Chronology of forestry and wildlife management in Saint Lucia

1667 Earliest known mention of the existence of the boa constrictor by Father Jean Baptiste Du Tertre, in ‘Histoire générale des Antilles habitées par les François’ describing the snakes of Saint Lucia (known as Sainte Alouize at the time by the French). He was a was a French blackfriar and botanist.

1776 St. Lucia Amazon (Amazona versicolor) first described by Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller.

1840s Earliest known observations on the birds of Saint Lucia by Lieutenant R. E. Tyler, who resided in Saint Lucia for at least 2 years. Made 19 colored drawings of 18 species in the collection of the Zoological Society of London.

1849 Notes on the Serpents of St. Lucia by Lieutenant R. E. Tyler, Zoological Society of London.

1871 On the birds of the island of Saint Lucia, West Indies by Philip Lutley Sclater, an English lawyer and zoologist..

1872 Observations on the birds of Saint Lucia by Reverend John E. Semper, who was the Colonial Chaplain of the island and amateur ornithologist. Previous publication on same in 1871.

1870s Extensive specimen collection and accounts on the birds of Saint Lucia by Reverend John E. Semper. Semper’s Warbler (Leucopeza semperi) named after him.

1876 List of the birds of Santa Lucia by Joel Asaph Allen. Subsequent listing publications in 1880 and 1881. He was an American zoologist, mammalogist, and ornithologist.

1885 Wild Bird Protection Ordinance passed to protect the birds of the island (updated in 1954 with minor revisions including increase in fines).

1887 Report upon the Forests of St. Lucia published by E.D.M. Hooper, Indian Forest Department, recommending no more clearing of forest lands owned by the Crown and that boundaries of forested lands be clearly marked and that a Forest Warden be appointed to manage the resource.

1889 Forest protection initiated for parts of the forest determined as watershed areas.

1916 Castries Waterworks Reserve (1,393 ha) established.

1918 Timber Protection Ordinance passed to prevent the unlawful felling of timber on Crown and vacant land.

1932 Notes on some birds of Saint Lucia by James Bond, American ornithologist and expert on the birds of the Caribbean.

1935 The Birds of Saint Lucia published by Stuart T. Danforth of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Field research supported by Stanley John (from Forestiere).

1938 Plantations of Honduras Mahogany established at Quilesse and Soufriere.

1938 Ravine Poisson Disaster from massive landslides (21-22 November) triggered by persistent rains that buried communities, with the loss of over 100 lives. The cause was deforestation of steep slopes along the Barre de l’Isle ridge (as far back as 1922, hundreds of acres of land in the Barre de l’Isle area had been cleared for planting of bananas).

1938 Reforestation programme initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture (that controlled all Government lands).

1944 Recommendation for establishment of a dedicated Forestry Division within the Ministry of Agriculture by John Stanley Beard, Assistant Conservator of Forests of Trinidad and Tobago.

1945 Forest, Soil and Water Conservation Ordinance No. 6 (amended to Act, 1983) approved by the Saint Lucia Legislative Council. Provision for management of forests, establishment of forest reserves and protected forests, development of soil and water conservation programmes to protect forested areas.

1946 Forestry Division established under the Department of Agriculture with appointment of a Forest Supervisor, 1 Senior Forest Officer, 2 Forest Rangers, 3 Forest Guards and 3 Forest Watchers.

1946 Quilesse Reserve (1,400 ha); Dennery Waterworks Reserve (145 ha) established.

1946 William Lang (from Grenada) appointed first Forest Supervisor for Saint Lucia.

1949 Natural Vegetation of the Windward and Leeward Islands report published by John Stanley Beard, Assistant Conservator of Forests of Trinidad and Tobago.

1950 Blue Mahoe introduced into Saint Lucia from Jamaica by William Lang. Planted extensively at Edmund Forest and the Barre de l’Isle.

1953 Government Timber Industry started. In 1954 a timber workshop called ‘Timbershed’ was established in Conway, Castries.

1958 St. Lucia Whiptail (lizard) discovered on Maria Islands by Gregor Williams and Earl Long.

1961 Edmund Forest House constructed at Edmund Forest.

1961 Mexican cypress introduced to Saint Lucia (native to Mexico and Central America) for use as Christmas Trees by William Lang (in 1967 the Government banned the importation of live Christmas trees).

1963 Timber industry Development Board Ordinance passed to provide for the establishment of a Timber Industry Development Board and for related management matters.

1965 Timber Development Board appointed which managed the Timbershed workshop and responsible for timber product development.

