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6292 Estate Nazareth #100 St. Thomas US Virgin Islands 00802 340/775-6225; fax 779-2022 1718 P Street NW, Suite T4 Washington, DC 20036 202/265-9712; fax 232-0748 123 Main Street, PO Box 3097 Road Town, Tortola BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Tel. and Fax: 284/494-2723 Post Office Box 2103 St. John's, ANTIGUA Tel. and Fax: 268/463-7740 Via the Internet at: irf@irf.org hrtp://www.irf.org Board of Trustees Dr. Edward L. Towle Chairman Bruce G. Potter President Henry u. Wheatley Vice President Charles W. Consolvo Secrefary Judith A. Towle Treasurer Dr. Henry G. Jarecki Dr LaVerne E. Ragster Trustees island resources F O U N D A T I O N Th/& Y&a/r 2OOO i>n/ Ke^vOe^w With the dawn of a new century, the insular Caribbean—ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION'S primary geographic focus for almost three decades—is confronting new globalization uncertainties and complex, yet interrelated, economic and social problems that challenge the region as never before. / According to a recent issue of The Economist, traditional "sun, sand and sea" tourism in the Caribbean is steadily losing market share to other low-cost global destinations with similar attractions. / Amid assertions of small-nation sovereignty, Caribbean islands fear that international tight ening of offshore banking regulations will destroy their prospering financial service sector. Replacing revenues from that sector with tourism would require massive increases in the number of visitor days, with probable negative effects on island societies and their natural environments. V Access to traditionally protected European markets is being eroded by globalization and the World Trade Organization. S The underground "narco-economy" threatens political, social, and economic stability. Ac cording to Foundation Program Associates Dr. Jerome McElroy and the late Dr. Klaus de Albuquerque, roughly a third of all cocaine and heroin consumed in the United States passes through the Caribbean island chain. V Insular vulnerability and dependency are reflected in the prolonged and multiple economic effects of hurricanes that have afflicted the region since 1989. Buffeted by external forces and facing an increasingly competitive global market, the islands of the Caribbean struggle to achieve social stability and economic growth while having to make ever more critical choices about the use and development of a limited natural resource base. Since 1972, the central mission of ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION has been to assist small island states, especially those in the Caribbean, to meet the challenges of social, economic and institutional growth while protecting and enhancing the environment. In the year 2000, the Foundation added to its already considerable body of island-specific development assistance programs that recognize the uniqueness of island conditions, the vulnerabilities of island environments, and the special qualities of island life. This report highlights some of our more recent work. Sandy Cay in the British Virgin Islands (site of an ecosystem assessment by Island Resources Foundation in 2000) is in the foreground with the larger island of Tortola in the background (photo by Judith Towle) bJ&wy'BrOefy — u p p e r / e f t ) S a n d y C a y r e searchers come ashore by boat for an island reconnaissance trip in February 2000. a b o v e ) P i c t u r e d a r e ( l e f t ) William S. Moody of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Joseph Smith- Abbott, director of the British Virgin Islands National Parks Trust (Feb., 2000). Mr. Moody visited Sandy C a y o n b e h a l f o f t h e i s l a n d ' s owner, laurance S. Rockefeller. SANDY CAY, BVI. Island Resources Foundation moved to the British Virgin Is lands in 1999. Its first major project in the Territory since then has been a special evaluation of one of the BVI's most unique small islands, Sandy Cay. On behalf of the island's owner and longtime Foundation benefactor, Laurance S. Rockefeller, Foundation investigators have been looking at Sandy Cay's environment and its natural carrying capacity in the face of increasing touristic use. This management planning effort is being carried out in collaboration with the BVI National Parks Trust and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. Although Sandy Cay has no structures or built attractions, no brochure or signs of any kind, charges no fees, and displays no visible manage ment structure, it has for three decades functioned very much like a small park open to visitors who arrive by boat with no reservations. For 30 years, Sandy Cay has been maintained as a combination botanic gar den, nature reserve, and low-key recreational facility. Concerned about escalating user pressures, particularly in the absence of an updated