CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996

CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996: Status of Protected Area Systems in the Wider Caribbean Region
Country Profiles

IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY	No. of Protected Areas (PAs)	PAs with Marine or Coastal Zones	Extension
Category I	1	0	517
Category II	0	0	0
Category III	0	0	0
Category IV	0	0	0
Category V	1	0	70,150
Categories VI-VIII	0	0	0
Biosphere Reserves	0	0	0
World Heritage Sites	0	0	0
Ramsar Sites	0	0	0
Total	2	0	70,667

From 1635, Martinique was a French colony until its status changed to an overseas department of France in 1946. In 1974 it became an administrative region. The territory is covered by French legislation some of which is applicable specifically to Martinique.

Several pieces of legislation relate to Martinique's protected areas system. Decree No. 67-158 of 1 March 1967 relates to regional natural parks (Décret rélatif aux parc naturel régionaux, see Annex I). It is updated by Decree No. 75-983 of 24 October 1975, and Law No. 76/629 concerning nature protection (Loi no. 76/629 rélative à la protection de la nature, Annex I). This law provides definitions of nature reserves (réserves naturelles), (Annex I). Decree No. 67-158 also stipulates the procedure to be followed for the classification of regional natural parks. This classification procedure includes presentation of a file including the name of the organisation responsible for the park's management, a map of the park limits, and details of provision of finance to enable the park superstructure to be installed.

Under a law of 10 July 1975 (decree of application 11 December 1975), the purchase of parts of the littoral zone for purposes of protection, especially from building, is provided. A further category of protected area, natural zone of ecological, fauna and floral interest (ZNIEFF) exists, but information concerning the legislation under which these are established is not available.

Martinique Regional Nature Park was established in 1976 following a French Decree of 24 October 1975 and subsequent Ministerial Act of 24 August 1976. The concept of regional natural parks was advanced in the early 1960's, to provide facilities for tourists, preserve traditional architecture and landscapes, and stimulate local enterprises and rural development. In Martinique Regional Natural Park, wildlife conservation is also of importance and areas within the park are zoned to safeguard different land uses.

A law of 10 July 1975 (degree of application of 11 December 1975), provides for establishment of an administrative public centre, the building for conservation of the littoral space and of lake banks. The aim of the centre is the purchase of the littoral zone when it is of biological interest, to provide protection them from any kind of speculation, especially development.

Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention, 1983)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, 1973)

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, 1971)

Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP, 1981) and its Specially Protected Areas & Wildlife Programme (SPAW, 1990)

The French governmental body responsible for the establishment of parks and reserves and wildlife management is the Department of Nature Protection (Direction de la Protection de la Nature), which is part of the Ministry of the Environment (Ministere de l'Environment). Within Martinique the National Forest Office (Office Nationale des Forêts, ONF) is responsible for administration and management of all national and public forests, and part of the littoral zone (Nosel, pers. comm., 1992).

The Martinique regional nature park is administered by a board composed of representatives of the municipalities, the region, and the department. The park has a separate budget from the ONF, and is under direct control of a Director, who supervises a staff with widespread technical expertise. Caravelle Peninsula Reserve is maintained by the nature park authorities for its nature conservation interest and is protected by a local warden system (Nosel, pers. comm., 1992).

There are several non-governmental conservation groups, including the Société pour l'Etude de la Protection et l'Amènagement de la Nature en Martinique, the Société des Amis du Parc, the Alliance Nature et Dévéloppement, and the Association pour Nature et Environnement. All these NGOs are included within the Union Régionale des Associations pour la Patrimoine et l'Environnement de la Martinique (Nosel, pers. comm., 1992).

Martinique, one of the Lesser Antilles Islands, is a mountainous volcanic island with lower lying areas to the south. The highest point, Mt. Pelée, is an active volcano. The climate is tropical with a well-defined dry season from November to March. The island lies within the hurricane belt (Johnson 1988).

Some 25% of the land area is still forested, but no natural rain forest is thought to remain. Heavy demographic pressure has led to general environmental degradation (Desjeux and Desjeux 1984). In the centre and at low elevations there is secondary forest. At higher elevations there is montane thicket, palm brake, and elfin woodland.

'Almost pristine', well-developed mangrove and seagrass beds occur on the coast in the south-east. Martinique has the second largest mangrove area in the Lesser Antilles at Fort-de-France Bay (2,200 ha). Narrow fringing reefs occur around much of La Caravelle Nature Reserve on the east coast. Barrier reefs occur along the southern half of the east coast. Reefs also occur along the south and in the Fort-de-France bay on the west coast (UNEP/IUCN 1988).

The protected area system comprises principally Martinique Regional Natural Park, which covers two-thirds of the island, La Caravelle Nature Reserve, and several other, much smaller, reserves. The Natural Park consists of a number of separate zoned areas, totalling 70,150 ha, including forest areas in the north, areas around Baie de Fort-de-France and small areas on the south-east coasts including La Caravelle Nature Reserve which has been particularly well developed. La Caravalle Nature Reserve only covers terrestrial area so far; an extension including the marine area has been proposed (UNEP/IUCN 1988).

