TRUST NEWS. April June The Saint Lucia Racer: A small creature with big plans and a promising future. Volume 3 Issue 2

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1 TRUST NEWS Volume 3 Issue 2 April June 2014 The Saint Lucia Racer: A small creature with big plans and a promising future and diurnal, all of which are characteristics that render a creature vulnerable to predation. Thus, when the Asian mongooses were introduced to Saint Lucia during the European era of the island s colonization, the Racer, which formed an enticing part of their diet, experienced a drastic decline in population and was eventually extirpated from the mainland. Photo Credit: Toby Ross The Saint Lucia Racer is truly a unique natural heritage because among other reasons, it is one of four endemic snakes found on the island. The Saint Lucia Racer is also known as the Liophis ornatus and is scientifically referred to as the Erythrolamprus ornatus. In recent times, it assumed the title of the World s Known Rarest Snake and has since been in the spotlight internationally, captivating the minds of conservationists worldwide. In 1936 the racer was considered extinct, but thanks to our nature reserve Maria Major, a racer was able to survive and was re-discovered in The Saint Lucia racer is currently classified as an endangered species on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. But how did the Saint Lucia Racer get to this point one may ask? After all, it is a snake, a creature that is generally considered to be dangerous and has a high defense capacity. The answer to this puzzle lies within Saint Lucia s history, its nature, behavior and habitat. The Racer is categorized as a snake that is non-venomous, ground-dwelling, small in size Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the last remaining individuals of the species are conserved and are used to rescue the species from extinction, a team of experts which comprised Saint Lucian and international conservationists was engaged. In the latter part of 2011, after a scrupulous search through the rugged and steep terrains of Maria Islet, the team was successful in capturing eleven (11) racers which were tagged with microchips and subsequently returned to their natural habitat on Maria Major. This initiative would not have been as triumphant without the support and funding from the Balcombe Trust, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The British conservation groups, Flora & Fauna International and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, have since helped Saint Lucia to appreciate that all is not lost for its native racer by pinpointing the success of one of our neighboring islands, Antigua, in reviving the population of their once endangered Antiguan Racer. As such, on 8th May 2014, emissaries of the Flora & Fauna International and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust met with various experts to discuss and begin the process of crafting a 10 year Action Plan for the revival of the Saint Lucian Racer. Along with the National Trust

2 and private consultants, the entities represented at the meeting were the Biodiversity Unit, the Forestry Department and the Sustainable Development and Environment Division, all of which are within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology. Look out for part two in our next edition! In this issue: Joanna Rosemond Programme Officer; Heritage Conservation 1. The Saint Lucia Racer: A small creature with big plans and a promising future! 2. PSEPA Management Meeting 3. Cultural Heritage, Is It The Answer? Participants 4. at The the Trust consultation Walks Again Vieux For 5. Earth Day Participants 6. Jersey at Learning the consultation Experience meeting in 7. Vieux Welcome Fort (Photo: New Staff E. Doyle) 8. Staff Corner Quote Nature is our treasure, help save it. PSEPA Management Meeting Activities Gaining Momentum at Point Sable Environmental Protection Area Representatives of national agencies and local communities met on Monday, June 23rd at the Saint Lucia National Trust s (SLNT) southern office to agree on priority activities for the protection of the Point Sable Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA). Since February of this year, efforts have been underway to update the draft management plan for the PSEPA, which was commissioned in We started with a review of the management plan by a number of experts, explained SLNT s Director, Mr. Bishnu Tulsie. Technical specialists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program, Australia s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute volunteered their time and highlighted the areas of the management plan that most require updating and refining.