management strategy, the island's owner asked Island Resources to develop an environmental profile of the Sandy Cay eco system, to be followed by a working resource management plan for the island. The ecosystem characterization was completed at the end of 2000, and the new management plan will be ready in early 2001. Dr. Edward Towle serves as team leader for the project. VI FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. In mid-May of 2000, Island Resources Foundation was asked by the Virgin Islands Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) to prepare a new Territorial Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan. Our deadline: to deliver the Plan by the end of July! Under the leadership of Foundation president Bruce Potter, as sisted by a team of consultants including Dr. David Brower and Anna Schwab of the University of North Carolina and Werner Wernicke of the USVI, and with extensive use of the Internet to coordinate input from a large local advisory group, the task was completed on schedule. That working group is now an open membership list for people inter ested in VI flood mitigation and watershed planning issues. To join the group, see page 4 of this report for subscribing instructions to the Virgin Islands Watershed and Flood Hazard Mitigation discussion list. ( / e f t ) J e a n - P i e r r e B a d e a n d Wollrom Dressier, key members of I s l a n d R e s o u r c e s F o u n d a t i o n ' s research leom for the Sondy Cay ecosystem assessment. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK (GEO-3). Island Resources Foundation is working with the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to produce the Caribbean element of the third Global Environment Outlook (GEO-3) report. As GEO Collaborating Centers, CCA and Island Resources join 44 other centers worldwide in a long-term UNEP strat egy to institutionalize large-scale (regional and sub-regional) environ mental assessment and reporting. Bruce Potter attended the first GEO-3 production meeting at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand in April, as well as the Expert Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean on the GEO-3 Outlook, held in November in Santiago, Chile. A limited number of copies of the Caribbean Environment Outlook-2000 report, published in 1999, can be obtained from the Foundation's Washington, DC office or from Mr. Kaveh Zahedi at UNEP's Regional Office in Mexico City; e-mail: kzahedi@rolac.unep.mx. Funding for Caribbean Environment Outlook-3 will be a major priority for the Foundation in the year 2001. SMALL ISLAND ISSUES. Small island issues took center stage at two meetings in 2000, one regional and one global, both attended by Island Resources Foundation's president. In October the "Islands VI" conference, sponsored by the International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA), was held on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The 5-day conference brought together academicians and practi tioners from island areas throughout the world for discussions on the theme "Small Islands in the Third Millennium: Sharing Solu tions to Common Problems". In October, the World Bank convened a consultation in Costa Rica of representatives from the insular Caribbean to review the Bank's Environmental Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean and its implications for the Caribbean sub-region. Following the Costa Rica meeting, and based on the Foundation's nearly three decades of experience, Bruce Potter pro vided comments to the Bank on specific issues related to the insular Caribbean and the Bank's environmental framework. If you would like a copy of his comments, write bpotter@irf.org or contact the Foundation's Washington, DC office. island resources F O U N D A T I O N Ivx/AppreoCcvtCorv — At its annual meeting in Road Town, Tortola in September, the Board of Trustees of Island Resources Foundation made special note of several individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to the Foundation during the last two years. In so doing, the Board was acknowledging the vision ary, often innovative assistance and partnership by others on behalf of the Foundation. The following merit special mention. h. LAvrnr stoutt community college for providing a new home for the Foundation and its environmental library in the BVI BOARD MEMBER CHARLES CONSOLSO for pro bono legal assistance for more than 20 years FOUNDER EDWARD TOWLE for volunteer services to IRF since his retirement as president in 1 998 HOLLIS W. PETERSEN for donation of property at Fish Bay, St John, USVI DR. LEE MACDONALD, COLORADO STATE U. and his talented graduate students for their contributions to long-term erosion control studies in St. John, USVI <> ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS GROUP for helping us to maintain our Antigua