my mother died she told me our name was Icterus laudabilis but we were called Carouge. When I was younger I was a bit green with black around my neck. As I got older I got darker and I have those outstanding patches of orange on my wing, belly and under tail with jet black feathers. She also told me that my only home is this island and she made our home in a form of a basket hanging from a tree where she laid three spotted eggs. My beak is quite strong so I can crack open fruits and seeds and make holes in the barks of trees. As you know I make sounds like cacak- cacak and go hunting for food early in the morning and late in the evening.

Jacquot: Thanks for telling me a little more about yourself. I got my name Amazona Versicolor because of the many colors that I have; the dark green wings, blue forehead and face, red breast and maroon belly, my dark blue undertail feathers and the yellow at my tail tip. Would you believe that I was born with no feathers? St. Lucia is my only home too and I am very noisy especially early morning when feeding. I lay three eggs and see my young ones after 28 days of warming them up. I make my nest in a hole in a tree. My beak is as strong as yours so I enjoy a meal of fruits, seeds and nuts.

Carouge: Very well Jacquot. It feels good to know my neighbour better. It makes feel more at ease in my surroundings.

Jacquot: The feeling is mutual. Don’t you think we should be getting to know the other neighbors a regular routine?

Carouge: Yes, yes I do agree. I would love getting to know them.

Jacquot: Next time around. Take care and enjoy the rest of your day!

Carouge: I will. Many thanks. Until next time.

For further information, please contact the Forestry Department at 468-5645/5648 or our blog at forestryeeunit.blogspot.com.

St Lucia Whiptail (Cnemidophorus vanzoi)

2011-06-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

Photo / Te-Hsin Tsai

Article / Nicole La Force

The St Lucia Whiptail (Cnemidophorus vanzoi) affectionately called Zando is a species of lizard that is quite beautiful. It is endemic to Saint Lucia (found nowhere else) and is the only species of Cnemidophorus (whiptails) found in the eastern Caribbean.

The female is a lovely chocolate brown with white spots on the sides and coincidentally the male contains all the colors of the St. Lucia flag. Talk about a flagship specie!

This species of lizards came to the attention of scientist in the 1960’s and its population was estimated to be just about 1000 individuals distributed between Maria Major and Maria Minor, islets south of the island. This made the lizard quite vulnerable to extinction.

Because of this, the Forestry Department along with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has been translocating small Zando populations to some of our offshore islets, Praslin and Rat Island for example.

These offshore islets first had to be cleared of all natural predators to Zando, these being rats, mongoose, manicou and cats. It has been found that the lizards are thriving on Praslin islet and though only 42 lizards were translocated there in 1995, the population is now estimated to be a little over 300.

This is great cause for celebration but we cannot let our guard down yet. Apart from the natural predators mentioned earlier, Zando is very vulnerable to hurricanes, droughts, fires and especially the irresponsible actions of man.

Many persons go to these offshore islets and light fires, litter (things I have seen with my own eyes) and who knows, inadvertently transport rats to these locations. All of this undermines the work that is being done to preserve and protect these beautiful creatures.

For Zando not to be completely vulnerable to extinction populations of no less than 500 individuals need to exist on all our offshore islands and that’s a target that we have not met but are striving towards.

Your help is needed in getting the word out. In many countries, people fight to preserve and protect what is uniquely theirs. We need to learn from them and do the same. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful treasure as Zando, uniquely St. Lucian but so many of us are unaware or just don’t care one way or another.

Our thinking needs to change as a people. We need to appreciate and preserve our heritage, what is uniquely ours that improves our quality of life and that of the future generation.

The St. Lucia Viper or Sepan

2011-06-01T16:22:00.000-04:00

Photo / Te-Hsin Tsai

Article / Nicole La Force

Many people are not fond of snakes. In fact, a typical Lucian will tell you once they hear or see a sepan they think danger, kill it! But not all God’s creatures are cuddly and sweet, yet they all serve their purpose in maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem. The key is to arm ourselves with knowledge and learn to co-exist.

