USVI Public Records

Document text

6292 Estate Nazareth #100 St. Thomas, VI 00802 340/775-6225; fax 779-2022 1718 P Street NW, Suite T4 Washington, DC 20036 202/265-9712; fax 232-0748 Post Office Box 2103 St. John's, ANTIGUA 268/460-1740; fax 463-7740 Via the Internet at: irf@irf.org http://www.irf.org NOTE; New mail addresses • St. Thomas, Virgin Islands office /St. John's, Antigua office Board of Trustees Bruce Porter, President Henry Wheatley, Vice President Edward Towle, Chairman Charles Consolvo, Secretary Judith Towle, Treasurer Horace Hord, Jr. Henry Jarecki LaVerne Ragsrer Rodger Schlickeisen 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 1 9 9 8 U P D A T E A YEAR OF REASSESSMENT, TRANSITION, AND CHANGE A Message from the New President, Bruce G. Potter It's a privilege and honor to greet the friends of Island Resources Foundation as the new president. Filling all of the multiple shoes that Ed Towle lias exer cised in the small island community over the years will be impossible, but I hope that all of us working together will be able to preserve and extend the core values with which the Foundation has been associated since 1972: the application of sound science to environmental problem solving; strength ening historical and vernacular information resources; support for island- based institutions; and endorsement of open decision-making processes. My wife Kincey and I first met Ed in 1973 when we were introduced by Henry Wheatley, an original member of the Foundation's board of trustees. Kincey and I had just left our jobs in Washington and arrived in St. Thomas at the beginning of a two-year sailing tour of the Caribbean. Henry (a friend from Peace Corps days) thought we would profit from meeting Ed and Judith Towle and learning more about the brand-new Foundation. While there, we had a wonderful wide-ranging "Towle-ian" discussion of island issues, and when we returned to St. Thomas in 1975, to make it our home for the next five years, we often found ourselves back at the Foundation's Red Hook office, want ing to know more about this organization that had made "islands" its special mission. By 1978,1 was affiliated with the Foundation as a consultant; my tenure as a trustee commenced in 1980, as an employee in 1994, and now as president. Over the years, I have learned to appreciate that, above all else, Island Resources Foundation is a (continued on page 3) A Message from the Founding President, Edward L. Towle Thirty-one years ago, while representing the Smithsonian Institution on an archaeological research expedition to the Eastern Caribbean, I found myself inordinately fascinated by the archipelago and its diverse assemblage of island types. Upon my return to a 9-to-5 office regime in Washington, it was easy to engage in wishful thinking about working in the idyllic tropics, and almost as easy to refocus my normative professional concerns on more exotic Lesser Antillean maritime history and island biogeography. When, only a short time later, 1 was sornewhat fortuitously offered a post as director of the research institute at the new college in the U.S. Virgin Islands, I promptly accepted. It was, however, a rather inauspicious beginning as my enthusiasm about island systems ivas hardly a substitute for real knowledge and understanding. But good for tune smiled again, and in short order after taking up residence in the region, I was able to identify on virtually every island a local naturalist or historian or novice conservationist who provided a friendly tutelage program to begin my real education about island environments. These arc the unfiling heroes of Island Resources Foundation's e s t a b l i s h m e n t , a m i t h e i r s t o r y h a s y e t t o b e t o l d . ( c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 3 ) H. Loviry Stoutt Community College Tortola, British Virgin Islands (photo courtesy of H. Lovily Stoutt Community Colleg See page 2 to learn about the Foundath collaboration with the BVI — — —■ S5S " tern<. ssa aaa WW l i i aaa aaa M ; gjjg 4i\ NEW DIRECTIONS - for 1999 and beyond Tqq: Henry Wheatley, vice president ol the Foundation's board of trustees, with Trudie Prior, president and general manager of CORAL WOULD, where Island Resources Foundation will soon have a new office in St. Thomas. Mr. Wheatley is a principal in Coral World. Almost 27 years ago, Island Resources Foundation was founded to assist small island states to protect and enhance their environments and to pursue development options that preserve the special qualities of island life. Even as the Foundation's external environment and internal leader ship have changed and as institutional af filiations are realigned, this central mission remains constant. New Leadership The founding president of the Foundation, Edward L. Towle, announced his retire ment in July of this year; in September, he was elected chair of the Foundation's board of trustees. His resignation was prompted in part by an illness that had re duced his capacity to continue in the de manding role of chief executive officer. But it also reflects Towle's realization that the time had come to pass the day-to-day leadership of the organization to his col leagues, particularly to Bruce Potter, who was confirmed by