office while Kevel Lindsay is on study leave •> BOARD MEMBER DR. HENRY JARECKI for a special contribution for equipment at the BVI Environmental Information Center <> PRESIDENT BRUCE POTTER for donation of a portion of his annual salary since 1 994 •:• DR. WALTER H. HODGE for donation of his extensive photographic collection and other historical materials of the Lesser Antilles (especially Dominica) dating from 1937-1940 (in the years prior to WW II, Dr. Hodge carried out extended botanical research in the Caribbean, focusing on the island of Dominica) Dr. Waller Hodge in Dominico in 1938. adding specimens lo his plani press LLpcUvte/y — Congratulations to CORALINA, environmental management agency in the San Andres Archipelago and a collaborating in stitution with Island Resources Foundation and the Center for Marine Conservation. In May, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved a $1 million grant to support a system of ma rine protected areas in the Archipelago. Then, in November, UNESCO officially declared the Archipelago "the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve", the newest member of a Worldwide Net work of Biosphere Reserves. Congratulations also to DAVID ROBINSON, recently retired director of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society and recipient of the 2000 EUAN P. MC FARLANE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARD. Since 1988, this $1,000 cash prize has been presented annually by Island Resources to individuals who demonstrate conservation leadership in the Caribbean. KEVEL LINDSAY, coordinator of the Foundation's Biodiver sity Conservation Program, reports from New York City where he has been on study leave at Columbia University since 1998. Kevel is pursuing a degree at Columbia's Center for Environ mental Research and Conservation. He writes that while he Prime Minisier Denzil Douglas of St. Kilts and Nevis approaches the speaker's platform al ceremonies in October recognizing the Brimstone Hill Fortification in Si. Kills as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Attending ihe ceremonies were Judith and Edward Towle ol Island Resources Foundation and Michael Dively, founder of the Mukti Fund. For over a decade, Island Resources and the Mukti Fund have collaborated in support of conservation progroms in the dual-island nation of St. Kitts ond Nevis. Ed Towle's lies lo Brimstone Hill dale back more than 30 years when he firsl became an early champion of restoration efforts at the fortification and was instrumental in securing the first major external grant (from the Caribbean Conservation Association) for refur bishment of the Prince of Wales Boslion. Dr. Towle acknowledged al the time ol the UNESCO inscription ceremonies his pleasure al having been a witness, albeit from a distance, lo the development of the site as a cultural landmark, a national park, and n o w a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l h e r i t a g e s i t e . ( p h o l o b y E d T o w l e ) continues to wage battles against the likes of chemistry, calcu lus and statistics, there have also been moments of "absolute bliss" in New York, where he spends hours at the American Museum of Natural History pouring over its specimens of in vertebrates. He hopes to complete his course work by the end of 2001 and return home to Antigua, where new 'battles" and challenges await him. Appreciation to Mr. CEPHAS MININGOU, from Burkina-Faso, West Africa, a summer intern at the Foun dation's BVI office. Cephas is a graduate student in Third World Development at the University of Iowa. His tenure with the Founda tion was shared with the BVI Town and Country Planning Department, with whom we have cooperated on student internships in the past. Cephas was the Foundation's 45th intern, and our first from Africa. Cephas Miningou. graduate student intern in the BVI i s l a n d r e s o u r c e s F O U N D A T I O N Nine of the Caribbean Environmental E-Mail Lists supported by Island Resources Foundation. For more information on this service, contact Bruce Potter at bpotter@irf.org. N A M E O F L I S T D E S C R I P T I O N O F L I S T H O W T O S U B S C R I B E T O L I S T | Caribbean Biodiversity Conservation This list provide* a forum for the exchange of Caribbean biodiversity information. To subscribe, send a blank email to caribbean-bKKUvarsi1v-mbicribtGccirovoi.com Caribbean GIS User* This list is of interest to regional u»er» and implemented of geographic information systems and remote sensing applications. To subscribe, send a blank email to tQrib-girvierfiubi(ribcQtttvuBf, cem Caribbean Territories This list promote* communication and information exchange among the non-sovereign small islands in the Caribbean. To subscribe, send a blank email to corib-ttrrritorics-subicribcCcoroijpi.com Environmental Working Group, Forum of Organization! of