1969 A summary of the status of the Saint Lucia Parrot (Amazon versicolor) and other rare birds of Saint Lucia by David Wingate. Found the bird was present in some numbers, noting that as many as 40 were being hunted annually.

1970 Forestry Division’s first Management Plan published by John Arthur (Ian) Goodlet (at time the conservator of forests in Trinidad & Tobago). The effort led to estimation of the area of forest plantations established.

1972 Gabriel Charles appointed first Saint Lucian Forestry Supervisor. He was preceded in the interim following retirement of William Lang by George Durant Glasgow followed by David Moore (on retirement of Glasgow).

1975 First population survey of the St. Lucia Amazon by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (now Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust), led by David Jeggo, Deputy Curator of Birds. Assisted by Stephen Jovicich of Houston, Texas and two St. Lucians; Stanley John (team’s guide) and Julian King assigned by the Forestry Division. Survey concluded that the wild population was somewhere between 100 to 150 birds.

1976 Commencement of ex-situ breeding of the St. Lucia Amazon under breeding loan agreement between the Forestry Division and the Jersey Zoological Park. Six parrot chicks were taken from the wild (two chicks each from three different nests). In 1982 the parrots successfully bred for the first time in captivity.

1977 Study of the St. Lucia Amazon with conservation recommendations by student expedition, North East London Polytechnic (now University of East London), led by Paul Butler. From 1978 implementation of recommendations including revision of the wildlife legislation, amnesty and registration of captive parrots, setting up of nature trails and the education program.

1979 Leucaena introduced to Saint Lucia by Peace Corps Volunteer assigned to Forestry Division.

1979 Central Rainforest Trail commenced operation.

1979 Forestry Division relocated to the George V Park from the Ministry of Agriculture that was situated next to the Consumer Price Control Department on Mongiraud Street?

1980 Hurricane Allen (strong Category 3, 3-4 August) damaged an estimated 80% of the island’s forest and killing an estimated 40% of the trees (Whitman, 1980).

1980 Wildlife Protection Act passed. Provision for protection, conservation and management of wildlife in Saint Lucia including designation of wildlife reserves, Enforcement of hunting regulations. Wild Birds Protection Ordinance (1885) repealed.

1980 Government acquires sawmill operation known as ‘Fine Timbers’ at Patience from private operation originally established in the mid-1970’s to harvest timber on Crown Lands.

1980 Study on The St. Lucia Parrot its changing status and conservation published by Paul Butler. In the publication Conservation of New World Parrots.

1982 Forest Management Project commenced, financed by Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

1982 Forest boundary line survey commenced under the CIDA Forestry Project. Led by Robert K. Harris, project surveyor. Completed in 1987.

1982 Saint Lucia accede to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Regulate the illegal trade of wildlife and plants.

1982 Maria Islands declared a Nature Reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act.

1983 Intensive study of the Maria Islands (six week) with focus on the St. Lucia Whiptail and St. Lucia Racer by David Corke. Follow-on work in 1985.

1983 First experimental plot of Leucaena established as renewable source of fuelwood.

1983 Forest Inventory completed by P.O. Piitz under the CIDA Forest Management Project.

1983/84? Relocation of Timbershed from Conway to Union to make way for the Castries waterfront development.

1984 Forest Management Plan 1984 to 1994 published under the CIDA Forest Management Project.

1984 Barre-de-l’Isle North Reserve (231ha); Barre-de-l’Isle South Reserve (724 ha); Central Forest B Reserve (1,474 ha) established.

1984 Timber Industry Development Act passed. Provision for development of the timber industry, promotion of the timber industry.

1984 Ten St. Lucia Whiptail (lizards) loaned to the San Diego Zoo for ex-situ breeding program. In 1986 five additional lizards were loaned to Jersey Zoo.

1985 Central Forest A Reserve (1,631 ha); Addition Central Forest Reserve (121 ha) established.

1985 Forestry Division upgraded to Department of Forests and Lands under the Ministry of Agriculture. The Crown Lands portfolio placed under the mandate of the Forestry Department.

1985 Crown Lands demarcation surveys commenced under the national Land Registration and Titling Project (LRTP).

1987 Study (4-week) of the St. Lucia Black Finch by P.W. Trail and L.F. Baptista. Study of the White-breasted Thrasher, Rufous Nightjar, and St. Lucia Wren by P. Robertson et al., University of East Anglia.

1987 Saltibus Grand Magazin Reserve (107 ha); Dennery Ridge Reserve (71 ha); Marquis Estate 1 Reserve (134 ha); Marquis Estate 2 Reserve (35 ha); Marquis Estate 3-6 Reserves (19 ha); Forestiere Blocks (12 ha) established.

1988 Survey report on the St Lucia Parrot (Amazona versicolor) by David Jeggo, Donald Anthony, Lyndon John.

1989 St Lucia Amazon parrots Lucy and Oswald received by the Forestry Department from Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (now Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust), resident at wildlife enclosures at the Union Mini-Zoo (part of the Forestry Department headquarters at Union. Oswald passed away on 7 August 2004 and Lucy 10 August 2011).

1990 Brian James appointed Chief Forestry Officer.

1991 Relocation of the Forestry Department from the George V Park, Castries to Union. New premises established under the CIDA Forestry Project.

1992 10-Year Forestry Management Plan 1992 to 2002 published under the CIDA Forestry Project.

1992 Jacquot Express environmental education bus received by the Forestry Department from the World Parrot Trust (WPT). Mobile exhibit retrofitted with educational toys, videos and displays for children. In collaboration with RARE and Paradise Park.

1992 A Plan for a System of Parks and Protected Areas (updated 2009) proposed by the Saint Lucia National Trust.

1993 Large scale forest/vegetation removal from the proposed Roseau Dam reservoir floor in association with the construction and commissioning of the John Compton Dam and Reservoir at Millet. Depending on species, trees were converted to either timber boards or charcoal. The dam was commissioned in 1995.

1993 The ecology of the Maria Island Ground Lizard Cnemidophorus vanzoi study completed by Donald Anthony.

1993 Saint Lucia accede to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Aims to strengthen national obligations to conserve biodiversity in accordance with international goals.

1994 Tropical Storm Debby (10 September) caused catastrophic landslides within forested areas and flooding in lowland areas.

1995 Commencement of translocation of St Lucia Whiptail lizards to other offshore islands (Praslin Island and Rat islet) in collaboration with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Saint Lucia National Trust [others?].

1995 Study on the White Breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus brachyurus sanctaeluciae) published by Lyndon John in collaboration with BirdLife International and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

1996 Des Cartiers Rainforest Trail commissioned (works commenced in 1992) at Quilesse Range with financial support from RARE.

1996 St Lucia Amazon parrot census completed by Wildlife Preservation Trust International (WPTI) and the Forestry Department estimated between 350 and 500 parrots in the wild.

1997 Saint Lucia accede to the United Nations Convention on to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation (UNCCD). Aims to strengthen national obligations to conserve land resources in accordance with international goals.

1998 Study on the Conservation of the St. Lucia House Wren (Troglodytes aedon mesoleucus): Distribution, Abundance, and Breeding Biology published by James Gilardi and Lyndon John.

1998? Gros Piton Hiking Trail commissioned to support the Fond Gens Libre Community. Financed with an initial grant under the Environmental and Coastal Resources Project (ENCORE) supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

1999 Study on the Population and Habitat of the St. Lucia Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus vanzoi) on Praslin Island by Lyndon John.

[Year?] Vie Litre Reserve (216 ha) established.

[Year?] Fond Estate Reserve (315 ha) established.

2000 First National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) submitted to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). (reports searchable via this link https://www.cbd.int/reports/search/)

2001 Millet Bird Sanctuary and Nature Trail commissioned at Millet Range. Upgraded with the support from USAID and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

2002 Study on Ecological life zones of Saint Lucia published by Cornelius Isaac and Charles Bourque to redefine the ecosystem distribution and develop an improved ecological classification using Holdridge’s system of natural life zones.

2002 Saint Lucia accede to the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands. Aims to strengthen national obligations to maintain the ecological functioning of wetlands (mangroves) in accordance with international goals.

2006 Study on Effect of land management on runoff and soil losses from two small watersheds in St Lucia published by Christopher Cox, A. Sarangi, Chandra Madramootoo. Compare land degradation on poorly managed agricultural lands to lands under forest cover.

2007 Additional 1,295 hectares added to the government forest reserve. [any detail on which parcels? How acquired? This info was from https://stats.gov.lc/subjects/sectors/environment/forest-reserves-1989/].

2007 National Action Plan (NAP) published for Saint Lucia under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

2008 National Forest Demarcation and Bio‐Physical Resource Inventory published. Funded by the European Community under the Saint Lucia SFA 2003 Programme Economic and Agriculture Diversification and Poverty Reduction.