the trustees as president during their most recent meeting. We are pleased to report that Dr. Towle's health is improving, and he hopes to re turn to a more active schedule in the near future. He also looks forward to having time to pursue personal projects, in par ticular, a desire to write a book on his 31 years in the Caribbean, with a focus on the evolution of the conservation movement and the importance of individual leader ship during the early years of that move ment. New Affiliation in the British Virgin Islands After a three-year search, the Foundation has secured the long-term future of its unique research library on insular ecosys tems and island resource management. Our objective was to identify an academic institutional affiliation for the library in order to ensure its continued development and to expand access to the collection. The library represents a major accomplishment of our founding president and has been an important intellectual resource of the Foundation. Our search ended recently when the Foundation entered into a Memoran dum of Understanding with the H. LAVITY STOUTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE in the British Virgin Islands. It establishes the framework of a collaborative rela tionship between the two institutions. As part of that relationship, the core of the Foundation's research library was moved from St. Thomas to a College facility in Road Town, and in 1999 the Foundation will establish an office in Tortola, in collaboration with the Col lege. A New Office at Coral World In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Founda tion is in the latter stages of relocating from Red Hook to an office at the coral world aquarium and under water observatory at Coki Point. Given the intended move to the British Virgin Islands, the Foundation's board reached a decision in early 1998 to down-size operations in St. Thomas. At this point, board member Henry Wheatley saw an opportunity to join the Foundation's 26 years of experience in designing and managing marine- related programs with Coral World's extensive facilities and professional staff, as well as its interest in applied marine science and coastal ecosystems. Wheatley, who has been a member of the Foundation board since 1972, is also a principal of the new Coral World. He was therefore in an ideal position to promote collaboration between the two institutions, which will include the opening of a Coral World-based office for the Foundation in 1999. In addition to new facilities at Coral World and at the Community College in Tortola, the Foundation will main tain its auxiliary office in Washington, DC (where distribution of Foundation publications is centralized), and a pro gram office in St. John's, Antigua, where our Biodiversity Program for the Eastern Caribbean is based (see page 4). It will be a busy but challenging year ahead for the Foundation. (continued on page 3) Center: On behalf of the Foundation, Kevel Lindsay {r} presents a $ 1,000 check to the 1998 recipient of the Euan P. McFarlane Award for Outstanding Environmental Leadership, Mr. Andrew Simpson of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Since 1988, the Foundation has made similar awards to nine environmental leaders in Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kilts, St. Lucia and Trinidad. Simpson was nominated by the St. Croix Environmental Association. Bottom: Pictured are Ed and Judith Towle, who as a team founded, provided direction and managed Island Resources Foundation during its first quarter century. Dr. Towle recently resigned as presi dent of the Foundation, but will remain active as chairman ol the board ol trustees. Judith Towle will continue as vice president lor administrative and fiscal affairs. 0 NEW DIRECTIONS [continued horn page 2) Island Resources Foundation has consistently cast a wide—some might even say eclectic— net in defining its program agenda. We have explored all kinds of environmental issues, within an insular context, from archae ology and agriculture to watersheds and wetlands, impact assessments and tourism planning, endangered species research and environmental policy guidelines—and much more. At this institutional turning point, even as we look back, we must also look ahead to the first decade of the new millennium. Given its broad agenda in the past and the challenge of new leadership in the future, what will influ ence the Foundation's overall programs in the years ahead? In addressing this question, President Bruce Potter has identified those specialized skill areas—our core competencies—that have informed the Foundation's direc tion through almost three decades of research, planning and conservation work. / Integrated coastal area planning, keyed to small-island conditions, espe cially island states with expanding tourism sectors. / Technical expertise in biodiversity program planning and management for highly stressed insular environments. / A considerable body of hands-on experience in institutional strength ening, especially public sector agencies and NGOs in the English- speaking Caribbean. / An unusual capacity to assess, interpret and assemble complex scientific information in accessible formats useful for decision-makers. / An established