1. Introduction
2. Overview of the forestry subsector
3. National forestry action plan
4. National development policy framework
5. Plan objectives
6. Development programmes
1. The full contribution of the forestry sector to the national economy is significant and broad. It touches many sectors of the economy and most St. Lucians. In measured value terms, however, it is very modest. Contributions such as erosion control, watershed value, tourist amenity and ecological diversity are not easily measured but are substantial in terms of benefits accruing to the users.
2. St. Lucia has numerous areas of outstanding natural value. However, its ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes and while there is no apparent danger of ecological catastrophe at the present time, the fragile nature of its environment means that the ecosystem must be protected. The growth of population and of the economy in recent decades has meant that the natural environment is coming under increasing pressure from human activities. The impact of these activities is accelerating, and their deleterious effects are to be found in the loss of forests and woodlands to agricultural and other uses, the reduction in stream flows, increasing soil erosion and landslides, the destruction of coastal features, the pollution of rivers and the sea and the loss of wildlife.
3. These important contributions of the forestry subsector are being reduced by degradation. The forests are disappearing at a rate of approximately 1-2% per annum.
4. The future of St. Lucia's economy will largely depend on putting a stop to deforestation and other forms of forest degradation. The forest resources must be put under proper conservation practices. Consequently, the Government of St. Lucia has prepared a National Forestry Action Plan which covers a five year period and focuses on the five priority areas of FAO's Tropical Forests Action Programme (TFAP) methodology (see overview document).
5. The total cost of the five-year National Forestry Action Plan is estimated at US$12,090 million. Implementation of this Plan will be the responsibility of mainly the Ministry of Agriculture through the Planning Unit and the Forest and Lands Department (Appendix II).
6. The total forest area of St. Lucia, approximately 8,000ha (13% of the land area) constitutes one of the main environmental benefits to the island. These forests and other areas of trees are slowly being eroded by encroachment and misuse.
7. Analysis of the status of Forestry in Land Use indicates inadequate land use planning and coordination of watershed protection. Insufficient soil and water conservation measures have led to stream pollution, soil erosion and reduction of water retention capacity in the watershed. Much of this is a result of cultivation on marginal lands, poor farming practices and lack of land use policy.
8. In the area of Conservation. St. Lucia is attempting to bring under protection sensitive areas of biodiversity and to establish national park land. There is, however, no set policy as yet to guide conservation of the forest ecosystems outside of the Forest Reserve. There is also insufficient institutional capacity for regulation. Public awareness needs to be strengthened with regard to the benefits of environmental conservation and its impact on economic development, particularly in the public sector.
9. The Fuelwood and Energy priority area is a major contributor to wood use in St. Lucia. Fuelwood and charcoal are used by approximately 83% of households. While the extent of this usage appears to be decreasing, it still accounts for pressure on the existing forest and needs to be controlled and augmented by the establishment of community-based fast-growing fuelwood sources, particularly in areas where pressure on the forest is greatest.
10. Forest based industries are limited to woodcutters producing wood for use by the local furniture and building industry. The sustainable capacity of the present resource is not sufficient to support medium-sized wood utilization plants.
11. In the priority area Institutions there is conflicting legislation and areas where inadequate or no legislation exists, which needs to be remedied. Institutional assistance is also needed in land use planning and upgrading of institutional capacity in the lead institutions. This is most needed specifically in the area of natural and environmental resources regulation (Appendix III).
12. The National Forestry Action Plan is designed to strengthen the subsector's contribution to St. Lucia's economy based on improvements ranging from legal reform and improvement of regulatory capacity to institutional support in land use planning, improvements in forest management, afforestation and ecological protection.
13. Investments in these should assist in improving the sustained economic growth in the subsector and improve the ability to maintain a stable resource base for the land-using sectors of the economy.
14. The St. Lucia National Forestry Action Plan (NFAP) was prepared through the combined efforts of the Government of St. Lucia, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), acting as the lead cooperating agency, and the Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom (ODA/UK) which provided most of the funding.
15. During the preparation of the plan, policies and conditions in the forestry and related subsectors beginning at the community level were studied and analyzed for use as guides to the preparation. Based on priorities and objectives, strategies and programmes were formulated or presented leading to the presentation of 23 project proposals in the NFAP.
16. Planning capability in land use and watershed protection as well as legal and regulatory frameworks need to be strengthened in order to support the continuation of the plan process and implementation of programmes along recommended lines.
17. While the National Development Plan is stilt in preparation, the following statements expressed in the objectives of the National Physical Development Strategy (proposed 1990) are relevant to the protection, enhancement and development of the forestry subsector, and to its increased contribution to the nation's environmental well-being.
1) To conserve and protect all essential elements and processes in the natural environment.2) To conserve and protect all areas of outstanding natural beauty.
3) To limit to a minimum the adverse effects of all forms of development on the environment.
4) To improve the functioning of the urban environment through zoning, land use conformity and other measures.