Portecop (1984) identifies a number of the problems facing conservation efforts, including deforestation, degradation of tourist attractions, and loss of wildlife through poorly controlled hunting and fishing. Marine resources, notably of lobster and Queen conch Strombus gigas, have been over exploited as a result of the tourist industry, and certain reefs are now under serious threat from siltation (UNEP/IUCN 1988).

Ministiere de l'Environment, Direction de la Protection de la Nature, Service des Parcs et Reserves, 13 boulevard du General Leclerc, 92521 NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, France (Tel: 33 14 081 8410; Fax: 33 14 081 9953)

Société d'Etude, de Protection et d'Aménagement de la Nature en Martinique, SEPANMAR, s/c Office du Tourisme, 97200 FORT-DE-FRANCE

Direction RPgionale de l'Environnement (DIREN), Immeuble Massal, 4 Blvd. de Verdum, 97200 FORT-DE-FRANCE Tel: (596) 713005 Fax: (596) 602124

Davis, S.D., Droop, S.J.M., Gregerson, P., Henson, L., Leon, C.J., Lamlein Villa-Lobos, J., Synge, H. and Zantovska, J. (1986) Plants in danger: what do we know? IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 461 pp.

Desjeux, C. et Desjeux, B. (1984) Les parcs naturels régionaux de France. Editions Créer, Nonette, France.

Johnson, T.H. (1988) Biodiversity and conservation in the Caribbean: Profiles of selected islands. ICBP Monograph 1. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK. 144 pp.

Portecop, J. (1984) Country summary for Martinique. In: Wood, J. (Ed.), Proceedings for the Workshop Biosphere Reserves and other protected areas for sustainable development of small Caribbean islands. US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 190 pp.

Stehle, H., Stehle, M., and Quentin, L. (1935-1939) Flore de la Guadeloupe et Dependences et de la Marrtinique. Catholic Press, Basse-Terre.

UNEP/IUCN (1988) Coral Reefs of the World. Volume 1: Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. UNEP Regional Seas Directories and Bibliographies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK/UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya. 373 pp.

Definitions of protected area designations, as legislated, together with authorities responsible for their administration.Title: Décret No. 67-158 relatif aux parc naturel régionaux (Decree No. 67-158 relating to regional natural parks) and subsequent Decrees Nos. 75-983 and 88-443.Date: 1 March 1967, 24 October 1975, 25 April 1988Brief Description: Provides the criteria for the establishment and designation of regional natural parks. The 1975 Decree gave more responsibility to the regions concerning the designation of these areas. A move that was strengthened by the 1988 Decree which replaced it.Administrative authority: Separate administrative organisations are established for each park.Designations: Parc naturel régional (Regional nature park) An area may be classified as such if it is of particular interest due to its natural and cultural heritage, for reasons of leisure, recreation and tourism, or if it merits protection. The term 'parc naturel régional' is reserved for areas classified as such according to the terms provided in this decree. A territory with a fragile ecological balance and rich natural and cultural heritage. To be actively managed for the protection of the environment; to contribute to the social and economic development of the area; to encourage promotion of facilities for public recreation, education and information; and the performance of experiments and contribute to research programmes. Each park is governed by a Charter drawn up by common agreement between the regions and the interested local communities.Source: Original legislation in French.

Title: Loi no. 76/629 relative à la protection de la Nature (Nature Conservation Act No. 76 629); and decrees relating to the implementation of this Act (including nos. 77/1141; 77/1295; 77/1296; 77/1297; 77/1298; 77/1300).Date: 10 July 1976Brief description: A wide ranging Act, covering the protection of natural areas and the countryside, the preservation of animal and plant species, and the maintenance of biological equilibrium through the protection of natural resources against all causes of degradation. This Act includes framework provisions for the definition, designation and establishment of nature reserves, voluntary nature reserves and biotope protection orders.Administrative authority: Department for Nature ConservationDesignations: Réserve naturelle (Nature reserve) Where the conservation of the fauna, flora, subsoil, water, mineral and fossil deposits and, in general, the natural surroundings is of particular importance, or which require the suspension of all artificial intervention that might lead to their degradation. Classification of sites may include areas of French territorial waters. Factors taken into consideration include: preservation of species and habitats; conservation of botanical gardens or arboretums; preservation of biotopes and formations of geological, geomorphological or speleological interest; preservation or creation of stop-over points on major migration routes; scientific or technical studies and sites of particular interest for the study of evolution.Established with the approval of the Ministry of the Environment under an agreement of a contractual nature. Subject to the owner's consent the decision to establish a reserve is issued in the form of a decree; if the owners object, publication is followed by a survey and the reserve is designated by a Council of State decree, setting out details of permitted activities.Source: Original legislation in French.

Name of area	IUCN & National Mgmt. Categories		Presence of Marine or Coastal Zones	Area ha	Year Established
Caravelle	I	NR	YES	517	1976
Martinique	V	RNP		70,150	1976
Total	2		1	70,667