track record of sound environmental impact assessment of infrastructure and development projects within a small-island con text. / Capacity to define and utilize environmental information technologies, especially the new Internet-based tools for communication and GIS and mapping technologies for storage, manipulation and display of complex environmental information. These are the specialty areas that defined the Foundation's past and helped to make it a unique non-governmental organization. They are also likely to underpin future programmatic initiatives. New areas of emphasis currently being reviewed include the following: / WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANNING / CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS AND POLICY NEEDS / CARIBBEAN CONSERVATION HISTORY / BIO-REGIONALISM Message from Ed 7bw/e {continued from page 1) I was encouraged by them to share their collective concerns about the emerging impacts of devel opment and concomitant landscape, cidtural and shoreline change. They convinced me that there was a need for a new kind of independent non-governmental institution to assist and occa sionally lead in the task of defining improved stewardship strategies for threatened insular re sources. My partner in this task from the outset has been Judith Towle, with continuing counsel and guidance almost from the beginning from Virgin Islands board members Henry Wheatley and Charles Consolvo. Together, arid with a lot of help from many others, we have completed over 160 projects in the almost 27-year history of the Foundation. But new kinds of tasks are now in order and new tools are now available. The goals however remain the same, as outlined by the new president. I urge all of you who have sltared in various ways with our collective undertak ing to stay with us—as the best is yet to cornel Message from Bruce Potter (continued from page 1) netivork of concerned individuals and in stitutions that know and care about small tropical island systems. I want to thank each of you for your support and generos ity in the past and ask that you continue to help us refine the Foundation's contin ued contributions to the world community of islands. About the New President Bruce Potter has over 25-years of experi ence—in both public and private organi zations—in information system manage ment, economic planning, and institu tional development. His career has con centrated on the adaptation and develop ment of information tools for improved management of sustainable development. He has designed and implemented development proj ects in the insular Caribbean, all of Central and South America, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Indonesia. He began his ca reer as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Chile in 1964. He later joined the staff of the Latin American Regional Office of the Peace Corps where he served as Central American Desk Officer and later as Latin American Regional Program and Training Chief. In the latter post, he coordinated placement and training of 4,200 Volunteers in 21 countries. After a number of years in the public and nonprofit sectors, Potter joined the Mobil Oil Corporation as a senior planning advi sor in 1980. By the early 1990s, he was af filiated with American Management Sys tems, where he focused principally on new environmental monitoring and assessment programs and developed a number of GIS and other map-based visualizations of re search results. Mr. Potter periodically served as a con sultant to the Foundation, and in 1989 he designed and wrote a successful applica tion for the Foundation's nine-year $1.1 million program to strengthen the institu tional capabilities of environmental NGOs in the Eastern Caribbean. Since joining the Foundation as full-time staff in 1994, his special interests have focused on risk as sessment, carrying capacity, and climate change. © BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PROGRAM Emphasizing Conservation and Protection Issues in the Eastern Caribbean Kevel Lindsay, coordinator of the Foundation's Biodiversity Program for the Eastern Caribbean, in his office in Si. John's, Antigua. Since 1997, the biodiversity program has been housed at the Museum of Antigua-Barbuda, which is centrally located in the capital and where Antigua's Environmental Awareness Group and the Historical and Archaeological Society are also based. More than 25 years ago—long before it was called "biodiversity conservation"—Island Resources Founda tion's commitment to species protection helped to launch a sea turtle research and conservation program that resulted in the tagging of over twelve-hundred green sea turtles in the Eastern Caribbean. By the early 1990s, biodiversity conservation had emerged as a newer, more holistic program emphasis for the Foundation, representing a logical extension of our more than two decades of commitment to Carib bean environmental protection. Biodiversity concerns played an increasing role in the Foundation's nine- year (1986-1995) Institutional Strengthening Program for Conservation NGOs in the Eastern Caribbean. By 1990 the Foundation and several of its NGO part ners had begun to support initiatives specifically de signed to build local institutional capacity for maintain ing the biological diversity of Caribbean islands. In 1993, the Foundation established biodiversity conservation as a primary program sector for its work in the East ern Caribbean. This effort, which receives major support from THE MORIAH FUND, was carried out initially in part nership with the U.S.