Saint Lucia can be proud of the fact that we are home to four (4) endemic snakes: the st. Lucia Boa constrictor or tete chyenn, st. Lucia racer, St. Lucia thread snake and of course the St. Lucia Fer-de-Lance or viper. I must note however that the only natural predator of the St. Lucia viper another snake called the St. Lucia Cribo is now extinct. According to records, the last confirmed sighting was in the 19^th century.

The Fer-de-Lance or viper (Bothrops caribbaeus) is a poisonous snake and can grow up to about 2.13 m or over 6ft. It is a large snake and its colours are usually grey, with sandy yellow to reddish brown above and yellow or cream coloured on the underside. It is able to thrive in a wide range of habitats including our rainforest. It is usually found on the ground but occasionally in trees.

These snakes were more abundant in St. Lucia but not any more. Too many have been indiscriminately killed by humans. You could say their biggest threat is us. The population is at present vulnerable.

Fun facts about our St. Lucia viper
○They mate during the months of March and April.
○They give birth to 30 or 40 live young during August and September.
○Adults eat rats, mice and sometimes birds, mongoose and manicou. Great biological pest control I’d say!!
○Juveniles feed on large insects, frogs and lizards.

Our Sepan needs to be protected. We cannot allow it to become extinct like some of our other wildlife or else there won’t be anything for our children and grand children to see and enjoy or even the visitors to our shores.

For us to co-exist, the experts have given some great advice:

· Educate our people on how to avoid being bitten and first aid measures.

· Permit killing or relocation of snakes only where they present danger to humans like in villages.

· Identify uninhabited and rarely used forested areas as safe havens for these snakes where killing of them would be prohibited.

Improve snakebite treatment in our hospitals and always have anti-venom on hand.

Hey, let’s hope we have all learnt something here and that together we will continue to preserve our biodiversity. As a colleague of mine once said, ““Remember, what is done to nature is done to us all. The future generations will hold us accountable for any loss of biological diversity, including the Saint Lucia Viper”’.

The St. Lucia Racer (Liophis ornatus)

2011-06-01T16:13:00.000-04:00

Nicole La Force

The St. Lucia racer (Liophis ornatus) or kouwès in patois is one of the world’s rarest snakes and guess what? It’s endemic to St. Lucia. Wow, this is wonderful! Yet another treasure for us to boast about. Possibly the world’s rarest snake!! I had to repeat myself for emphasis.

The sad thing is that it is critically endangered and sometimes only one or two may be spotted in a year. In fact, the exact population is not even known but is estimated to be much less than 200. Thankfully, the Forestry Department, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Fauna and Flora International (FFI) are planning a status assessment of this species later in 2011 so a conservation action plan can be developed.

Sounds like we need a lot more conservationist out there, a great career possibility for sure. Think about it! Meanwhile we can all play our part by getting the word out there and doing whatever we can to protect and preserve our endemic species.

In the 1850’s the racer was considered the second commonest snake species on the island but now it makes its home on Maria Major, an islet in the south of the island. It is a small to medium non-venomous snake that grows up to about 1.24 m (4.06 ft). It is light brown with a dark brown stripe running from the neck to the tip of its tail and yellowish white on the underside. This snake has a blackened pointed snout with a scattering of yellow streaks and black bands behind its large eyes.

The racer is thought to be diurnal (active during the day), laying eggs instead of live young. Though it was popular at one time, even existing on the main land that is now history. Because of the introduction of the Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus), the population has dramatically declined, restricting the species to its present location. As a ground dwelling, diurnal snake, the Saint Lucia racer is particularly vulnerable to predation by mongooses.

The racer faces a real threat of extinction so its survival is greatly dependant on the implementation of major conservation measures. Thankfully, Maria Island where the snake now inhabits along with some other endemics is a nature reserve and was declared so in 1982 by the government of St. Lucia. It is vital that Maria island and all our other off shore islands which serve as nature reserves be kept free of invasive predators like rats, mongooses, manicou (opossums) and stray dogs. This could ultimately be accomplished with the cooperation of the public especially those who frequent these islands.

