State of The Environment Report 2000 • GEO flora andfaunaofBarbados. about theecology, habits,andstatusofmuchthe mentation, however, thereremainsalottobelearned ofresearchanddocu- Despite asubstantialhistory , areclassifiedasrare,orendangered. species ofmammals,,reptiles,amphibiansand particularly vertebratefauna,issparse.Some undisturbed naturalhabitats,theterrestrialfauna, coastal, near-shore andbenthic forest, rareandendangeredspecies,aswell marine biodiversityincludingnaturalvegetationand rent knowledgeaboutthestatusofterrestrialand manage whatremainsoftheisland’s biodiversity. and light theneedforstrongstrategiestoconserve sure onthefewremainingnaturalareas,andhigh- cultural activity. These competingusesexertpres- cial, industrialandtourismdevelopment;agri- subdivision forresidentialdevelopment;commer- island’s biologicaldiversity include:extensiveland human development. the encroachmentofvariousformsphysicaland such areasremainingtodayareunderthreatfrom closely resembletheirpre-settlementstate.Any places thatcanbeconsideredremote,or few these factorsisthattherenowremainvery densities intheworld.Thecombinedeffectof infrastructure andoneofthehighestpopulation plantations. Itnowhasahighlydevelopedphysical replaced largelybytobacco,cottonandsugarcane od, itsoriginalvegetationcoverhavingbeen was extensivelydenudedduringthecolonialperi- pared tothatwhichwashereoriginally. Theisland limitedstockofbiologicaldiversitycom- ing avery and extensivedevelopment,Barbadoshasremain- plantation monoculture andextensive intensive for agriculture.Asubsequent threecenturiesof about 80percentoftheforest coverwascleared 7. BIOLOGICALDIVERSITY 7.2.1 NaturalVegetation Due tothelimitedamountofforestcoverandother ofthecur- This sectionwillprovideanoverview The morerecentsourcesofpressureonthe Due toitsoverthreehundredyearsofsettlement Within thirty yearsoffirstsettlementin1627, Within 7.2 Terrestrial Biodiversity 7.1 Introduction communities 1 . forests occurat Cluffs,BathandBattsRock. Scotland District,andremnants ofxerophyticcoastal woods lieatthebaseofcoralline cliffthatrimsthe mesophytic (semi-deciduous) forest.Theunder-cliff island andthebestexample oftheoriginaltropical District, istheleastdisturbed woodedareaonthe occupying approximately21hectaresintheScotland other plantedwoodlands.TheTurner’s Hallwood, ing gullies,coastalwetlands,under-cliff woods and two percentor800hectaresofthelandarea,includ- and treesaspresentedinTable 7.2. mature collectionofnativeferns,climbers,shrubs Scotland District.Theytendtohavealargeand tend tobedifferentfromthoseintheravinesof island, andarehosttovegetationcharacteristicsthat and moistconditionsthanoccurinotherpartsofthe deep fissuresinthecoralcapprovidemoresheltered proportion ofBarbados’biologicaldiversity. These ated witheachexceptgulliesandforests. • • • • • • ronments, withwhichtheyareassociated: classified accordingtothefollowingtypesofenvi- allowed regenerationofnaturalvegetation. end useofgulliesasasourcefirewoodhasalso cultural lands,particularlyintheScotlandDistrict.The forestsonabandonedagri- etation andsecondary hasseenagradualregenerationofnaturalveg- tury cane cultivation,inthelatterdecadesoflastcen- of agriculturalactivity, particularlylandundersugar pockets ofitsoriginalnaturalvegetation.Thedecline development activityhavelefttheislandwithonly The gulliesareimportantenvironmentsforalarge Table 7.1summarisesthemajorspeciesassoci- The majornaturalplantcommunitieshavebeen (i) MajorPlantCommunities The totaltreecoverontheislandisreportedtobe Coastal . Forests, and Gullies; Rocky landandinlandcliffs; Sea cliffsandsearocks; Beaches, sanddunesandsandybeaches; 63 Table 7.1: Major Plant Communities/Species

Flora Ecosystem Representative (plants) Types/Habitats Communities/Species

Terrestrial Beaches, sand dunes, Xerophytic vegetation sandy beaches Philoxerus vermicularis, Ipoema pescaprae, Coccoloba uvifera

Sea cliffs Halophytes and Grasses Paspalum distichum, Sporobolus virginicus, Dactyloctenium aegypticum, Eleusine indica, Croton balsamifer, Jatropha gossypifolia, Lantana camara

Inland Cliffs Tabebuia pallida, Lantana involvucrata, Peperomia magnoliifolia, Bryophyllum pinnatum

Marine Coastal wetlands Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, Nelumbo nucifera, Eleocharis geniculata, Abilgaardia mosotachya, Fimbristylis ferruginea, Sporobolus virginicus, Philoxerus vermicularis, Conocarpus erectus

Source: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan- Assessment of Land Resources, Terrestrial Flora and Agricultural Biodiversity, 1998.

Table 7.2: Gully Flora The Type Species

Ferns Pteris vittata, Adiantum tenerum, Neurodium lanceolatum, Polypodium Latum

Shurbs Tecoma stans, Psidium guajava, Clerodendrum aculeatum. Solanum recemosum var. igneum, Pisonia aculeata, Coccoloba venosa, Miconia laevigata, M. cornifolia, Piper filatatum

Climbers Turbina corymbosa, Merremia umbellata, M. dissecta, M. aegyptica, Jacquemontia pentantha, Clitorea ternatea, Arbus precatorius, Passiflora foetida

Trees Ceiba pentandra, Maclura tinctoria, Hura crepitans, Citharexylum spinosum, Sapium hippimane, Cecropia Shreberiana, Inga laurina, Spondias mombin, Bursera simaruba, Aiphanes minima, Roystonea oleracea

Source: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan- Assessment of Land Resources, Terrestrial Flora and Agricultural Biodiversity, 1998.

64 State of The Environment Report 2000 • GEO Barbados gered. TheseareitemizedinTables 7.3and7.4. one siteandeightareconsideredrareorendan- national level.Ofthese15areknowntoexistatonly plants areconsideredtorequireprotectionatthe None oftheseisrareorendangered.Twenty-three and aslenderclimber( brates ofsocialandeconomicimportance,suchas birds, reptiles,amphibiansandterrestrialinverte- Action Plan(NBSAP)wasrestrictedtomammals, of the1998NationalBiodiversityStrategyand limited. Theassessmentconductedinpreparation islands, theterrestrialfaunaofBarbadosisrather barbadensis been identifiedasendemic:themaypole( exist ontheisland,onlythreespecieshavesofar Strumpfia maritima Vitex dicarciata Forestieria rhamnifolia Sideroxylon foetidissimun Dioscorea altissima Philodendron scandens Manilkara bidentata Eugenia lambertiana Eugenia pseudopsidium Conocarpus erectus Cissus erosa Capparis hastata Hernandia sonora Annona glabra Actinostemon caribaeus Species FamilyLocation Source: Terrestrial Floraand Agricultural Biodiversity, 1998. Compared tosomeofthelargerCaribbean Of the700speciesoffloweringplantsknownto

National BiodiversityStrategyand Action Plan- Assessment ofLandResources, Table 7.3: ), agullyshrub(

and Endangered Plants

7.2.3 Terrestrial

Plants KnownFromOnlyOneSite

7.2.2 Endemic,Rare

Metastelma barbadense

Phyllanthus andersoni Rubiaceae Verbenaceae Oleaceae Sapotaceae Sapotaceae Araceae Mrtaceae Myrtaceae Combretaceae Vitaceae Euphorbiaceae Hernandiaceae Annonaceae Dioscoreaceae Capparaceae Agave ). ),