-based Nature Conservancy and currently includes conservation NGOs in Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis as program partners. Donor support is identified in the table below. The overall goal of the program is to facilitate and strengthen a process of improved national decision-making about biodiversity, including the protection and preservation of threatened natural resources. Our program is shaped by four important elements: • Support for technical studies and research. • Expansion of the biodiversity information base by encouraging more effective data assembly and interpretation. • Building institutional and individual capabilities, cooperation, and active support on behalf of biodiversity conservation and protection of endangered species. • Linking public and private sector interests in support of biodiversity conservation programs. FUNDING SUPPORT FOR ISLAND RESOURCES FOUNDATION'S BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM For more information on the biodiversity program, to request a summary of activi ties and publications, to join the Carib bean Biodiversity E-Mail list, or to request assistance from program staff, contact: Biodiversity Program Office Post Office Box 2103 St. John's, Antigua 268/460-1740 (telephone) 268/463-7740 (fax) Internet: <klindsoy@irf.org> DONOR 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1 9 9 5 1996 1997 1 9 9 8 T O TA L I FUNOING I The Moriah Fund $ $ $ $ $ $ $238,829 Intemtl Inst Tropical Forestry $ $ $118,000 OAS $ $ $90,000 Jackson Hole Preserve $ $50,000 Island Resources Fndt $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $38,256 World Wildlife Fund-US $ $ $ $33,285 Biodiversity Support Prog $ $ $ $ $29,860 UNDP/6EF $ $ $26,220 The Nature Conservancy $ $8,000 Homeland Foundation $ $7,800 TOTAL FUNOING $6,914 $16,500 $26,950 $40,170 $134,242 $154,024 $122,727 $79,036 59,687 $640,250 C a r i b b e a n E n v i r o n m e n t a l E - M a i l L i s t s Island Resources Foundation is one of the older environmental NGOs in the Caribbean See our waK <!ta „t /,»«.// •; /t -r a b o u t o u r 2 6 - v e a r h i s t o r y . T h i s w e b s i t e i s a l s o o n e o f t h e o l d e s t i n t h e r e 9 i o , S S £ Z E S S £ 2 S E ! ^ ^ T established pnmanly tn response to requests from our constituents. The focus of each list is described below, but most reflect our tradiZ bias toward the tnsular Canbbean, the NGO community, English-speaking areas, and issues related to biodiversity conservation and mari e/coos a resource development. AH lists but one are now automated through the facilities of "eGroups.com", which frees members from the need to clear posfmgs through the Island Resources Foundation moderator. Information on subscribing to any of the six lists is provided below. C A R l B H t A N B I O D I V E R S I T Y C O N S E R VAT I O N An electronic forum for the exchange of Caribbean biodiversity information. This list is primarily run out of the Foundation's Biodiversity Pro gram Office in Antigua. List membership includes scientists, researchers, naturalists, resource planners and managers, and others from within or external to the Caribbean who have an interest in biodiversity issues in the region. To subscribe, visit the mailing list archive at <http://www.egroups.com/list/caribbean-biodiversity>, or send a blank e-mail to <caribbean-biodiversity-subscribe@egroups.com>. C A R I B B E A N G I S U S E R S This list is of interest to regional users and implementers of geographic information systems and remote sensing applications. It also includes some discussion of metadata issues in the Eastern Caribbean, and selected GIS job postings are also forwarded. To subscribe, visit the mail ing list archive at <http://www.egroups.com/list/carib-gis-users>, or send a blank e-mail to <carib-gis-users-subscribe@egroups.com>. V I R G I N I S L A N D S R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T C O O P E R AT I V E - V I R M C Members of this list share an interest in natural resource management issues in the wider Virgin Islands area. The list supports the work of VIRMC, a collaboration of resource management institutions in the American and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, first established in 1 982. To subscribe, visit the mailing list archive at <http://www.egroups.com/list/virmo, or send a blank e-mail to <virmc-subscribe@egroups.com>. " E N V I R O N M E N TA L W O R K I N G G R O U P " O F T H E F O R U M O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N S O F C I V I L S O C I E T Y F O R T H E W I D E R C A R I B B E A N This is a bilingual list that functions like an environmental SIG (Special Interest Group) for NGOs interested in the policy deliberations of the Association of Caribbean States. To subscribe, visit the mailing list archive at <http://www.egroups.com/list/carib-ngo-forum>, or send a blank e-mail to <carib-ngo-forum-subscribe@egroups.com>. S