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	0	0	0
Category II	0	0	0
Category III	0	0	0
Category IV	1	1	6
Category V	0	0	0
Categories VI-VIII	0	0	0
Biosphere Reserves	0	0	0
World Heritage Sites	0	0	0
Ramsar Sites	0	0	0
Total	1	1	6

Montserrat is a dependent territory of the United Kingdom. The island's constitution came into force in 1960 and was amended in 1971 and 1975.

There is no substantive legislation for establishing and managing natural areas for either the conservation of fauna and flora, or the declaration of terrestrial or marine parks (Butler 1991). The Forestry Ordinance, 1956 gives the government power to declare private land to be protected forest, on lands susceptible to erosion, or important sources of water or timber. It is not known to what extent these provisions are enforced (Miller et al 1988).

Administratively, forests above 450 m in altitude are considered to be protected, and the Ordinance has stringent powers to deal with land clearance. These powers have apparently not been invoked (Butler 1991). In 1987 a draft Forestry and Wildlife Ordinance was prepared under the auspices of the FAO. This makes provision for the establishment of forest reserves, protected forests, and conservation areas. The Ordinance was under final review in 1992.

Foxes Bay Bird Sanctuary, owned by the Montserrat Company, is on lease to the Montserrat National Trust and was declared a protected wildlife area in 1979. A few other areas have also been set aside for conservation, land being vested with the National Trust or the tourism authorities.

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

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

Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage, 1972)

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

The Forest Administration within the Ministry of Agriculture, Housing, Labour and Tourism, is responsible for administering provisions of the Forest Ordinance. According to Miller et al (1988), low salaries, in comparison with the agricultural sector, were a cause of problems in recruiting competent personnel.

There is currently no governmental organisation with responsibilities for wildlife conservation, although the draft Forestry and Wildlife Ordinance makes provision for a single government department responsible for management and wildlife, the Forestry and Wildlife Division.

The 400-member Montserrat National Trust is the main body that promotes conservation. It was established in 1970 under the Montserrat National Trust Ordinance (1970) with which the government delegated its interest in the conservation of the island's cultural and natural heritage. Since its inception, the Trust has encouraged designation of sites for conservation, development of legislation, collection of information, and public awareness programmes. Core funding for the work of the Montserrat National Trust is provided by WWF-UK. At present funding from WWF provides office premises together with support for a national parks co-ordinator and secretary.

Montserrat is a small volcanic island with two main areas of highland reaching altitudes greater than 740 m. Much of the land surface is very rugged, with deep gorges, and the coastline is characterised by truncated spurs and hanging valleys. Rainfall is seasonal and varies with altitude. On lands with rainfall of more than 1750 mm per year, lower montane and montane rain forest represent the climax vegetation. The need to preserve forest areas in order to protect water supplies and maintain the visual appearance of the island has been repeatedly stated, for example by Corker (1986) and Oldfield (1987).

Presently, Montserrat has only one protected area, the 6 ha Foxs Bay Bird Sanctuary. Margetson (1984) identified three major problems in conserving resources: low financial and technical input in resource use; deforestation and over exploitation of fish resources; and conflict between individual and national needs and conservation needs. An additional concern is the lack of a co-ordinated government policy on conservation.

Tourism potential is likely to feature strongly in the development of the island's economy. Increased demand for suitable land may result in areas of conservation value being threatened. For example, a planned resort development at Little Bay coincides with one of the most important sea turtle rookeries on the island. Positive aspects of tourism include the management of sites for ecotourism, with the production of brochures, placement of signs and improvement of trails.

In 1980 the CCA, through the Eastern Caribbean Natural Areas Management Programme (ECNAMP), assisted the Montserrat National Trust in preparing a proposal to establish a national park. Plans to create Montserrat National Park, that would include Soufriere Hills and Galway Estate (total 810 ha), have existed since 1982. Sites within the area of the proposed park are already maintained by the National Trust, and the development of the national park remains an urgent necessity (Butler 1991).

Montserrat National Trust (Co-ordinator, National Parks), Parliament Street, PLYMOUTH Tel: (809) 491-3086

Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands and Housing, The Groves, PLYMOUTH Tel: (809) 491-3648 Fax: (809) 491-2367

Bovey, R. (1986) Montserrat - a summary of available information and a proposal for a system of protected natural sites. Unpublished report to Montserrat National Trust, the Government of Montserrat and WWF-UK.

Butler, J.R. (1986) Montserrat National Park. Park News 22(3):15-19 (the journal of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society).

Corker, I.R. (1986) Montserrat: a resource assessment. Land Resources Development Centre, ODA.

ECNAMP (1980) Montserrat Preliminary Data Atlas. Survey of conservation priorities in the Lesser Antilles. Eastern Caribbean Natural Areas Management Programme.

Gibbs, D. (1986) Montserrat. In: Scott, D.A. and Carbonell, M. (Eds.) Directory of Neotropical wetlands. IUCN, Cambridge and IWRB Slimbridge, UK. 684 pp.

Island Resources Foundation (1987) Draft bibliography for Montserrat. Print-out from IRF database.

Johnson, T.H. (1988) Biodiversity and Conservation in the Caribbean: Profiles of selected islands. ICBP Monograph 1. ICBP, Cambridge, UK.

Margetson, F. (1984) Montserrat. In: Wood, J. (Ed.), Proceedings for the workshop on biosphere reserves and other protected areas for sustainable development of small Caribbean islands. National Park Service, Atlanta. 190 pp.

Miller G.A., Fujita, M.S. and Ford, L.B. (1988) Biological diversity and tropical forests assessment. Annex to RDO/C action plan, FY88-89. p.58-p.67.

Oldfield, S. (1987) Fragments of Paradise. A guide for conservation action in the UK dependent territories. British Association of Nature Conservationists, Oxford, UK.

Definitions of protected area designations, as legislated, together with authorities responsible for their administration.

Protected Forest To declare private land to be protected forest, on lands susceptible to erosion, or important sources of water or timber. Under the Ordinance, clearing of forest, cutting of timber or fuelwood and livestock grazing is illegal without the permission of the Forestry Board. It is not known to what extent these provisions are enforced.

Name of area	IUCN & National Mgmt. Categories		Presence of Marine or Coastal Zones	Area ha	Year Established
Foxs Bay	IV	BS	YES	6	1979
Subtotal	1		1	6