Turner`s HallWood expanded range. teen exotics,eightofwhichoccurnaturallydueto birds havebeenconfirmed.Theseincludesix- green monkey. Atleast36speciesofresident mals suchastheraccoon,mongooseand nization, andtopredationbyintroducedmam- declined dueprimarilytohabitatlosssincecolo- with theotherterrestrialfauna. winter residentsaresummarisedinTable 7.5along such asploversandsandpipers.Themorenotable seabirds suchasgullsandterns,shorebirds have beenrecordedontheisland.Theseinclude populations,andasaresultover150species the flywayforeasternNorthAmericanmigratory and winterresidentspecies.Barbadosliesalong mammalian fauna,butitisdominatedbymigratory Table 7.5alongwiththeotherterrestrialfauna. species associatedwiththemaresummarisedin insects andalliedarthropods.Thesetaxa,the Turner`s HallWood JoesRiverForest Turner`s HallWood Gemswick The populationsofresidentavifaunahave The birdfaunaismuchmorediversethatthe SionHillGully Turner`s HallWood

JoesRiverForest Turner`s HallWood ChanceryLaneSwamp

Turner`s HallWood Turner`s HallWood Turner`s HallWood Turner`s HallWood Turner`s HallWood

65 Table 7.4: Rare and Endangered Plants

Species Family Coccothrinax babadensis Palmae Spiranthes lanceolatus Orchidaceae Talinum fruticosum Portulacaceae Zanthoxylon spinifex Rutaceae Cedrela odorata Meliaceae Quaraibea turbinata Bombacaceae Guazuma ulmifolia Bombaceae Psychotria microdon Rubiaceae

Source: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan- Assessment of Land Resources, Terrestrial Flora and Agricultural Biodiversity, 1998.

Table 7.5: Terrestrial Fauna Taxa Species Origin/Status Rats (Rattus rattus, R. novegicus) Introduced and common Green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) Mongooses (Herpestes javanicus)

Racoon (Procyon gloveralleni), Introducesd and Rare Hare (Lepus capensis)

Bats - six species Indigenous Monophyllus plethodon Endemic sub - species

Birds Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Migratory (winter resident) Great blue (Ardea herodias), Little blue heron (Floria caerula), The Government of Barbados American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla).

Reptilia Mastigodryas bruesi Regularly sighted

Worm snake (Leptotyphlops bilineata) Rarely seen but presumed extant

Grass sanke (Liophis prefuscus) Endemic, not sighted since 1961, presumed extinct

Tree lizard (Anolis extremus), Endemic, A. extremus Leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus pulcher) common, P. pulcher rare

Teiid ground lizard (Kentropyx borkiana), Other extant species Small silver and black ground lizard (Gymnopthalmus underwoodi), Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia)

Giant tortoise (Geochelons sp) Extinct

Red - footed tortoise (Geochelones carbonaria) Introduced, captive bred

Amphibians (Bufo marinus) Introduces; abundandt and widespread.

Whistling frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei) Indigenousness controversial; prolific

Insects Approximately 1 320 species No data

Source: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan- Assessment of Land Resources, Terrestrial Flora and Agricultural Biodiversity, 1998.

