| Antigua and Barbuda | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | Caribbean islands, east of Puerto Rico, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean | |||||||||||||||||||
| National websites | http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/ (only one) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy / Chancery in U.S. | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||
| Agencies responsible for biological inventory and conservation | Parks
Comminssioner, Antigua and Barbuda National Parks Authority, PO Box 1283, English Harbour,
Antigua. Tel:(809)406-1053 Fisheries Department, ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Lands, Government Headquarters, St. John's, Antigua. |
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| Non-governmental organizations concerned with conservation | Environmental Awareness Group, Antigua-Barbuda Museum, PO Box 103, Long Street, St. John's, Antugua | |||||||||||||||||||
| Major Natural Resources | The major natural resources are wood, which is in danger because so little of it is protected, and the oceanic wildlife, which is a main tourist attraction. The islands do not posses very many other natural resourses becaue they are small and much of it has been destroyed while under British occupancy in the last few centuries. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Major Environmental and Conservation Issues | Most of the issues deal with water management, because there is a scarcity of fresh water and the destruction of the remaining forests on the islands. Forests today account for only 11% of the land, a large decline from its natural state. Most of the trees were destroyed in order to make room for the plantations that the British set up during their occupation. Today the remaining forest is threatened because of the booming tourism. The forests are being cut down to make hotels and tourist attractions. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||||||
| Land area | 442 Sq. km | http://www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/data/summstat.html | ||||||||||||||||||
| Area of forest | 7Sq. km | http://www.wcmc.org.uk/forest/data/cdrom2/cartabs.htm#Table 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Area of wetlands | 0 Sq. km | http://www.wcmc.org.uk/forest/data/cdrom2/cartabs.htm#Table 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Area of territorial waters | 0 Sq. km | http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ac.html | ||||||||||||||||||
| Population: | 78,726 | Density: | ( /Sq. km) | http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ac.html | ||||||||||||||||
| Area protected (ha) (only areas >1000ha) at all IUCN levels: | 6,128 Sq. km | Fraction of land area protected (%): | 13.86 | http://www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/data/summstat.html | ||||||||||||||||
| Major Protected Areas | List of Major Protected Areas | Information Center for the Environment | ||||||||||||||||||
| Endemic Species |
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| Endangered, Threatened and Vulnerable Species |
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World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal | ||||||||||||||||||
| Extinct Species |
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World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal | ||||||||||||||||||
| Species listed on CITES Appendices | CITES-listed Species Database | |||||||||||||||||||
| Legislation | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Laws protecting endangered or threatened species | The National Parks Act No. 11
(1984) Gives power to relevant Minister to declare a national park. Species within park
are protected Marine Areas(Preservation and Enhancement) Act No. 5 (1972) Gives Minister the right to declare restricted marine areas in order to preserve and protect marine flora and fauna. The Fisheries Act No. 14 (1983) Protection for water as marine reserves |
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| Laws protecting endangered ecosystems | The Forestry Ordinance Cap. 99
(1941) Protects lands in forests, they do contain ecosystems. Marine Areas Act No.5 (1972) Protects marine ecosystems |
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| Signatory to CITES | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands Convention | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Convention on Biological Diversity | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Migratory Bird Treaty | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||
| Member of International Whaling Commission | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to other international treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources | Member: Caribean Conservation
Association, ratified the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Wider
Caribbean Region, also Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Oil Spills in the
Wider Caribbean Region (1986); Convention Concerning World Cultural and Natural Heriatage
(1983) Member: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumpin, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution Signed but has not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
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| Natural Resource Use | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fisheries | The total fishery percentage is 2.3%. There are 108 different fish surrounding Antigua and Barbuda and three different kinds of turtles. The fishery percentage is low, this means that so far fishing is not a major threat to wildlife in the islands. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Forestry / deforestation | Originally the islands had forest formations made up of mangroves, littoral woodland, cactus scrub, thorn woodland, deciduous woodland, semi-green woodland, semi-evergreen seasonal forest and evergreen seasona forest. However, the planting of sugar cane plantations for many centuries has destryoed the evidence of natural vegetation.Today there is only one national park, the only forest land protected. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ecotourism | Tourism provdes the majority of the income in these islands. More than half of the GDP depends on tourism. The beautiful surrounding oceans with coral reefs and many types of flora and fauna are the main attraction. More than half of the tourists are from the US and the majority go to enjoy some form of ecotourism. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Trade in wildlife products | In the past, the islands were a source for sugarcane. The majority of the wildlife in the islands were destryoed while under Britain's control because the British wanted the land for plantations. Today, this is still a problem. There is not a problem with trading wildlife products because there are so few original left. However, trees continue to take the most damage. They are being exported and are not monitored closely. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hunting | Hunting is not mentioned as a problem. There are not many forests and wildlife is not as abundant as it used to be. As a result, hunting accounts for very little of the wildlife threats of the islands. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other uses of natural resources | On-going destruction of mangroves for large-scale hotels, marine recreation facilities and waste disposal. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Human Impacts on Natural Resources | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||||||
| Air pollution | Air pollution has not become a problem yet because the islands are small and transportation and factories are not abundant. However, there has been an increase in factory building that may present future problems in this area. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Water pollution | Water management is a major concern right now because there is a limited number of fresh water resources. This is made more complicated by the clearing of trees to have more room for crops, because rainfall runs-off quickly. | www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ac/html | ||||||||||||||||||
| Development activities | Tourism has boomed because the U.S has discovered these islands. Because of this boom, what little is left of the natural wildlife is being destroyed to build new hotels and tourist centers. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced species | Most of the natural vegetation was destroyed to make plantations centuries ago. At the same time there was an introduction of many plant species, which now dominate areas previously used for agriculture. They have created ecosystems that are brand new to the islands. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Legislation addressing these issues | Lack of legislation and enforcement are the key concerns currently. The only main law protecting the wildlife is the National Parks Act (1984) which formed the Dockyard National Park, the only protected area of the islands. Apart from this, there is no other specific legislation protecting the wildlife. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Restoration and Reintroduction | Information Sources | |||||||||||||||||||
| Programs for restoration of damaged habitat | Independent groups such as the Historical Conservation and Environmental Comission and the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute have been formed to look after the damaged wildlife. However, they have yet to take an active role in restoring habitats. As for the government, they have not issued programs that would aid the restoration of wildlfie. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Programs for ex situ conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species | Advanced projects such as these have not been introduced yet, however, the islands are now interacting with the UN on the possibility of starting more environmental programs that would allow them to have the resources to begin programs such as these. | www.wcmc.org.uk/ | ||||||||||||||||||
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Page compiled by (Pamina Elgueta) as part of a class project in h90 "The Science of Biodiversity and Conservation" (Peter J. Bryant, Instructor), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA