A look at Anguilla’s biodiversity and preservation efforts was the focus of a six-hour workshop on Wednesday this week organised by the Anguilla National Trust and funded under the Darwin Plus initiative.
Minister responsible for the Environment, Jerome Roberts, delivered the opening address at the Soroptomist Conference Centre. “The purpose of the workshop is about understanding the value of Anguilla’s biodiversity, the island’s ecosystems, and the services that those ecosystems provide,” he explained. “In addition, it is also about better understanding the trade-offs between development and preservation of ecosystems in an effort to guide our decision-making. This further complements what we are all trying to achieve: the sustainable development of this small but precious island.”
Mr Roberts disclosed that in the 35 square miles of Anguilla there were over 300 species of native plants; 135 species of birds; 21 species of reptiles; and 5 species of bats but that there was much more to discover. There are 40 species of insects on Sombrero Island alone.
“This biodiversity while substantial in and of itself is the framework for our island’s – and the earth’s – ecosystems and habitats,” the Minister continued. “It gives us what we and every other living organism need to survive: air, water, food, shelter and medicine. The ecosystems provide services that are critical to our wellbeing. They provide protection against floods, storms and ground seas, all the while acting as a regulator of the earth’s climate. Services also include provision of sand for our beaches, fish for our plates, soil for our vegetables, shade for our protection, clean water for our bodies, fresh air for our lungs, and beauty for our souls.”
Mr Roberts added that Anguilla was trying hard to tackle some – if not all – of the governance issues relating to biodiversity and ecosystems degradation. He said this was being done under the Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation Act; funding to undertake critically important environmental studies; and with arming environmental and enforcement agencies with policies that promote and support sustainable development.
The workshop was facilitated by Ms Jodi Johnson, the Anguilla National Trust’s Areas Manager; supported by Ms Farah Mukhida, the Executive Director, and other staff members.