66 State of The Environment Report 2000 • GEO Barbados has beena historic practiceinruralBarbados. implemented. could placegullyspecies at riskifnotcarefully garbage fromgulliesandfor thecreationoftrails repeated proposalsforclearingillegallydumped and severalotherbeachareas.Inaddition,the has severelyimpactedLongPond,BattsRock es considerabledamagetobeachvegetationand implemented. Drivingvehiclesonbeachescaus- Lanewetlandsif locations suchastheChancery some existingdevelopmentapprovalswilldestroy communities fromresidentialdevelopments, threat tobeach,duneandsandybushlandplant nized locations.Whilethereisnoimmediate idential developmentwillalsoimpactonrecolo- problematic. exotic speciesintothewildisalsopotentially Mabuya mabouya the likelyextinctionsof goose andcanetoadarelargelyresponsiblefor key, themongoose andthecanetoad.Themon- native avianandreptilianfauna,thegreenmon- duction ofthreepredatorsmajorsignificanceto recolonised bynaturalvegetation. include abandonedagriculturallandsthatarebeing threat inthattheareasunderconsiderationoften species. Golfcoursedevelopmentalsoposesa consideration Sodoestheintroductionofexotic development alsoposesathreatintheareasunder tat forbirdsandseaturtles,interalia.Golfcourse threaten nativeplantcommunitiesandnestinghabi- sector theconstructionofhotelsandmarinas most typesofphysicaldevelopment.Inthetourism would haverepercussionsforothers. that negativelyimpactoneaspectofthesystem grated natureoftheecosystemsmeansthatfactors species hasnotbeenquantified,thehighlyinte- roosting, nesting,feedingandprotectionoffaunal restrial fauna.Thoughthevalueoftheseareasfor Free rangegrazingbycattle, sheepandgoats Continued subdivisionofmarginallandsforres- Barbados hasalreadysufferedfromtheintro- The majorthreatstobiodiversitycontinuebe 7.3 ImpactsonTerrestrial Plant communitiesprovidehabitatsforter- . Theintroductionoffurther Liophis perfuscus Diversity and tified atthespecieslevel. and thatseveralorganismshavenotyetbeeniden- been identifiedintheseecosystems(Table 7.6), 990 generaand1548speciesoforganismshave ful parasitesforbiologicalpestcontrol. pasture improvement,andthepropagationofhelp- food cropsforcommercialexploitation,grasses an increaseinthenumberofgenomesselected same time,agriculturalresearchhascontributedto able impactsonterrestrialfloraandfauna.Atthe means ofimprovingproductivity, havehadunavoid- inputs ofchemicalfertilizersandpesticidesasa decline insoilfertility. Subsequentincreasesin has beensugarcane. ic agro-ecosystems,themostpersistentofwhich isolated patches,andcreatedseveralmonospecif- have reducedtheextentofnaturalsystemstosmall stantially affectedbygrazing. ward sideoftheEastCoastRoadhasbeensub- diversity andabundanceofvegetationontheland- es andotherherbaceousplantstodominate.The shrubs andtreesingullies,therebyallowinggrass- grazing suppressedthedevelopmentofsome impacts ofthispractice,ithasbeensuggestedthat While nodataisavailablebywhichtoevaluatethe largest remaining wetlandinBarbados.Examples of Biodiversity StrategyandActionPlan coral reefs.ThemarinecomponentoftheNational ments, rockyintertidalareas,seagrassbedsand species. Theseincludewetlandsandwatercatch- tems thatareknowntosupportarichdiversityof versity ofmarineandfreshwaterecosystems. detailed lookwillbetakenatthestatusofbiodi- coastal andmarineresources.Hereamore of marinebiodiversity, ispresentedinthesectionon in itsgeneralcontext,whichincludessomeaspects 7.4.1 Wetlands andWater Catchments This long history ofcultivationhascontributedto This longhistory Finally, over300yearsofplantationagriculture As notedelsewhere,Graeme Hallswampisthe There areseveralmarineandfreshwaterecosys- The assessmentofcoastalandmarineresources 7.4 Freshwater andMarine Biodiversity 2 states that 67 78

54

259 8 organisms not identified beyond family

155 3 organisms not identified beyond family

172

88 14 organisms not identified beyond family

10 The Government of Barbados 3

25

60 9 organisms not identified beyond family

4

82

Source:

68 State of The Environment Report 2000 • GEO Barbados subtilis shrimp suchas catchments isdominatedbyseveralspeciesof freshwater diversity inpermanentandtemporary tural chemicalsindrainagewater. Theknownbio- it isbelievedthattheymaybeimpactedbyagricul- since ments isunknown,butstudiesarenecessary Houses andCulpepper. Thestatusofthecatch- Hillaby, Bathsheba, Consett,Codrington,Three en areBawdens,LongPond,GreenPondand ited biodiversityassessmentshavebeenundertak- canals, werehighlyalkaline,hardandnutrientrich. other recreationalactivities.Thewaterintheeastern in desirablelimits"topermitswimming,fishingand and nutrientlevels,butthatcoliformlevelswere"with- the lakewas"hypertrophic"duetohighchlorophyll being seriously degradedandfishabundance has soft coralpatchreefsalongthe southwestcoastare have alsoindicatedthatmulti-species areas. Surveys ings, bleachingandsediment smotheringinseveral coral hasshownsignsofdamage fromboatmoor- mono-species hardcoral,while multi-specieshard there hasbeenasignificantlossofareacoveredby and decliningreeffishnumbers.Onthepatchreefs filamentous algae,adecreaseincorallinealgalcover recordincreasesin is notablethatquantitativesurveys respecttothecoralreefs,it marine resources.With also beenpresentedinthesectiononcoastaland are providedinAppendices4ato4d. and Fish.Listsofspeciesfoundinthesehabitats Crustaceans, Mollusks,Annelids,Echinoderms tion oflivingorganismsincludingalgae,Cnidarians, pools, whichprovidehabitatsforadiversecollec- pebble beaches,low-lyingplatforms,andtide- sea atloworhightides.Itincludesrockycliffs, restrial habitatswheretheshoreiswashedby swamp withrespecttowater 2. Themostrecentavailablestudyofthestatus andaquaticfloraispresentedinAppendix detailed listofthefishes,crustaceans,insects, its biodiversityhavealreadybeenpresented.Amore Appendices 3aand3b). The surfacefreshwatercatchmentsforwhichlim- The statusofseagrassbedsandcoralreefshas 7.4.3 Seagrassbedsandcoralreefs Rocky intetidalareastraddlesthemarineandter- , Palaemon pandaliformis Atya innocuous 7.4.2 Rockyintertidalarea quality , , andothers.(See Palaemon aztecus 3 reported that regularly onthebankreef Sea turtles,particularlyhawksbills,canbeseen and sedimentdamageaswellover-exploitation. good health,althoughthereisevidenceofphysical (Delcan, 1994)thatthebankreefsareinreasonably and alowdensityofmacroalgae.Itisreported of hardandsoftcorals,ahighdensitysponges ity andtoover-fishing. declined. Thisisattributedtodeterioratingwaterqual- dominant fisheries. munities, aswellspeciesassociatedwiththe of somethebiodiversityspeciesthesecom- inated bymollusks.Appendix5providesasample mollusks andechinoderms,acommunitydom- coral community, onethatisrichincoelenterates, of terrestrialresources, andmarinelegislation which was integraltolanduseplanning policyinthecase andmanagementofbiological diversity servation and freshwaterecosystems. sources ofpollutionnegativelyimpactingmarine activity. Table 7.7summarisesthetypesand swamp arealsoundersevereimpactfromhuman damage anduseofdestructivefishingmethods. perhaps increasesintoxins,overfishing,physical increases intemperature,decreasessalinityand eutrophication andsewagepathogens,localized water qualityresultingfromincreasedsedimentation, fauna arebeingdegradedprimarilybydeteriorating The coastalandmarinehabitatstheirflora charge ordumpingintotheaquaticenvironment. water runoff,groundwaterdischargeanddirectdis- based sourcesofpollutiontransportedbysurface marine ecosystemisunderthreatprimarilyfromland (NBSAP) reportsthatthereareindicationsthe The bankreefssupportrichanddiversecolonies The Benthiccommunitiesincludeaspongeand Until very recently,Until very anypolicyrelating tothecon- Freshwater ecosystemssuchastheGraemeHall The NationalBiodiversitySrategyandActionPlan 7.5 ImpactsonMarine 7.4.4 Benthiccommunities 7.6 PolicyResponse Biodiversity 69 pre-dated the Coastal Zone Management Act ments for all development in the Integrated (1998) and the Marine Pollution Control Act Coastal Zone Management Area, and (1998). Today the Town and Country Planning enforcement of the Trees Preservation Act Act (cap 240) 1963, is still pivotal to the national policy response and legislative strategy for pro- A system of National Parks and Protected tection of biological resources. However, several Areas has also been proposed. A comprehen- more focused initiatives have been taken both sive plan for its designation, including the institu- within the revised Physical Development Plan tional, legislative and management framework (1998), and the NBSAP (2000). and plan for its implementation, has been devel- oped and is awaiting final approval within the 7.6.1 The Physical Development wider context of the Physical Development Plan. Plan, 1998 Unlike most of our Caribbean neighbours, pro- tected areas for terrestrial biodiversity do not cur- The Town and Country Planning Act provides rently exist in Barbados; even to protect the criti- the central mechanism for the regulation of land cal habitats used by our most endangered use, and in this regard it is relevant to the protec- species (e.g. sea turtles, snakes and lizards). tion of biodiversity. It has in the past been used where possible to prevent encroachment of 7.6.2 The Environmental and physical development into ecologically sensitive Natural Resources Management areas, consistent with the Physical Development Plan and Draft Environmental Plan. The revised Physical Development Plan Management Act (1998), however, articulates the following among a set of objectives regarding the conservation A major product of the Environmental and management of biodiversity: Management and Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development Project (EMLUP), com- • Establish National Heritage Conservation pleted in 1998, was the preparation of an Areas for the protection of significant ecosys- Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for tems such as remnant forests, wetlands, Barbados, which is embodied within the Draft dunes, savannahs, and marine features; Environmental Management Act (EMA) that was also prepared under that study. The EMP identi- The Government of Barbados • Protect, maintain and enhance natural her- fies the following issues and opportunities that itage features in urban environments and seek need to be addressed as a consequence of the to minimize adverse impacts arising from new pressures and impacts on biological diversity: development. • Maintaining ecological viability of remaining Other specific references to biodiversity natural habitats that are represented generally include: in small, isolated areas, including areas of nat- ural forest (e.g. Turners Hall Wood, • Preservation of vegetation through incentives Hackleton’s Cliff, Foster’s Funland, Archer’s to increase tree cover in urban, rural and Bay, Consett Bay). This should include proj- coastal areas; ects designed to remove damaging intro- duced predators from sensitive areas; • Creation of National Forest Candidate Sites and protection of existing forests, emerging • Maintaining the integrity of scenic vistas and forests and forest linkages in the National areas, including the Scotland District, ridges, Park; caves, coastal cliffs and public parks;