2008 Michael Andrew appointed Chief Forestry Officer.

2008 Discovery of the common iguana as an invasive alien species of concern first reported from the Soufriere area. High-priority threat to the endemic Saint Lucia iguana (Iguana insularis sanctaluciae) due to possibility of hybridization and direct competition.

2009 St Lucia Amazon parrot census completed by the Forestry Department and Durrell in three-year study. Study estimated the population size to be between 1,750 and 2,250 individuals, found within a range of 116 km² across the island.

2009 Biodiversity Assessment of Saint Lucia’s Forests, With Management Recommendations published by Jennifer C. Daltry/Gov’t of Saint Lucia. Technical Report to the National Forest Demarcation and Bio-Physical Resource Inventory Project, funded by the European Community under the Saint Lucia SFA 2003 Programme Economic and Agriculture Diversification and Poverty Reduction.

2009 The Status and Conservation of Saint Lucia’s Forest Birds published by Adams Toussaint, Lyndon John, Matthew Morton/Gov’t of Saint Lucia. Technical Report to the National Forest Demarcation and Bio-Physical Resource Inventory Project, funded by the European Community under the Saint Lucia SFA 2003 Programme Economic and Agriculture Diversification and Poverty Reduction.

2009 The Status and Management of Saint Lucia’s Forest Reptiles and Amphibians published by Jennifer C. Daltry/Gov’t of Saint Lucia. Technical Report to the National Forest Demarcation and Bio-Physical Resource Inventory Project, funded by the European Community under the Saint Lucia SFA 2003 Programme Economic and Agriculture Diversification and Poverty Reduction.

2009 The Classification of the Vegetation of Saint Lucia published by Roger Graveson/Gov’t of Saint Lucia. Technical Report to the National Forest Demarcation and Bio-Physical Resource Inventory Project, funded by the European Community under the Saint Lucia SFA 2003 Programme Economic and Agriculture Diversification and Poverty Reduction.

2009 Plant Taxonomy of Saint Lucia published by Roger Graveson/Gov’t of Saint Lucia. Technical Report to the National Forest Demarcation and Bio-Physical Resource Inventory Project, funded by the European Community under the Saint Lucia SFA 2003 Programme Economic and Agriculture Diversification and Poverty Reduction.

2010 Hurricane Tomas (Category 2, 30 October) caused catastrophic landslides within forested areas and flooding in lowland areas.

2010 Commencement of ex-situ breeding of the St. Lucia Amazon under breeding loan agreement between the Forestry Department and the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP).

2011 [name] Project commenced, financed by the Government of Australian through AusAID to support Hurricane Tomas recovery efforts with rehabilitation of areas impacted by major landslides, boosting of nursery production output and enhancement of hydrological monitoring capability.

2011 Removal of goats and sheep from Dennery Island to allow the island to revegetate for possible translocation of the Saint Lucia Racer and other species of conservation interest. Approximately 55 Saint Lucia Pygmy Geckos transferred to Dennery Island from Maria Major. In collaboration with the Saint Lucia National Trust, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Fauna and Flora International (FFI).

2012 Population survey of the Saint Lucia Racer on Maria Major concludes global population of fewer than 20 individuals. In collaboration with the Saint Lucia National Trust, [others?].

2014 Adams Toussaint appointed Chief Forestry Officer.

2015 Saint Lucia Forests and Lands Resources Department Strategy 2015 to 2025 published with strategic focus on maintaining healthy ecosystems and thriving species, ensuring sustainable flows of products that support local economies and biodiversity conservation, protecting water supplies, soils and coastal zones and ensuring resilience to climate change, Promoting awareness, visitation and cultural enrichment and organisational strengthening.

2016 Michael Bobb appointed Chief Forestry Officer.

2016 Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve designated by Royal Highness Prince Harry under Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) network of forest conservation projects.

2018 Installation of the Wildlife and Conservation Education Centre as an upgrade to the interpretation facilities at the Forestry Department headquarters. Supported by the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP).

2018 Alfred Prospere appointed Chief Forestry Officer.

[year?] First propagation trails of regional endemic West Indies Juniper (Juniperus barbadensis) by the Forestry Division. The variety ‘var barbadensis’ called Pencil Cedar, is known only from Barbados and Saint Lucia where on Barbados it has been extirpated and on Saint Lucia is restricted to the summit of Petit Piton. In collaboration with Fauna & Flora International.

2021 Developing National Forest Monitoring Frameworks for Saint Lucia  by Adams Toussaint

2022 Alwin Dornelly appointed Chief Forestry Officer.

2022 Saint Lucia accedes to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources (biodiversity) in a fair and equitable way.