Title
Environmental Conservation in Saint Barthélemy: Current Knowledge and Research Recommendations
Author(s)
Catherine Jadot
Published
2016
Abstract
With a territory of only 25 km2, the island of Saint Barthélemy is one of the smallest Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) of the European Union. The island is fortunate to have beautiful landscapes and support rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity. The collectivity of St-Barthélemy has undergone a rapid transition from an isolated island to a luxury tourist destination. This high-end tourism development model has propelled the economy of the island to new heights but has also increased demands on its natural resources. With the increased pressure on its natural resources, we find new opportunities for improved conservation.
St-Barthélemy’s government has set their environmental regulations through their Environmental Code (Code de l’Environnement), adopted in 2009, and it is governed by a public body, the Territorial Environment Agency (ATE). Since October 2016, the legal framework allows for enforcement by sworn agents. The collectivity has initiated environmental protection measures such as constructing a new sanitation plant for Gustavia, initiating an improved recycling program where household waste is sorted and separated, fueling the desalination plant through thermal energy from incinerated materials and updating its fishing regulations. However, designing effective measures for the conservation of the environment relies on having strong and comprehensive knowledge of the various ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial. Today, our knowledge of St-Barthélemy’s ecosystems is fragmented and, in some cases, outdated. The few available indicators reflecting the ecosystems’ health pinpoint that the marine system is reaching critical thresholds:
Reefs around the island are in critical condition,
Fish populations levels have dropped below the regional benchmark for recovery, inside and outside of the Marine Protected Areas,
Overall health of the seagrass beds has been categorized as “mediocre”,
The macroalgae cover in the reef systems has increased rapidly and is now over 50%,
Coastal erosion is severe in several locations around the island and in some areas has led to repetitive beach re-nourishment programs, and
Invasive species (goats, iguana, lionfish) further threaten the territory’s
biodiversity.
The lack of information relating to other critical components of the island resources, such as fisheries, hinder the assessment of their health and sustainability.
This report compiles current information about St-Barthélemy’s environment to help establish the foundation for future potential conservation-related activities. It also incorporates the results of a stakeholders’ workshop to identify the primary threats to natural resources of the island. We provide a summary of key stakeholders and review the various legal structures related to the environment of St-Barthélemy. We conclude with recommendations and key priorities for actions to effectively manage and conserve the resources of St-Barthélemy and surrounding islands, such as the development and implementation of an island-wide sustainable development plan, updates to the legal framework, and intensification of collaborations with out-island institutions to close the identified research gaps.
Overall, the environment of St-Barthélemy seems to be degrading rapidly, with major concerns regarding land based pollution, urbanization and overfishing. Some of the regulations in place are well formulated to protect the natural resources of the island, however monitoring and enforcement are sorely lacking. In order to support the livelihood, economy, and wellbeing of St-Barthélemy, conservation efforts must take place through holistic, informed, and coordinated planning.
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