Saint Lucia’s Forest Reserves
Government Forest Reserves
The total area under Government Forest Reserve is 8,028 hectares (19,838 acres), constituting some 13% of the island’s total land area. The establishment of forest reserves in Saint Lucia dates back to 1916 with the establishment of the Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve, designated under Section 4 of the Castries Water Supply Ordinance (Chapter 230) of 1901 relating to designating ‘Gathering Grounds‘ for water. Since then, the other forest reserves were established, commencing in 1946 with the promulgation of the Forest, Soil and Water Conservation Ordinance of that same year.
An additional 1,295 hectares were added to the forest reserve in 2007 . [what about the Roseau Dam reserve; is this within the 1,295 ha? Is the 1,295 ha within the overall 8,028 ha? Verify the numbers with the Forestry Department].
A closer look at each reserve area
Castries Waterworks Reserve
Established: 1916
Area: 1,393 hectares
Quilesse Reserve
Established: 1946
Area: 1,400 hectares
Dennery Waterworks Reserve
Established: 1946
Area: 145 hectares
Barre-de-l’Isle North Reserve
Established: 1984
Area: 231 hectares
Barre-de-l’Isle South Reserve
Established: 1984
Area: 724 hectares
Central Forest B Reserve
Established: 1984
Area: 1,474 hectares
Fond Estate Reserve
Established: [date]
Area: 315 hectares
Central Forest A Reserve
Established: 1985
Area: 1,631 hectares
Addition Central Forest Reserve
Established: 1985
Area: 121 hectares
Saltibus Grand Magazin Reserve
Established: 1987
Area: 107 hectares
Dennery Ridge Reserve
Established: 1987
Area: 72 hectares
Marquis Estate Blocks
Established: 1987
Area: Block 1: 134 hectares; Block 2: 35 hectares; Blocks 3-6: 19 hectares
Forestiere Blocks
Established: 1987
Area: 12 hectares
Vie Litre Reserve
Established: [date]
Area: 216 hectares
Roseau Dam
Established: [date]
Area: XXX hectares
Forest Ranges
The island’s forest reserves and adjacent landscapes, extending all the way to the coast, are divided into five management units or ‘forest ranges’; (1) Northern Range, (2) Dennery Range, (3) Quilesse Range, (4) Soufriere Range and (5) Millet Range. The work of the Forestry Department is organized within these ranges for purposes of monitoring the health of forests, rivers, and wildlife, and for engagaing with communities within each range to help conserve forest and natural resources.
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