3 Participants at the meeting in Vieux Fort (Photo: E. Doyle) These areas then provided the focus for discussion during consultation meetings with community representatives in Vieux Fort, as well as meetings with partner agencies at the national level. During these working sessions we gathered information about changes in the condition of natural resources during the last five years, and about threats and challenges facing the protected area. With assistance from the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, the core team then developed a series of possible management actions through which Point Sable Environmental Protection Area can seek to fulfill its objectives, added Mr. Tulsie. A further meeting was held in June to present the revised PSEPA objectives and the proposed management actions to local community members and national agency representatives for their review. We presented a wide range of possible management actions to address the issues that surfaced in the earlier meetings, explained the SLNT s Programme Officer for the South, Mr. Craig Henry. For example, there was agreement on the need for enhanced communications and joint law enforcement training to combat illegal fishing in the marine component of the Maria Islands Wildlife Reserve. With assistance from community groups, we will closely monitor key species and habitats within the protected area. We will seek to better manage the negative impacts of recreational use of beaches. And we will endeavour to incorporate Vieux Fort s schools into existing educational programmes run by the Trust and other partners. The updated draft management plan will next be made publicly available and presented for endorsement by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Trust expresses its profound gratitude to all agencies and individuals who participated in the review process and looks forward to future collaborations as management activities are implemented. The review of the management plan is made possible with support from NOAA s Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, as part of their assistance to marine protected areas in the Caribbean to help build local capacity for effective marine protected areas management. For more information please contact Craig Henry, Programme Officer South, Saint Lucia National Trust at mariaisland@slunatrust.org or tel CULTURAL HERITAGE, IS IT THE ANSWER? We in the Caribbean must exploit our rich heritage for our souls, our children s sake, for the world and for the huge economic potential they have, so said Senator Henry Fraser, the key note speaker at the Saint Lucia National Trust s (SLNT) inaugural Trust Pioneers Lecture. The event was staged as part of the Trust s activities to mark International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day under the distinguished patronage of the Governor General of Saint Lucia and Patron of the Trust, Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy.

4 Additionally, the first lecture was a tribute to Historian and Conservationist, the late Robert Devaux, one of the founding fathers of the Trust and its first Director, who passed away on April 16, 2013, two days prior to World Heritage Day. On April 17 th close to eighty (80) persons of varied backgrounds gathered to be a part of this momentous event; from the Governor General to various ambassadors; from SLNT Councilors, members and staff to representatives of various organizations and students. After a five minute video presentation on the life of Mr. Devaux, the Trust's Chairperson, Dr. Vasantha Chase gave participants an update on some of the major conservation projects being undertaken such as the Walcott Place project; Islands without Aliens project; and the Pigeon Island National Landmark Redevelopment among others. The theme for the international observance was The Heritage of Commemoration and as such Senator Henry Fraser s lecture entitled Our unique Caribbean Heritage: Preservation for our Souls, our Children, the World and our very survival was indeed aptly presented to an eager audience who clung to the presenter s every word. A Past President of the Barbados National Trust, Senator Fraser said although there are several magnificent World Heritage Sites (WHS) in the Caribbean such as Dominica s Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Barbados Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, Saint Lucia s Pitons Management Area and Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in Saint Kitts & Nevis, we are still under-represented in the list of UNESCO s World Heritage Sites. Furthermore, he added that there are many other sites in the region deserving of WHS status including Jamaica s Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and of course Saint Lucia s Pigeon Island National Landmark. Therefore, he said Caribbean residents must learn to move mountains constantly even though it might take years to see the results: we need to be patient yet aggressive in our efforts to preserve our heritage. He said those in the conservation movement need to get the people, politicians and the potential philanthropists to understand the true value of our heritage. Heritage tourism, he noted is the fastest growing aspect of tourism today and posits that it could be the answer to the recession affecting the region. Each area of cultural heritage has huge economic potential from the special food items, art, sculpture, ceramic to the music, film and clothes because people do not only want to travel to the Caribbean just to lie on the beach and purchase a t- shirt but to learn more about our rich history through increased cultural tourism products. Investing in our cultural heritage will help us to spend more locally and less on imports of trendy materials, as restoration of historic buildings is cheaper than new buildings, said Senator Fraser. The Guest Speaker went on to say that some people in the Caribbean would actually refuse to visit a historic plantation or plantation great house because it was built by the oppressive slave masters. However, Senator Fraser believes that although many of our landmarks in the Caribbean were created by slaves and they might stand today as relics of a brutal age, they are monuments of amazing workmanship