St.Lucia Anole (Anolis luciae)

2011-06-01T16:09:00.001-04:00

Photos © Dr. Jenny Daltry /FCG International / Fauna & Flora International

Article / Jeannette Victor

Lizards, lizards everywhere; in our homes, work places and yards. Do we consider them as nuisances or treat them as another animal beautifully created by God? Whilst going about our daily activities we do come into contact with lizards but can we tell the difference in the species?

Commonly known as zanndoli, the St.Lucia tree lizard is endemic to our island scientifically known as Anolis luciae. Although there are two species from the anole family their body markings differ which makes them easier to identify. The male anole may reach a length of 91mm from snout to the base of its tale. There are many colour variations from pale apple green to dark brown depending on if its habitat is wet or dry. The bark may or may not have dark markings but no ring is found round the eye however, the area around the eye may be white, blue, or green. The underside is usually white or yellowish. The dewlap or the bulge which forms in the throat often used to intimidate predators is sometimes grayish yellow or plain grey to brick red with green scales.

The females are shorter in length (63 mm) and duller in colour to their male counterparts. The iris is turquoise, blue or dark brown which brightens the female.

The St. Lucia Anole is not habitat specific and is widespread on St Lucia and the offshore islets. The females and juveniles tend to be found frequently on the ground, where females lay and bury one or two eggs in a shallow nest, whilst the males perch higher.

In this case we have good news. For once we have an endemic which is not threatened or vulnerable but it has been observed that the numbers are fewer on plantations or in areas which have been disturbed or degraded by human activity or natural disasters.

The zanndoli is deemed a predator to crawling creatures such as spiders, grasshoppers, cockroaches, ants and insect larvae off which it feeds. They wait patiently for their prey which could be caught on trees, walls and the ground.

The Anolis co-exists with two introduced anole species: A. extremus and A. wattsi from Barbados and Antigua respectively, but it appears to be resisting competition, and the two invasive species are restricted mainly to areas around Castries.

Though this endemic species is not on the brink of extinction, we should not let our guard down when it comes to protecting and treasuring species found on our island, creatures which make our biodiversity rich and unique.

St. Lucia Thread Snake

2011-06-01T16:05:00.002-04:00

Jeannette Victor

Have you ever seen a dark brown worm that looks very unusual? You may have thought that you have discovered yet another species! It is another species but not that of a worm, it is a snake.

St. Lucia Thread Snake or Worm Snake is scientifically known as leptotyphlops bruilei. This snake is endemic to the island, which means that it occurs naturally only on this island. The Thread Snake is said to be the second smallest snake in the world, which attains a maximum length of 108 mm and is colored dark brown with a pair of cream or yellow lines along its body.

The worm snake is not as widespread as the boa constrictor. It inhabits seasonal dry forest along the coast of St. Lucia and found in soil beneath leaf-litter and under rocks. Only a few sightings have been confirmed to date, which includes Maria Island, Praslin and Anse Galet.

Termites, adults and larvae of ants usually form part of their main diet. They are able to lay for the most part 12 slender eggs which hatches within three months. The small number of thread snakes on St. Lucia is due to loss of coastal dry forests, use of insecticides and alien invasive species (i.e. species that do not belong to our island but are brought in often unknowingly by others).

In order to protect and conserve this species for future generations we need to ensure that the offshore islands are kept free of alien invasive mammals. The offshore islands include Maria Islands, Praslin Island, Rat Island and soon to be Dennery Island which are managed by the St. Lucia National Trust and Forestry Department.

As proud St. Lucians, we need to educate ourselves on the dangers of bringing in animals from other countries and adhere to the policies regarding the protection of the species found on this beautiful island. The forestry Department is sincerely willing to co-operate with citizens to revamp the rich biodiversity that is required for a cleaner environment.