• Restriction of developments in forested gul- • Preservation of critical habitats for migratory lies, and and nesting species, as well as indigenous species including wildfowl, sea turtles and • Requirement of tree preservation and replace- snakes; ment plans as part of the supporting docu-

70 State of The Environment Report 2000 • GEO Barbados Table 7.7: Source ofPollutantsinMarineandFreshwater . untreate h . . useofdynamiteinfishin . toxins(heav . seepa . suspendedmatter . nutrientsandpatho . dischar . chlorinatedwater . nutrients(nitratesandphosphates)causin . sediments plants,waste . pointsourcedischar demand . or . toxinsfrom . suspendedmatter . patho . nutrients . leac .

. anchordama heavy metals s g s torm uck well host fishin y g drocarbons anic contaminantscreatin h ate containin s g g an enic bacteria g e o d e ofheatedwaterfrompowerplan ( s f BOD

d rom d f f

nutrientsintothecoastal g ome rom sewa p h y bylostfishtraps esticides andherbicides urricane g metals,chlorine,petroleumandother ) f f ) rom rumdistiller e ertilizers s f tic wa rom ships f g rom swimmin f f rom exposedsoi rom exposedsoildurin g nitrates,or g f enic bacteria rom animalwast s g e o e s , t animalwast g e f e ff luen ff luent g

y h g t g i anic contaminantsan gh pools f f rom sewa rom domesticwast

b l e iolo g e round water g ical oxy g g t constructio eutrophicatio g e treatmen g e f rom n d e n t n 71 • Rehabilitation of degraded natural systems Fisheries Division in implementing the CZMP including gullies, forests and dune areas; provision for regulating shallow-shelf reef and coastal pelagic fisheries, and for managing • Control of the capture of threatened species coastal habitats such as coral reefs and sea including sea turtles and snakes; grass beds;