Civil Sodety for the Wider Caribbean This is a bilingual (English and Spanish) list far environmental NGOs throughout the Caribbean. It grew out of a group of NGOs seeking Involvement in the policy delibera tion* of the Auodarlon of Caribbean State*. To subscribe, send a blank email to (arib-ngv-forvm-iubitribcQcvrvwf.tQm IRF Member* Newi This list provide* Foundation Member* and Program Associates with current news and opinion about environmental Issues In the world of small Islands. Become a member and send a blank email to i'r^-mernbcr-ncwj->"btcribff#cflrwpfi{Ofn San Andre* Research This list supports research focusing on the San Andre* Archipelago (Colombia). It 1* supported by the Foundation a* a service for CORAUNA, the government agency in the Archipelago concerned with environmental protection. To subscribe, send a blank email to Sustainable Tourism for the Caribbean This list is lupported by public/private sector organizations and representative* of scien tific/conservation communities who promote Caribbean sustainable tourism. To subscribe, send a blank email to iustamobfc-fourism-subscribeCcaroups.com VI Resource Management Cooperative (VIRMC) The lilt supports the work of VIRMC, a collaboration of resource management institutions In the US/British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, first established In 1982. To subscribe, lend a blank email to virmc-subicribeQcqroupi.com VI Watershed and Flood Hazard Mitigation Group This list grew out of the IRF-lnirlated Flood Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee and comprise* persons concerned about flooding In the US Virgin bland*. To subscribe, send a blank email to YI-Htsod-Watcrshcd-subscribc@cgroups.com The Foundation supports a total of 20 e-mail groups for itself and other environmental groups in the Caribbean. Collectively, these e-mail lists reflect the Foundation's traditional bias toward the insular Caribbean, the NGO community, English-speaking areas, and issues related to biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, parks and protected areas, environmental policy and information management. The over ] ,500 subscribers are large!y scientists, researchers, naturalists, resource planners and managers, students, and others who have an interest in Caribbean/small-island environmental issues. WHO TO CONTACT AT ISLAND RESOURCES president/ceo memberships publications st. thomas office TORTOLA OFFICE, ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTRE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, MAIL LISTS, WEBSITE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ISLAND SYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING NGO INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT Bruce Porter 2 0 2 . 2 6 5 . 9 7 1 2 2 0 2 . 2 6 5 . 9 7 ) 2 Jean-Pierre Bade 2 0 2 . 2 6 5 . 9 7 ) 2 Sandra Tate 3 4 0 . 7 7 5 . 6 2 2 5 Judith Towle Edward Towle 2 8 4 . 4 9 4 . 2 7 2 3 Bruce Porter 2 0 2 . 2 6 5 . 9 7 ) 2 Kevel Lindsay [on leave at Columbia U.] Edward Towle 2 0 2 . 2 6 5 . 9 7 1 2 2 8 4 . 4 9 4 . 2 7 2 3 Judith Towle 2 0 2 . 2 6 5 . 9 7 ) 2 2 8 4 . 4 9 4 . 2 7 2 3 bpotter@irf org irf@irf.org jpbacle@irf.org state@irf.org jtowle@irf.org etowle@irf.org bpotter@irf.org klindsay@irf. org etowle@irf.org jtowle@irf.org VISIT OUR WEB SITE www. irf.org . . . and you will find: A listing of the 80+ Program Associates formally affili ated with the Foundation, with resumes of many. Index and abstracts of the 1,400 island-specific publica tions comprising the Island Systems Environmental Infor mation Collection donated by the Foundation to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and currently housed at the shared Foundation/College facility in Road Town, Tortola, BVI. Matrix of endangered bird species in the insular Carib bean, with detailed descriptions, based on Birdlife Inter national's "Important Bird Areas'. Two extensive publications on the coastal impacts of tourism. Extended bibliography of resources in insular coastal area management. ''etwCrorunerttuLplajxncng'for tilcuicLdevelopmerit" Please/ help they fcnAyndattOYV contltut^ Cty ccnntrutyyie^ttcr LUcwidfr INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS A s s o c i a t e U S $ 3 5 S u s i a i n i n g U S $ 6 5 Sponsoring US$125 INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Contributing US$200 D o n o r U S $ 5 0 0 P a t r o n U S $ 1 , 0 0 0 ADDITIONAL DONATIONS WILL HELP US MAINTAIN ONGOING PROGRAMS: / environmental planning and impact assessment ■/ coastal and marine resource development •/ biodiversity conservation • environmental information management / NGO institutional development All contributions are tax deductible under U.S. Internal Revenue guidelines. SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO: Island Resources Foundation 1718 P Street NW, #T4 Wa s h i n g t o n , D C 2 0 0 3 6