St Lucia Pygmy Gecko (Sphaerodactylus microlepis)

2011-06-01T15:59:00.001-04:00

Jeannette Victor

I am sure if we are ask any questions in relation to a gecko we would refer to the green one seen on the television during the insurance advertisements. Did you know that St Lucia has its own gecko?

Sphaerodactylus mirolepis is the scientific name for Saint Lucia’s Pygmy Gecko or the alternative name St Lucia Dwarf Gecko. The small lizard that grows to a length of 34 mm from the base of the tail to its snout is light brown or grey above. Dark brown cross bands can be seen between arms and legs. Dark strips extend from behind each eye and joins at the nape of the neck where a black or brown collar is formed. The top of the gecko’s head ranges from light brown to yellow with dark brown markings. Its tail is brown and the underside of the head and body is white or yellow. Bright green or blue grey iris compliments the gecko’s appearance.

Saint Lucia pygmy gecko inhabits a range of areas, which includes coastal deciduous seasonal forests and lower montane rainforest. They survive by eating mainly ants and other very small invertebrates found in leaf litter on Maria Islands and Grand Anse. Females lay a few elongated eggs that usually hatch in May after five weeks of incubation.

Mongooses, rats, opossums and cane toads contribute to the patchy distribution of the geckos. Other factors being agro-chemicals in plantation areas and loss of habitats by removal of leaf litter for coastal recreational areas.

We, the public can play a vital role in the survival of the St Lucia Pygmy Gecko by keeping alien invasive mammals off Maria Islands and prohibit the importation of alien invasive lizards especially geckos.

Our National Bird (Amazona versicolor)

2011-06-01T15:53:00.000-04:00

Photo / Te-Hsin Tsai

Article / Nicole La Force

Most St. Lucians if asked can tell you that our national bird is the Amazona versicolor and many too can tell you its pet name Jacquot. Many would remember the Jacquot Magazine “Bush Talk” where it was “Jacquot say this… and Jacquot say that…..”

If you look at any local visitor’s magazine you would see our national bird prominently featured. The Amazona versicolor is a symbol of our nation, a symbol of our national pride. It’s even on our coat of arms!

The thing is many persons don’t know the history behind all this. Saving the Amazona versicolor from extinction was probably and is most likely to this day the most successful conservation and education awareness campaign to happen in St. Lucia.

We were inundated with images of our parrot on bill boards, T-shirts, bumper stickers, mascots in schools, exercise books, through song and poems and don’t forget the famous Jacquot bus which went around the island spreading the “Save Jacquot” message.

In the mid 1970’s the parrot population was estimated to be 100 to 150 individuals. This near extinction was due to hunting and forest destruction. This intensive awareness pride campaign became necessary to prevent the parrot’s extinction. The then chief forest officer Gabrielle “Coco” Charles along with famous conservationist Paul Butler, were in the forefront of this awareness campaign.

These are several reasons why the parrot population has increased but perhaps the most important is that in September of 1979, the parrot was declared the National Bird of St. Lucia. Also in 1980 a progressive piece of legislation was passed, that of the Wildlife Protection Act which banned the hunting and capture of all wildlife species in St. Lucia.

In addition, nature conservation policies adopted by the Forestry Department have resulted in remarkable change in the fortunes of the forest reserves and St. Lucia Parrot. The Department’s Environmental Education Campaign has ensured that public concern for the St. Lucia parrot has reduced the incidence of deforestation, hunting and other illicit activates in the forest reserves and provide a springboard for protection and conservation of our national bird.

As it currently stands our parrot population is well over 1500 and could be seen in Millet, Barre de L’isle, Des Cartieres and other areas. It is a beautiful thing to see them gliding through our forest. To think if their hunting was not arrested through laws and education awareness, there probably would not have had one left to be seen and enjoyed. What a shame that would be! It would be like waking up one morning and finding that our twin pitons have disappeared. St. Lucia wouldn’t be truly unique and distinguishable without them.

The message still stands; Jacquot says “stop polluting and destroying our environment especially our forest”.