5 In closing, SLNT Director, Mr. Bishnu Tulsie acknowledged the hard work of the founding fathers and proceeded to list their names. Additionally, he made special mention of the late Sir John Compton for his integral role in the establishment of the Trust in The inaugural Trust Pioneers Lecture which was held at the Palmville Meeting Room at Coco Resorts in Rodney Bay was skillfully moderated by life member of the Trust, Mr. Lucius Doxerie. According to Senator Fraser, Haiti s National History Park Citadel like Egypt s Pyramids of Giza are simply awesome and among the greatest monumental works of man, built at the cost of thousands of lives. He echoed President Aristide s comments that they are significant because although they are great works which may have been created by despots and slaves, they are landmarks in our history which we need to recognize. He continued: The reality is that we in the Caribbean must exploit our rich heritage for our souls, our children s sake, the world and for the huge economic potential they have. He said many countries in Europe thrive on their heritage brand, while Mexico, Greece and many others depend on it. Special thanks to the National Television Network and Calabash Television for airing the Lecture in its entirety several times for those who were unable to attend. Additionally, thanks to all other media houses for assisting to publicize this event in one way or another. Karetta Crooks Charles Communications & Advocacy Officer The Trust Walks Again To celebrate World Heritage Day, the Saint Lucia National Trust organized a couple of events to introduce and reinforce our heritage to the public. The Morne Fortuné guided tour was one of them. The Morne Fortuné guided tour was the second in a series of Our Heritage Guided Tours organized by Taiwan ICDF volunteer Rebeca Hung with support from the Trust. The purpose of these tours is to engender a greater sense of pride in our heritage, enrich historical knowledge through educational walks and discussions, and encourage the public to join the Trust s conservation work. It is anticipated that the Guided Tours will help participants get a better understanding of the Trust and its conservation mandate, as well as the need for more people to support its cause.

6 The event was held on 27 th April at Provost Park on the Morne Fortuné Historical Site. The tour began There were parents with their children as well as a youth group which joined this activity. So it seems this is a good way to educate the next generation about culture, history, and heritage. with a welcome by Ms. Hung and a presentation on the Trust s conservation work by the Director, Mr. Bishnu Tulsie. Following that, participants were addressed by historian Dr. Gregor Williams and were taken on a guided tour of the site. Thirty-six (36) persons were accommodated at this event. The Guided Tour was highly recommended and more are expected to be staged in the future. Based on feedback from participants, the experience not only helped them to have a better understanding of Saint Lucia s 19th century military history, but also of the conservation work of the Trust. Here are some of the participants sentiments about the tour: I like the way Dr. Williams tells stories. He is very professional and knowledgeable. The entire tour was very informative. Rebeca Hung ICDF Volunteer Earth Day 2014: What is your small action? Take action was the resounding message at Soleil Kouché organized by the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) in observance of International Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22 nd, The event, held under the theme Green Cities was staged at Provost Park at the Morne Fortuné Historic Site against the tranquil backdrop of the Castries Harbour. Present were members of the SLNT and general public, as well as representatives from the PCI Media Impact, Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority, the Sustainable Development and Environment Division and the Forestry Department among others. In his welcome address, the Master of Ceremonies and Director of the SLNT, Mr. Bishnu Tulsie mentioned that global challenges such as approaching planetary boundaries in terms of climate change, biodiversity loss and acidification of the oceans all threaten survival For example, acidified oceans will impact negatively on