• Control over shooting ponds; • Protection and management of turtle nesting sites, and • Improved understanding of the need for protec- tion of reptiles and freshwater fish and shellfish; • Determination of threshold levels for marine water quality. • Improved control over the felling of trees during construction and clearance; 7.6.4 Fisheries Management Plan (1997), Fisheries Act (1993/96) • Control over set fires, including for clearing fields; The Fisheries Management Plan (FMP), which is prepared in accordance with the Fisheries Act, pro- • Controlling the export of rare and endangered vides for protection of the marine environment and terrestrial and marine species; and conservation of marine biodiversity through the fol- lowing: • Control over the importation of non-indigenous species of flora and fauna. • Integrating the fishing industry into the policy and decision making process on fisheries; 7.6.3 The Coastal Zone Management Plan • Promoting the development and use of fishing gear and practices that minimize waste in the The Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), catch of target species and minimize by-catch which is embodied in the 1998 Coastal Zone of non-target species; Management Act, provides for the conservation and management of coastal and marine biodiversi- • Effective monitoring, control and surveillance of The Government of Barbados ty. It also provides for the designation of marine fishing activities; reserves, which may include submarine areas along with adjacent land that is ecologically linked, • Protecting and restoring populations of endan- as restricted areas. gered marine species, and

In addition, the CZMP provides for the conserva- • Preserving rare and fragile ecosystems and tion and management of Natural Heritage ecologically sensitive areas, in particular coral Conservation Areas (OS 2) and Coastal Landscape reefs, estuaries, mangroves, beds, Protection Zones (OS 3) established under the and spawning and nursery areas. 1998 Physical Development Plan. The CZMP also articulates the following policies: 7.6.5 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 1998 • Preservation of existing vegetation by landown- ers through encouragement from the Coastal Finally, and perhaps most pertinently, the Ministry Zone Management Unit (CZMU); of Physical Development and Environment has recently concluded a consultancy for the prepara- • Protection and rehabilitation guidelines for tion of a country study on biodiversity, which coastal and marine habitats including coral involved the preparation of a Draft National reefs, seagrass beds, ravines and other fresh- Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The water ecosystems and littoral vegetation; study consolidated the body of documented knowledge on all aspects of the island’s biodiversi- • Cooperation between the CZMU and the ty, and established a database of terrestrial flora

72 State of The Environment Report 2000 • GEO Barbados sustainable biodiversitymanagement. groundwork willbelaidforachievingthegoalsof the proposedEnvironmentalManagementAct, ture inplace,supportedbythelegislativepowerof suchastruc- responsible fortheenvironment.With poses thecreationofaNaturalHeritageUnit another productoftheEMLUPstudy, whichpro- Management andLandUsePlanninginBarbados, Institutional ArrangementsforEnvironmental Such anapproachislaidoutintheproposed the managementofbiodiversitywillbedeveloped. structure toachieveawell-integratedapproach expected that,ultimately, aconsolidatedinstitutional natural habitatsandlossofnativespecies.Itis undertaken inordertoavoidfurtherdegradationof It istimethatactionstoimplementthesepoliciesbe limitedandpressuredbiodiversityresources. its very Barbados intendstoapproachthemanagementof seriousness withwhichtheGovernmentof including alienandexoticspecies. proposes managementplansforspecificspecies, appropriate methodologiesforimplementation,and biodiversity,initiatives forconserving aswell and fauna.ThedraftNBSAPidentifiespriorities 3. For this Simmons and Associates cited Catteneo cited and Associates Simmons this For 3. TechnicalPlan and Resources. Action Strategy Marine Biodiversity Report: National 1998, and Associates, Simmons 2. of study country completed recently the from derived is report the of section this in presented information the of Most 1. Notes The policyresponsesdetailedaboveindicatethe 7.7 Conclusion Prepared for the Government of Barbados, Ministry of Health and the Environment. the and Health of Ministry Barbados, of Government the for Prepared Barbados. of Biodiversity the on available literature and research the of survey extensive an included latter The Inc. and Associates Simmons by Barbados of Government the for prepared were which of both (2000), Diversity Biological on Convention the to Parties the of Conference the to Report National Barbados the and (1998) Plan and Action Strategy Biodiversity National a of preparation biodiversity,included which et al. (1988). 73