UK Minister for Nature Rebecca Pow arrived in to Anguilla this week for a packed programme focussed on the environment. She met HE the Governor, the Hon Premier, the Ministry of Sustainability, Innovation and the Environment (MSIE) as well as other key environment stakeholders including the Anguilla National Trust (ANT) Her priorities included discussing a new biodiversity strategy with the OTs, food safety and sustainability on the and how Anguilla incorporates environmental protection as part of development.
As a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Minister, the tour took Minister Pow across to some of the impressive environmental projects under the DEFRA funded Darwin Plus Programme. Anguilla’s bids to the Darwin programme have been very successful, and a a number of new projects are underway.
On a windy boat trip to Prickly Pear the Minister was told about protection of Anguilla’s native Iguana population (there had been fewer than 40 left on mainland Anguilla), the successful rat eradication project and how the offshore cays have become important bird nesting sites.
The Minister was also impressed with the on-going work made possible by a three-year grant from the Darwin Plus Initiative, Fauna and Flora International in which the ANT, the Government of Anguilla, Wildlife Management International Ltd, and national stakeholders are transforming the Fountain National Park into a “mainland island”– a fenced site in which invasive species including rats, mice, green iguanas, and monkeys will be removed and native species will be allowed to thrive. In addition to creating a wildlife sanctuary, this project also supports the development of Fountain National Park, a space where people can visit and learn more about Anguilla’s natural and and ancient cultural heritage.
Following a tour of the agricultural grounds hydroponic garden, hatchery and site of future abattoir, Minister Pow along with the Governor and Premier visited the Environmental Expo where Anguillian students had the opportunity to showcase their environmental projects. The Expo featured informative displays from Department of Natural Resources, the Anguilla National Trust, ALHCS Environmental Club, ALHCS Pupil Referral Unit, Orealia Kelly Primary School, the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten and the One Shark Project Saint Martin
The visit was extremely successful by providing the UK an opportunity to celebrate some of the territory’s successful environmental projects as well as understand some of the challenges and priorities for the future.
