Map of St Helena (click to view full-size)
Background information
Saint Helena lies in the mid-Atlantic, between Africa and South America. The island administrates two dependencies, Ascension to the north, and Tristan da Cunha to the south. The population is around 5,000 people.
Legislation regarding biodiversity and impact assessment
International
St Helena is signatory to the following Conventions:
- World Heritage Convention
- Ramsar Convention
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
- Convention on Migratory Species
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling
National
National legislation is covered in the following:
- Forestry Ordinance No. 9, amended No. 2, 1985 (now updated??)
- The Forestry and Indigenous Trees and Plants Preservation Rules 1959
- The Endangered Endemic and Indigenous Species Protection Ordinance 1996
- Endangered Endemic and Indigenous Species Protection Order 1996
- The Birds Protection Ordinance 1996.
Strategies
- Sustainable Environment and Development Strategy
Further information on this legislation is available through the legislation pages.
Key development areas and issues
The key economic sectors of St Helena are agriculture, including livestock rearing, and fishing. Although the island expects to attain self-sufficient status with the development of an airport, financial aid from the UK is currently necessary. Tourism opportunities are limited due to the remoteness of St Helena from nearby land - 1,960km to the nearest point in Africa, and 2,900km to South America.
Biodiversity interest
Of the 27+ main habitats identified on St Helena, only around 5 are dominated by indigenous vegetation types. The majority of the island is now covered in eroded rocky areas or scrub dominated by prickly pear Opuntia maxima, Aloe and other exotic species (e.g. Prosopis sp.?).
The flora of the island consists of around 60 vascular plant species, 50 of which are endemic . Six of these endemics are now extinct, and 40+ of them are considered globally threatened. Bryophytes include 23 mosses (12 endemic) and 20 liverworts (11 endemic). Lichens have 52 species recorded (16 endemic), with 60+ marine algae (1 endemic) and no information on fungi - lower plant information is sorely lacking.
Approximately 300 species of endemic terrestrial invertebrate are recorded from the island, and numerous apparently endemic marine invertebrates are also known. Around 140 fish species are known from the island, with a number of them endemic to either St Helena or St Helena and Ascension. Birds are relatively poorly represented, probably due to disturbance and predation by introduced mammals. The only endemic bird is the St Helena Plover Charadrius sanctahelenae, known locally as the 'Wirebird'. Indigenous (but not endemic) mammals are represented by cetaceans, particularly Bridled Dolphin Stenella attenuata.
Intensive grazing by goats in the past (now eradicated) and invasive plant species have drastically altered the island's appearance. New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) and quinine tree (Cinchona succirubra) destroy native fern thickets, with faunal invaders destroying other native species; flora and fauna. Particular problems are through rabbits, sheep and the Orthizia scale insect (Varnham 2006).
Further information about the important species of St Helena can be found through this page
Protected Areas
St Helena has three proposed Ramsar sites: Fisher's Valley; St Helena Central Peaks; and St Helena inshore waters, stacks and cliffs.
Further information about the protected areas of St Helena can be found through this page