Iyanola

2011-06-01T15:37:00.001-04:00

Picture / Te-Hsin Tsai

Article / Nicole La Force

I am Iyanola, the St. Lucia iguana. The Arawak Indians once called St. Lucia Iyanola, the land of many iguanas. However, this saying is no longer true. Because of habitat loss, sand mining, hunting for meat and my babies being eaten by dogs, feral cats, mongoose and manicou, I am now endangered.

I can now only be found in the dry forest of the north east coast. I am referring to areas like Louvette and Grande Anse. A few years ago, a survey was done and approximately 1000 of us are left in the wild. Imagine the whole world with only 1000 people! Well that’s my situation since I can’t be found anywhere else in the world but right here in St. Lucia. That makes me unique, one of a kind!

Fun facts about me, Iyanola!

○I am vegetarian; I like to eat leaves and soft fruits.

○I can grow up to 6ft / 1.82m.

○I can live as long as 20 years in a healthy environment. Yeah!!

○We females can reproduce when we’re 3 years old and lay about 20 eggs.

I hope that you have enjoyed learning about me. Please protect me by encouraging others not to destroy my home or hunt me.

If you would like more information about Iyanola and how you can help, please contact the Forestry Department at 468-5645 / 468-5648. Thank you!

Birds, Birds, Beautiful Birds.

2011-06-01T15:27:00.000-04:00

Article by

Jeannette Victor

Forestry Department

Isn’t it wonderful to awake to melodious bird song on a beautiful day? It makes our day brighter and worthwhile. On a day to day basis we see many birds in many different areas and of different sizes and colors. Some are seen in and around our homes, in our gardens and forested areas as well as by rivers and swamps. Do we know why birds have such varied habitats?

Birds are usually identified by the habitat to which they have adapted giving them their unique and varied characteristics. Forest birds such as the St. Lucia Parrot and the St. Lucia Black Finch are found in our rainforest where they make themselves comfortable by creating their nests in tall trees and enjoying the tranquility of the forest. They feed on fruits, seeds and nuts helping with the dispersing of seeds to create the rich forest diversity.

Though forest would seem the ideal place for birds not all birds are found there. Birds are also found along roadsides and in and around our homes. Some of these include bananaquits, bullfinches and blackbirds. Those birds form their nests by using dry twigs and leaves and are often found in trees. Their diet includes nectar, seeds and small insects.

Brown booby and laughing gull are two examples of seashore birds. They survive on small fish from below the sea surface or along the sea’s shore. Seashore birds nests on the ground in shallow depressions, on cliff ledges and on flat ground with little vegetations. They could be seen on the offshore islands like Praslin Island and Maria Island. Many of these are migratory and seasonal.

Some birds are also able to inhabit swamp and marshy areas like the cattle egret and the little blue heron. Small fish, crustaceans, frogs and insects all form part of their diet. Their eggs are laid in a tree or shrub among swamp vegetation or mangroves.

Although birds may seem abundant, destruction of their varied habitats make them vulnerable and many have become endangered and even extinct. We need to cherish our birds and the environment because a walk through the forest without hearing the sweet-songs of birds is like a forest with no life.

St. Lucia Boa Constrictor (Constrictor oraphias)

2011-06-01T15:24:00.000-04:00

Photos copyright: Donald Anthony & Nicole La Force

Article by: Jeannette Victor

Forestry Department

I am hoping that after reading last week’s issue we are all aware and proud that St.Lucia is home to four species of snakes.

Constrictor oraphias is the scientific name for the long dark-brown snake that we call the Boa Constrictor. This snake also goes by the local name of Tet Chyenn because it is said that the head is shaped like that of a dog. It ranges in length from 0.5m to 4.3m (20 inches to 14 ft). The skin appears glossy and varies from light brown as juveniles to dark brown as adults with crossbars on the back. The belly is light yellow with black spots. A brown line runs from the snout, passes through the eye and may continue along the back.

The boa constrictor is not restricted to a specific habitat, it could be found almost anywhere all over the island, cultivated fields, forested areas and ravines to name a few.