7 marine life which can result in the collapse of fisheries, with consequences for the livelihoods and nutrition of countless millions. He also echoed the well known saying that, What we do to Mother Earth, we do onto ourselves Mr. Tulsie also referred to the international processes to address these issues, such as the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Millennium Development Goals and the ongoing negotiations for the Post 2015 Development Agenda which speak to actions we need to take to ensure that Mother Earth will keep on supporting our continued existence. Mr. Tulsie lauded national efforts in public awareness but noted that more focus should be placed on narrowing the gap between awareness and practice. He closed by encouraging the audience to take one small action to make a difference because global change comes about through local and individual actions which can help turn around the environmental degradation we now face. Thereafter, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Senator James Fletcher delivered a riveting feature address which highlighted the requisite measures to be taken to make Saint Lucia a green island. He spoke of the inescapable role of energy in our lives and pointed out that we are dependent on diesel for the generation of electricity as well as gas and diesel for our transportation needs. He then said since these were neither clean nor green fuels we need to begin to tap into the abundance of sunlight, wind and geothermal energy from the Sulphur Springs in Soufriere to produce cleaner energy. He also pointed to the need for everyone to take individual action as we can all point to examples of leaving the lights on or the air conditioning units running when no one is at home or in the office. He spoke to his Ministry s continued efforts in promoting a renewable energy programme which will lead to a reduction of our dependency on fossil fuel. He said the programme will also help Saint Lucians to understand their role in reducing demand for energy. Another part of his Ministry s Green Island Campaign has to do with the way in which we utilize water. Dr. Fletcher spoke of an eye opening field trip by parliamentarians to the John Compton Dam on Earth Day. In describing the Dam s deteriorated condition, he said Where there should have been 50 feet of water, there is now silt or an accumulation of earth that you are able to walk on. He noted that while some of the damage to the Dam was caused by Mother Nature a lot was also due to our practices, for example, it was evident that there were vast areas of forest cover loss in the vicinity. The message of safeguarding earth s resources was also conveyed through poetry, a dramatic presentation and an original song. Black Crayon s poem dubbed Genesis of Destruction was creatively packed with powerful punches piercing the hearts and minds of those present to think about the effects of the destruction that will be caused if we continue to go about life in a carefree manner and failing to rectify our errors towards nature. Another, inspirational piece that was well received by the audience was a dramatic presentation by the Richard Ambrose Dance Theatre Project entitled Of this Soil.

8 To close the evening s proceedings, participants proudly recited the Earth Day Pledge and a talented young man, Adrian Klien performed an original song called Change Climate Change which painted a positive outlook of the future if humans remain hopeful and actively play their part in conserving the environment. Karetta Crooks Charles Communications & Advocacy Officer Soufriere Earth Day 2014 Mission The SLNT Champions Fair Helen s Patrimony

9 Jersey Learning Experience On Friday 13 th February 2014, I left Saint Lucia on a three month training course in Endangered Species Management with the Durrell Conservation Academy in Jersey, Channel Islands United Kingdom. Fortunately, I was the recipient of a full scholarship from the Academy mainly because of my work experience, enthusiasm and working together with the Field Monitors on weekends to monitor the Offshore Islands for invasive alien species. Though the course seemed very intense I was intrigued because this was an area in which I was exceedingly interested in. Participants were introduced via and so we had an idea as to who each individual was prior to our arrival. Training immediately began from February 17 th with formal introductions by course participants. There were eleven participants representing ten nationalities and despite the language barriers, we were very eager to learn about each other s country/island, cultural differences and our work as conservationists. Our personal objectives were written and placed on the walls in the lecture hall. We were also required to prepare a presentation on why our country should be a priority for conservation and through this exercise we learnt quite a great deal about the countries represented. This exercise also helped to further enhance our presentation skills and boost our confidence. Through team building exercises, we got to know more about each other s strengths and weaknesses. The group got quite used to seeing the Saint Lucian flag and even helped in celebrating our 35 th Independence anniversary. The course content was extremely informative and intense and can definitely be applied to my duties at the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT). This course provided me with a wide range of skills such as project management; observation, especially when monitoring our endangered species at the Offshore Islands; presentation; facilitation and leadership. Our interpersonal skills were also developed as we had to work with different personalities and cultures. The importance of teamwork was also the basis for survival at the Academy, as we were often placed in groups to carry out various tasks. Participants got the opportunity to meet with enthusiastic conservationists at Durrell. Special mention must be made of Mrs. Lee Durrell, wife of well-known conservationist, Mr. Gerald Durrell who welcomed the group and made a presentation on the work of her late husband and how the Wildlife Park came about. The dedication, patience and wealth of knowledge passed on by Dr. Tim Wright and all the other Durrell staff will not be forgotten. Saint Lucia was often mentioned as were our endangered species such as the Whiptail and the Racer. It was indeed an honour to represent my island at various forums and to see the appreciation by others of our unique flora and fauna. Durrell volunteers were gracious enough to take us sightseeing on weekends. As such I discovered that