5) To develop to their full potential agriculture, fishing and other rural industries.
18. The NFAP has been prepared and should be implemented within this broad policy framework as part of the Government's official development policy.
19. Study and analysis in the preparation of the NFAP indicated that substantial progress was being made in the areas of resource conservation and environmental preservation but that there were a number of constraints impeding progress to meet the economic and social needs. Removal of the constraints and improvement of the institutional and legislative requirements will allow for a stronger participation in the management and development of the natural and environmental resources of St. Lucia and provide for a more interactive role between the lead institutions and the rural population and other resource-related private and public agencies. This will also provide the required flexibility for the successful implementation of the plan.
20. To implement the NFAP the following objectives have been set:
Overall Subsector Objective
21. To conserve and manage the natural resources for the protection of the environment and to obtain maximum utilization consistent with sustainable development and with regard to the welfare of rural communities.
Priority Area Objectives
22. Forestry in Land Use: To allocate appropriate land to secure a resource base for sustainable forestry and allied activities to ensure the protection of the environment, particularly watersheds, and to provide diversity for opportunities to generate income for the rural population.
23. Conservation of Forest Ecosystems: To conserve biological diversity and natural forest ecosystems through the establishment of protected areas, and to maximize their contribution to national development.
24. Fuelwood and Energy: To sustain fuelwood resources and alternative energy sources within the constraints attendant on the preservation of the environment.
25. Forest Based Industrial Development: As far as possible develop the management of the limited forest resources for maximum social and economic benefit.
26. Institutions: To bring policies and laws in line with national natural resource policies, develop an institutional framework capable of carrying out development requirements and to ensure maximum participation of the public and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
27. Programmes are presented in each of the five priority areas within the framework of the objectives presented above. The programmes respond to problems identified in each of the priority areas and are composed of specific projects formulated as "project profiles".
28. In the field of Forestry in Land Use, there are four programmes with a total of eight projects.
Programme 1: Watershed Management Programme
29. This addresses problems of deterioration in upper watershed areas with a view to remedial action and preparation of a plan for watershed improvement on a sustainable basis.
Project 1.01 Sustained Redevelopment of Watersheds
Project 1.02 Fond St. Jacques Watershed Management Project
Project 1.03 Choiseul Watershed Management Project
Programme 2: Agroforestry Programme
30. This is intended to address the need for diversification in marginal agricultural areas, particularly on steep slopes and in areas where pressure is being placed on the forest by landless farmers. This programme comprises three projects.
Project 1.04 Agroforestry Development
Project 1.05 Beausejour Communal Pasture
Project 1.06 Honey Production
Programme 3: Intensive Forest Management
31. There is one project in this area which plans to address natural forest improvement for future production and to bring management information and plantation maintenance up to date.
Project 1.07 Forest Improvement and Plantation Maintenance
Programme 4: Land Use Programme
32. This comprises a single project to deal with the problem of the acquisition, consolidation and redistribution of Crown lands and unused lands.
Project 1.08 Development of a Land Bank
33. The priority area Conservation of Ecosystems contains seven projects which aim at improving the ecological data base and protection and ecological conservation with a view to the economic feasibility of nature tourism. These projects are:
Project 2.01 Coastal Resources Development
Project 2.02 Proposal for National Park Land Development
Project 2.03 Nature Trail Development
Project 2.04 Herbarium Expansion and Development
Project 2.05 Bois D'orange Wetland Bird Sanctuary
Project 2.06 Wetland and Waterfowl Conservation
Project 2.07 Study of Wildlife in St. Lucia
34. As there is a sufficient but declining demand for fuelwood/ charcoal, only two projects have been developed under the priority area Fuelwood and Energy. Project 3.01 (Pilot Establishment of Community Woodlots) is presented to relieve the pressure on the forest resource in those areas of greatest need, and Project 3.02 (Biogas Plant Development) looks at an alternative natural source of energy for the small landholder.
35. The Forest Based Industrial Development priority area is restricted to only one project owing to the fact that the sustainable productive quantity of timber from the existing forests will only support limited local part-time industry. Project 4.01 (Cooperative Forest Industry) proposes the organizing of woodcutters for sustainable annual production of sawn material from the forest under management.
36. Finally, the priority area of Institutions includes 5 projects under three programmes.
Programme 1: Public Education Programme is made up of Project 5.01 (Establishing/Strengthening Environmental Clubs in Schools), a natural resource education project.
Programme 2: Institution Building Programme
Project 5.02 Land Use Planning Model (an immediate priority which is already initiated by the Ministry of Planning).
Project 5.03 Training in Conservation, Training in Agroforestry-Techniques for the SLBGA
Project 5.04 Strengthening of the Information Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture
Programme 3: Legislation Programme Project 5.05 Natural Resource Legislation
This project is an immediate priority, an "imperative" before the land use and watershed projects can be initiated. This project financing has been agreed by CIDA and the Government of St. Lucia; all that remains is for this to be passed by Cabinet.
