PROGRAM AREAS
The following is a brief overview of the activities of the Department of Forestry.
Forest Management
The objectives of our forest management efforts are to manage forest in a manner that would allow for sustainable utilization of the natural resource base for the benefit of present and
future generations. This involves development of strategies for the control and protection of critical private forested areas and forest reserves, enforcement of relevant legislation and regulations,
reforestation, sustainable harvesting of products in natural forests, establishment of agro-forestry systems, and effective protection and conservation of plants and wildlife. Some of the methods employed
include stakeholder participation in forest management, forest inventory, and enforcement of provisions under the following Acts:
 Plant Protection Act of 1988·
Forest, Soil and Water Conservation Ordinance of 1946/1983
Wildlife Act
Land Conservation Act
Watershed Management
The management of the island’s thirty-seven major watersheds is aimed at conserving water, soil, and wildlife resources. Strategies towards this end include leadership involvement in the
development and implementation of policy for integrated watershed management; the engagement of community based organizations in watershed and water catchment activities, and the creation of
legislative support framework for watershed-level environmental interventions. The development and implementation of participatory approaches towards public awareness and sensitization is also
an important strategy towards the conservation of watershed resources.
Ecotourism & Recreation
The main objective of this activity is to demonstrate nature conservation while generating income
through sustainable utilization. This is done through the development and management of diverse sites for nature recreation, and the development of co-management agreements between CBO’s and
the Forestry Department. Some of the sites managed by the Forestry Department include nature
trails, hiking trails, eco-lodges, and camping facilities.
Environmental Education
This activity seeks to educate the general public on environmental issues in order to create awareness and action towards sustaining use of the natural resource base of the island. The scope
of this activity includes sensitization exercises at all levels of the school education system, development and implementation of strategies to achieve increased awareness and involvement of
the wider society in environmental conservation.
Wildlife Management - (Research Document on “Population and Habitat of the St. Lucia Whiptail Lizard on Praslin Island, St. Lucia” available - download using Adobe Acrobat)
Through this activity, the Department seeks to conserve wildlife communities and their habitats through management, research, and education, in collaboration with local, regional
and international allied agencies. The scope of this activity includes development of a Wildlife Policy and Management Plan, maintaining a small zoo at Union primarily for public
education purposes, review and implementation of legislation, and conduct environmental education.
Germaplasm Production
The Forestry Department maintains a tree nursery for the purpose of enhancement of the timber resource base and general environmental quality. This nursery, which has an annual capacity of
300,000 potted plants consist of an administrative office, tool shed, storeroom, soil mix shed, and germination bins. Planting schedules are based on the needs of the Government-owned forests as
well as private landowners. One of the key responsibilities of the nursery is to assist in maintaining biodiversity through multiplication of endangered and rare species.
Forest Research and Herbarium Management
The department oversees a Research Unit with the aim of studying the island’s flora and fauna resource base for purposes of conservation and utilization. The specific responsibilities of the unit
are to develop inventories of all species, determination of endangered and threatened species as well as those of economic value, management of germplasm reserves, investigate ecological
requirements, and management of a National Herbarium.
Nursery
The forest nursery at Union has an estimated capacity of 300,000 potted plants and 22,494 sq. ft
of space for bare root seedings. This is a modern facility equipped with an office, tool room, storage shed, soil mix shed, germination bins and an irrigation system, Its produces schedule
considers the needs of the Forestry Department, Agriculture, Extension, community, and Urban Landscaping.
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