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Draft Final Report, 19 th July, 2012
• The Silver Hills Forest Reserve covers 75 acres of dry
forest, much of which is of outstanding landscape value,
with a number of hiking trails; and
• The Piper’s Pond Wildlife Reserve (and the associated
Potato Hills Conservation Area) which encompasses the
last significant area of mangrove swamp on the island,
and also supports some birdlife.
All ghauts (which play an important role in watershed
management) have de facto conservation status.
Marine Environment
The reef and marine system faces a number of threats,
particularly from fishing activities and sedimentation. In some
cases, a rapid deterioration has occurred in the condition of
the reef, including the destruction of reef areas to the south of
Woodlands Bay, and badly degraded areas from Woodlands
to Little Bay. This is attributed to volcano-related
sedimentation, combined with poor land and construction
management, and intensified fishing activity on the remaining
healthy reefs. These are now beginning to threaten the health
of the marine system at Little Bay, Rendezvous Bay and
locations further north. A further threat to Montserrat’s reef
system is the recent discovery of the lion fish. Efforts are
being made to conserve and develop the valuable reef
resource, including an artificial reef and coral harvesting
programmes at Woodlands Beach. In previous studies,
recommendations have been made for the establishment of a
mixed use marine reserve that would balance the needs of
fishermen, divers and yachts with marine and reef
conservation objectives.
Environmental Concerns
Among the main environmental concerns are:
• Need for updating and strengthening of the regulatory
framework to support institutional changes (following the
creation of the new Department of Environment), including
enactment of the Conservation and Environmental
Management Bill (drafted in 2007) and clearer and more
effective procedures for environmental impact
assessment;
• Impact of uncontrolled grazing, roaming feral and loose
livestock, and vegetation clearance for development and
agriculture;
• Effects of high tides and storm surge on low-lying areas,
such as Carr’s Bay and Little Bay;
• Impact of the removal of beach vegetation, litter and
garbage (which attract rats) on key nesting beaches for
turtle breeding; and
• Impact of sand mining activities in the Belham Valley,
including the associated heavy-axle truck traffic, on the
surrounding residential areas and on the environment.
The built environment (existing buildings and future
developments) has until now remained largely unregulated,
posing a potential threat to the long term wellbeing of the
tourism sector. There is need to enforce zoning, building
design, construction standards, etc.
5.2 CULTURAL HERITAGE
Known sites of archaeological and cultural heritage are
comparatively scarce in North Montserrat, partly because the
focus of heritage and archaeological protection had been in
the south, including Trants, Galway’s and Plymouth’s
vernacular architecture.
MONTSERRAT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2012 – 2022
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