Map of Montserrat (click to view full-size)
Background information
Legislation regarding biodiversity and impact assessment
International
International conventions to which Montserrat is a party under the UK ratifications are as follows:
- World Heritage Convention
- Ramsar Convention
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
- Convention on Migratory Species
- International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling
National
National legislation relating to protected areas and species protection:
- Forestry, Wildlife, National Parks and Protected Areas Ordinance 1996
- Fisheries Act? (DATE?)
- Turtles Ordinance Cap. 112 1951.
Further information on this legislation can be found through the legislation pages.
Key development areas and issues
Since the disruption caused by volcanic eruptions and the impacts of recent hurricanes, especially hurricane Hugo in 1989, most of the population has left the island and the ecology of the island has been badly damaged. The key sectors of the economy were tourism and agriculture.
Biodiversity interest
The island is a small volcanic island, the two highland areas of which reach 740+m. The surface of the island is rather rugged. In the high rainfall areas the ultimate vegetation type is palm break and elfin woodland, whilst drier/lower areas attain a mosaic of cactus, dry scrubby woodland, littoral vegetation, semi-evergreen forest and some small areas of mangrove.
Two species of plant are thought to be endemic to the island, and at least two reptile species are also considered endemic. The local oriole taxon Icterus [dominicensis] oberi is also endemic, the population having been halved by the damage caused by natural disasters. As with other Caribbean islands, native mammals are restricted to cetaceans and bats, four of the latter being at least regionally endemic.
Further information on threatened and endemic species can be found through this page
The eruptions in the 1990s led to the establishment of feral populations of domestic animals. Pig control work has occurred, but needs to continue to prevent any increase or spread in the population (Varnham 2006).
Protected Areas
Two sites have been proposed as meeting the Ramsar Convention criteria: Centre hills and forested ghauts, and the Montserrat northwest coasts and marine shallows.
Further information on protected areas can be found through this page