Constrictor oraphias feeds on birds and mammals such as rats, bats, mongooses and opossums. It skill its prey by grabbing them with its jaw and quickly enveloping it in suffocating coils. The prey then dies since its heartbeat and breathing is stopped.

Many may consider this snake to be a very fierce animal but only appears so when provoked; a loud hissing sound is then heard. Other than that, it enjoys basking in the sun and could live peacefully in any area wherever food is readily available. The boa is a non-poisonous and harmless snake.

It is said by many that the fat of the snake if melted could be used to help heal wounds. It has not been scientifically proven but we do partake in the slashing of the boa in order to sculpt out fat. This discriminating activity is prohibited by the Forestry Department, anyone found guilty of killing, and deliberately endangering a boa constrictor will be liable to a fine of five thousand dollars ($5000.00).

Did You Know?

 The boa constrictor is a sub-endemic species to our island.

 Could give birth to up to sixty-four (64) live young ones in a liter.

 Boas are good swimmers but are seldom found in water.

 They could leap up to 1/3 of their full body length.

E E Unit Bulletins March - April 2011

2011-05-17T10:19:00.000-04:00

E E unit Bulletin March - April 2011

View more documents from StLuciaEEuniteTeHsinTsai

Our Sponsors of "2011 My Forest, My Picture!" Competition

2011-03-31T12:04:00.007-04:00

Thanks to all our sponsors!

Your generous sponsorship not only made our activities be successful, but also show your great concern for our environment and future generations. Thank you very much!

Computer World - Vouchers

Digicel - Samsung GT-S5230 cell phones

Fleva - iPod

LIME - A Laptop with one month free LIME internet

Paramount Duty Free Distribution - A digital camera

Rain Forest Sky Rides St. Lucia - Rain Forest Sky Ride tickets

Starlite - A digital camera

The Office Shop - Vouchers

2011 My forest, My picture! - Photo Competition of the Forestry Department’s 4 Trails in St. Lucia for secondary school students

2011-03-17T12:23:00.053-04:00

Eligibility:
● Secondary school students who like to visit our trails and like to take pictures.
● Each secondary school is allowed only four participants (four pictures) to join this competition. Each school needs to choose the best four pictures to hand in.
● Each participant can join only one time and submit only one picture.
● All pictures need to be taken on one of the national forest trails (Union Trail, Barre de L’isle Trail, Millet Trail and Des Cartiers Trail).
   Check trails status.
● Pictures need to be taken during 1st April~ 3rd June 2011.
● No alterations of photos allowed using any kind of software.
● To be eligible for entry in the competition, students need to ensure that their name and data be recorded by our trail tour guide (entrance to the trail is free) when visiting the trails.

TIME:
● 1st April ~ 3rd June 2011 is the time for competition. Deadline for entry: 3rd June 2011 12:00am.
● July 2011: award ceremony

Theme of photos: (Participants can choose any one of them)
● Forest for people
● Forest for wildlife
● The beauty of the trails
● The forest after Hurricane Tomas
● Love our nature and protect our forest
   Need some ideas?
   Join our Facebook group!

Incentives:

●First, Second, Third place prizes : Gift and certificate

Laptop with one month LIME internet, cell phones, Cameras, iPod, Vouchers and so on.

● 10 Outstanding: Rain Forest Sky Ride Ticket (1) and certificate

n 2 Best Forest For People Photo

n 2 Best Forest For Wildlife Photo

n 2 Best The Beauty Of The Trails Photo

n 2 Best The Forest After Hurricane Tomas Photo

n 2 Best Love Our Nature And Protect Our Forest Photo

● 8 Forests lover prize: A Snorkel set and certificate

Work Format:
● Application form download.
● Participants need to send the image and application form by email to
   Email: 2011forestpicture@gmail.com
● Hard copy application form with personal signature will be needed when the participant wins the prize. We will inform the winners. The hard copy application form needs to be sent to The Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit within 5 working days after being informed. The address is:
   To: Forestry Department EE Unit
   Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries
   Gabriel Charles Forestry Complex
   Union, Castries
   St. Lucia
● Participants need to fill out the application form completely and understand the rules and conditions for entry.