10 Jersey has many places of interest such as castles, old churches, light houses, fortresses and historic buildings. I was indeed very fortunate to make contact with the Director of the Jersey National Trust, Mr. Charles Alluto who took me to visit some of the National Trust Sites. He shared quite a bit of information about the history of the organization and its mission and vision. The knowledge and skills acquired will be used to become a more efficient staff of the SLNT, to assist the organization to take a greater lead role in conservation matters and the management of the endangered species on the Offshore Islands and in Saint Lucia generally. I take this opportunity to thank the Saint Lucia National Trust and Durrell Conservation for making this training a success. Murlina Murray Programme Assistant/Conservation Upcoming Events Friday, July 25 th to Thursday, July 31 st Youth Environment Forum Membership Activity August 9 th Turtle Watch September 26 th SLNT Anniversary September Walcott Place Project Launch Our Vision The Natural and Historical patrimony of Saint Lucia is preserved for present and future generations.

11 Welcome The Saint Lucia National Trust introduces Mrs. Joanna Sumitra Nerdine Octave-Rosemond, newly appointed Natural Heritage Progamme Officer as of May Mrs. Rosemond brings to the Trust, ten (10) years of experience in the implementation of various projects under the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) to which Saint Lucia is signatory. Her areas of expertise include marketing, project management, wildlife and forestry conservation and web and graphic designing. Mrs. Rosemond will be responsible for helping the Trust drive its natural heritage conservation programme and the operations management and maintenance of various sites. Sites of particular interest to her programme area include but are not limited to, Morne Pavillon, Pigeon Island National Landmark and Anse La Liberté. The Trust officially welcomes Mrs. Rosemond on board and looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship. Ms. Germaine Joseph holds the position of Programme Officer for Built Heritage at the Saint Lucia National Trust. She combines her knowledge of the built environment and community development to advocate the preservation of special Architectural and Historic Buildings of interest, which are under risk from redundancy, underuse, neglect and decay. Her education in Architecture commenced in the UK. While volunteering within Inner City London implementing funding programmes to regenerate inner city communities, she developed an even greater passion for Green Architecture and the conservation of Colonial Architecture. The preservation of our built heritage through the Listed Building Project is part of her portfolio. Ms. Joseph is eager to preserve the poignant essence of the Colonial built heritage, its steeped roofs, stone walls, astute geometry and endearing fretwork for generations to come. The Trust welcomes Ms. Joseph on board and looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

12 Staff Birthday Corner April Bishnu Tulsie 5 th Karetta Crooks Charles 16 th Denia George 20 th May June Adderla Francois 20 th Lucretia Remy 28 th May your day be filled with smiles, sunshine, love and laughter!! This is a publication of the Saint Lucia National Trust, P.O. Box 595, Castries, Saint Lucia, Tel / , Fax: natrust@slunatrust.org Website: