St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Location Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago 
13 15 N, 61 12 W 
Source
National websites  Government Link
Embassy / Chancery in U.S. Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
3216 New Mexico Avenue, NW,
Washington DC 20016
Tel:   (202) 364-6730
Fax: (202) 364-6736
Agencies responsible for biological inventory and conservation Canadian Development Assistance Programme, Forestry Development Project, Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Labour, Forestry Division, KINGSTOWN,
St Vincent (Tel: 809 456 2410; Fax: 809 456 2873)

Central Planning Unit, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Development, KINGSTOWN, St Vincent Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Labour, KINGSTOWN, St Vincent

St Vincent National Trust, PO Box 752, KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (Tel: 809 456 1060)
 
Non-governmental organizations concerned with conservation  Bequia Heritage Foundation
   c/o Herman Belmar
   Port Elizabeth Post office
   Bequia, St. Vincent
   tel: 809-458-3514
 They aim to preserve and protect the historical heritage of Bequia, with an emphasis on the whaling industry.

   Jems Progressive Community Organization (JEMS)
   Enhams Post Office
   Enhams, St. Vincent
   tel: 809-456-9729
   fax: 809-456-2733
   They assist rural development through integrated self-help initiatives and empower 
   communities through training to maintain their natural resources sustainably.

   St. Vincent National Trust
   P.O. Box 1538
   Kingstown, St. Vincent
   tel: 809-456-1787
   Involved in historic preservation, environmental education and clean-up of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Major Natural Resources Bananas are the major natural resource accoutning for $21 million dollars annually.  The fish industry is currently being encouraged by Japanese companies. There is also the potential to tap in to the island's geothermal energy.  Tourism could definitley be another resource however its development is hampered by the fact that air transportation is very limited.
Major Environmental and Conservation Issues The  issue of whether or not whales should be hunted is the hot topic for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  Currently there is a two whale per year quota allowed by the International Whaling Commision for purposes of aboriginal subsistence.  However, tourists are horrified at the manner in which the hunt takes place and the necessity of the hunts for subsistence has been questioned.  Another major problem is the ollution of coastal waters and shorelines from  yachts. 
Statistics Information Sources
Land area 340 Sq. km  Source
Area of forest 13,000 ha, or 38 percent   Source
Area of wetlands 0.5 Sq. km   Source
Area of territorial waters 12nm  Source
Population  119,818  Source
Population Density 285 /Sq. km  
Area protected (ha) (only areas >1000ha) at all IUCN levels  Please click here  
Fraction of land area protected (%)    
Major Protected Areas There are 10marine protected areas including the NE coast and the Devil’s Table in Bequia, Isle de Quatre, all Mustique, the E coast of Canouan, all of Mayreau, the Tobago Cays,  the whole of Palm Island, Petit St Vincent and the surrounding reefs.   Source
Endemic Species
Mammals  
Birds  
Reptiles  
Amphibians  
Fish  102
Invertebrates  
Plants  

 

  
Endangered, Threatened and Vulnerable Species
Mammals  1
Birds  2
Reptiles  4
Amphibians  0
Fish  0
Invertebrates  0
Plants  9

Complete Plant Listing


Endangered Birds:  St Vincent Amazon,   Amazona guildingii		 World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal 

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Plants
Extinct Species
Mammals  
Birds  
Reptiles  
Amphibians  
Fish  
Invertebrates  
Plants  0

Complete Plant Listing

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal 

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Plants
Species listed on CITES Appendix I


CITES-listed Species Database
Species listed on CITES Appendix II


CITES-listed Species Database
Legislation
Laws protecting endangered or threatened species Wildlife Protection Act (1979) which covers the majority of the island’s birds, animals and reptiles and carries stiff penalties for infringements.
Source

International Whaling Commission quota for killing two humpack whales annually (May 1999)
Source
Laws protecting endangered ecosystems
  • The Fisheries Act No. 8 (1986)  Provides amongst other things for the establishment of marine reserves and conservation measures.
  • The Wildlife Protection Act No. 16 of 1987:  Provides amongst other things for definitions of forest reserves. 
  • The Forests Act (Cap. 23, 1945) provides for the responsibilities of the Forestry Division, to protect and manage the nation's forests and wildlife.
  • Central Water and Sewerage Authority Act (No. 6, 1978) authorises the establishment of protected areas to safeguard water resources
Source
  • Convention for the Protection andDevelopment of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region 
Source
Signatory to CITES 2-8-89
Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands Convention No
Signatory to Convention on Biological Diversity  June 3, 1996
Signatory to Migratory Bird Treaty
Member of International Whaling Commission Yes
Signatory to other international treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling 
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol 
Natural Resource Use Information Sources
Fisheries  In shore and offshore fishing.  Industry supported by Japan.  Source
Forestry  $193,000 in forest products exports
$189,000 paper products exports
$4,000 sawnwood exports
Click here for profile		  Source
Ecotourism  Potential for growth.  Air trasportation is underdeveloped.  Source
Trade in wildlife products    
Hunting  Illegal hunting of whales  USABreach@aol.com  Mon Apr 12 11:38:20 1999
Other uses of natural resources  Potential geothermal energy from the La Soufrière volcano  Source
Human Impacts on Natural Resources Information Sources
Air pollution    
Water pollution Pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts ; in some areas pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive   Source
Development activities    
Introduced species    
Legislation addressing these issues Convention for the Protection andDevelopment of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region  Source
Restoration and Reintroduction Information Sources
Programs for restoration of damaged habitat   A parrot reserve is being
established in the upper Buccament Valley. 		  Source
Programs for ex situ conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species "Other conservation work taking place in the gardens involves the endangered St Vincent  parrot, Amazona guildingii, which has been adopted as the national bird. An aviary, originally containing birds confiscated from illegal captors, now holds 12 parrots. In 1988 the first parrot was hatched in captivity and it was  hoped that this was the first step towards increasing the number on the island, estimated at down to only 500. "  Source

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Page compiled by Christy Egbert 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