Rules:
● Photo once submitted becomes the property of Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit.
● Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit does not accept responsibility for loss, damage or delay of entry. Proof of posting will not be accepted as proof of delivery.
● A photograph that has won a prize in any other competition is not eligible for entry in this competition.
● Each picture submitted to the competition must be original and taken by the participant and none other.
● Participants failing to adhere to the afore mentioned rule will immediately disqualified from the competition.
● Copyright of images remain with the photographer but Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit reserves the right to use any award-winning entries without payment of fees, in public materials, exhibitions, publications or in any other way it deems necessary.
● The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes, if they consider that none of the entries reach the required standard. The judges’ decision will be final. The judges reserve the right to exclude entries, at its discretion, which it considers are inappropriate or which might bring the competition into disrepute.

Contact:
● If you have any questions, please contact The Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit.
Phone number: 468-5645/5648
Email: 2011forestpicture@gmail.com
All the information will be on: http://forestryeeunit.blogspot.com/
● Contact number of trails tour guide
   ○ Union Trail : Christele 468-5649/5648/5645
   ○ Barre de L’isle Trail : Hermine 716-6060 or 453-3242
   ○ Millet Trail : Charmain 519-0787 or 451-1691
   ○ Des Cartiers : Marvin 715-0350 or 454-5589

Collaborators:

Ministry of Education

Our Sponsors:
Starlite Electronic Store / Auto Parts & Accessories
Paramount Duty Free Distribution
Computer World (St. Lucia)
Fleva

Let's go St. Lucia Nature Trail (Slideshow)

2011-03-10T15:55:00.005-04:00

Let's go st. Lucia Nature Trail Slideshow: Te-Hsin’s trip from Saint Lucia (near St. Lucia, St. Lucia) to 3 cities Castries, Micoud (near Vieux Fort) and Dennery (near Marigot Bay) was created by TripAdvisor. See another St. Lucia slideshow. Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker.

E E unit Bulletin January- February 2011

2011-03-09T11:27:00.003-04:00

E E unit Bulletin Jan - Feb 2011

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EE Unit Blog Condition (from Aug 2010 to 17 Feb 2011)

2011-02-17T12:24:00.001-04:00

EE unit blog condition

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BBQ Fund Raising 25 March 2011

2011-02-17T12:14:00.008-04:00

If you like to join us please contact Nicole: 468-5645.

10EC for a ticket.

Hi all,

We had changed the time to next month, 25th March.

Sorry about that. Hope to see you still!

Bird body check 2011

2011-02-15T15:53:00.004-04:00

Body check for birds in mini zoo

View more presentations from StLuciaEEuniteTeHsinTsai.

About us

2011-01-27T13:41:00.009-04:00

Welcome to Environmental Education Unit's blog!

Our Staff members

Fund raising BBQ for Tomas victim

2011-01-18T15:32:00.002-04:00

If you like to join us please contact Nicole: 468-5645.

2011 International Year of Forests

2011-01-17T12:39:00.003-04:00

Do you know about the"International Year of Forest?

Click the picture to find out!

E-Book Barre de L’isle Rainforest Trail

2011-01-10T13:27:00.003-04:00

Click the picture to read the e-book.

Trails Status Announcement

2011-01-05T16:00:00.015-04:00

Five (5) out of our seven (7) trails are operational due to Hurricane Tomas.

You can call us to find out more information @ (+1758-468-5645 or +1758-468-5648)

Information:

※Union trail and Mini zoo

(you can call this number to register: +1758-468-5649
or +1758-468-5645 E E Unit)

※Millet Trail and Bird watching in Millet Trail
   (you can call this number to register: +1758-519-0787 or +1758-451-1691 Charmain)
※Des Cartiers Trail
   (you can call this number to register: +1758-715-0350 or +1758-454-5589 Marvin)
※Hiking trail Barre de L'isle to Grande Ravine & Barre de L'isle Trail
   This hike is about 2 1/2 hrs to 3 hrs long. Read the E-Book!

(you can call this number to make reservations: +1758-716-6060 Hermine Francis)
※Forestierre Trail
(you can call this number to register: +1758-284-8860 or +1758-451-6168 Shaun Francois)

Watch Let's go St. Lucia Nature Trail (Slideshow)

Enbas Saut Waterfall and Edmund trails are still close. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. We will try our best to open these trails to welcome you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Forestry Department’s Environmental Education Unit 6.3.2012 posted

EE unit bulletin November and December 2010

2011-01-05T15:57:00.001-04:00

Eeunit bulletin november december 2010

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EEunit bulletin September to October 2010

2010-11-24T11:29:00.001-04:00

E eunit bulletin september to october 2010

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Endemic Birds & Reptiles [Compatibility Mode]

2010-11-19T15:02:00.002-04:00

Endemic birds & reptiles

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In memory of Theodore “Lester” Jn Baptiste

2010-11-15T12:14:00.005-04:00

◎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 17^th 2010 @ 3:00pm at the Soufriere Catholic Church.

The many faces of Theodore “Lester” Jn Baptiste, doing what he loved best.

St.Lucian National Bird

2010-10-21T14:52:00.001-04:00

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.

Sign the petition to end hunger now.

2010-10-20T18:13:00.003-04:00

Biodiversity Expo 2010 News

2010-10-18T12:47:00.003-04:00

Biodiversity Expo 2010 News

Click picture to read the article!

St. Lucia & the Jacquot Parrot

2010-10-13T11:49:00.007-04:00

Have You Ever Been Escorted to the Airport by a Lizard?

2010-10-13T11:37:00.003-04:00

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/

St Lucia Conservation

2010-10-13T10:58:00.007-04:00

information from : http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Sebastiana-44571-203-Lec-21-St-Lucia-Conservation-LuciaModern-Steps-Towards-Bright-Spot-His-a-Education-ppt-powerpoint/

Controlling the international trade in wildlife

2010-10-13T10:38:00.003-04:00

Meet the wild pig hunter

2010-10-13T10:27:00.004-04:00

Bulletin Jul - Aug 2010

2010-10-11T17:19:00.010-04:00

Eeunit bulletin july august 2010-1

View more documents from StLuciaEEuniteTeHsinTsai.

Bulletin Mar - April 2010

2010-10-11T17:17:00.001-04:00

Eeunit bulletin march april 2010

View more documents from StLuciaEEuniteTeHsinTsai.

Bulletin Jan - Feb 2010

2010-10-11T17:13:00.003-04:00

Eeunit bulletin january february 2010

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Bulletin Nor - Dec 2009

2010-10-11T17:11:00.001-04:00

Eeunit bulletin nov_-_dec__09

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Bulletin Sep - Oct 2009

2010-10-11T17:09:00.004-04:00

Ee unit bulletin sept oct 09

View more documents from StLuciaEEuniteTeHsinTsai.

Bulletin July - August 2009

2010-10-11T15:41:00.003-04:00

Eeunit bulletin july august 09

View more documents from StLuciaEEuniteTeHsinTsai.

Bulletin May - June 2009

2010-10-11T15:40:00.003-04:00

Eeunit bulletin may june 09

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Bulletin April 2009

2010-10-11T15:38:00.001-04:00

Environmental education bulletin april 09

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Biodiversity Expo 2010

2010-10-01T10:59:00.003-04:00

Students loved animals and enjoyed the introduction

The 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

Conservation in CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

2010-09-30T11:39:00.002-04:00

Click picture to read the article!

Outdoor training for tour guide.

2010-09-30T11:09:00.004-04:00

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

2010 international year of biodiversity

2010-09-30T10:43:00.003-04:00

Click picture to read the article!

Government calls for national cooperation in combating desertification and drought in St. Lucia

2010-09-30T10:25:00.001-04:00

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