U S TA I N A B L E T O U R I S M M A I L L I S T This list comprises members from the private sector, governmental bodies, and scientific and conservation communities. Its objectives are to promote sustainable tourism for the Caribbean, enhance the ethical management of natural and cultural resources, and protect the health of residents and guests to the region. To subscribe, visit the mailing list archive at <http://www.egroups.com/list/sustainable_lourism>, or send a blank e-mail to <sustainable_tourism-subscribe@egroups.com>. C A R I B B E A N C O N S U LT I N G G R O U P F O R S M A L L I S L A N D D E V E L O P I N G S TAT E S I N F O R M AT I O N N E T W O R K ( S I D S N E T ) Coordinated by UNDP Trinidad, this list is designed to provide technical and policy input to the organizers of SIDSNET. If you would like to join, contact Janelle Aaron at <janelle.aaron@undp.org.tt> or Dr. Carol James at <carol.james@undp.org.tt>. C o n t r i b u t i o n F o r m tyed, I would like to help the Foundation maintain its commitment to islands. Enclosed is my contribution. I N D I V I D U A L M F M B F R S H I P I N S T I T U T I O N A [ M E M B E R S H I P □ A s s o c i a t e ( U S $ 3 5 ) □ C o n t r i b u t i n g ( U S $ 1 0 0 ) □ S u s t a i n i n g ( U S $ 6 5 ) □ D o n o r ( U S $ 2 0 0 ) □ S p o n s o r i n g ( U S $ 1 2 5 ) □ P a t r o n ( U S $ 5 0 0 ) □ Additional donation in support of the important work of Island Resources Foundation: US$ NAME findividual(s) or institution] C O N T A C T N A M E / T I T L E [ f o r i n s t i t u t i o n s ] . ADDRESS T E L F A X ■ E " M A I L Please complete form, enclose check or international money order in U.S. dollars only, payable to Island Resources Foundation, and mail to: 6292 Estate Nazareth #100 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802 All contributions are tax deductible under United States Internal Revenue guidelines. 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 R e c e n t P u b l i c a t i o n s (Write the Publications Office in Washington, DC for a copy of the complete List of Publications) Biodiversity Program Publications Antigua-Barbuda-Redonda Biodiversity Profile B. Horwith and K. Lindsay US$9.00 bound copy, 43 pp. A Vegetation Classification of Antigua- Barbuda-Redonda K. Lindsay and B. Horwith US$ 12.00 bound copy, 61 pp. Seabird Conservation Status Report: Antigua-Barbuda-Redonda K. Lmcsay and B. Horwith US$1.25, 6 pp. Management Plan for the Bird Island (Antigua) Marine Reserve B. Potter, B. Horwith, K. Lindsay, et al. (prepared for Antigua Govt, and OAS) US$ 17.00 bound copy, 97 pp. Bird Island (Antigua) Marine Reserve Planning Studies: Characterization of Marine Resources, Usage Patterns, Pollution Impacts, Nesting Birds and Flora of the Off shore Islands L. Bunce, B. Horwith, K. Lindsay, and E. Towle (prepared for Antigua Govt, and OAS) US$ 13.00 bound copy, 71 pp. Coastal and Marine Resource Development Guidance for Best Management Practices for Caribbean Coastal Tourism Bruce Potter, US$9.50 bound copy, 47 pp. Also available at the Foundation's Web Site http://www.id.org Tourism and Coastal Resources Degradation in the Wider Caribbean Bruce Potter, US$1 1.00 bound copy, 53 pp. Also available at the Foundation s Web Site http://www, irf.org Anegada Sea Turtle Recovery Project: Community Assessment Michael Downs, US$ 1 1.00 bound copy, 54 pp. Mitigating the Impacts of Natural Hazards in the U.S. Virgin Islands Bruce Potter, US$13.50, bound photocopy only from IRF, 71 pp Also available from the Virgin Islands Emergency Management Agency Guidelines for Integrated Planning and Management of Coastal and Marine Areas in the Wider Caribbean Region Edward Towle, US$24.00, bound photocopy only from IRF, 141 pp. Also available from UNEP's Regional Co-ordinating Unit in the Caribbean: UNEP-CAR/RCU, 14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston. Jamaica Guidelines for Sediment Control Practices in the Insular Caribbean Donald Anderson, US$1 2.00, bound photocopy only from IRF, 63 pp Also available from UNEP's Regional Co-ordinating Unit in the Caribbean: UNEP-CAR/RCU, 14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands) Vegetation Community Maps Jean-Pierre Bade (photo interpretation) Prepared by The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Data Center/Eastern Caribbean Center, and Island Resources Foundation al a scale of 1:9600. This set of maps, pari of a Rapid Ecological Assessment for St. Croix, will soon be available. For further information, contacl Dayle Barry, Coordinator, Conservation Data Center: telephone 340693-1030 or e-mail <dbarry@uvi.edu>. List title(s) and quantities, and complete this form. Return with your U.S. check or international money order (in U.S. dollars) to: Publications Office Island Resources Foundation, 1718 P Street Northwest, Suite T4, Washington, DC 20036 USA. For additional information, telephone (202) 265- '^id.org>. Confirmed orders are only accepted by mail, as pre-pavment must accompany your order. 9712; fax (202) 232-0748; or E-Mail <ir Date Specify if faster shipping method desired: Priority (US) Air Mail (non-US) Federal Express (Costs in excess of regular postage will be billed separately) Name Sub-total Add 15% Postage/Handling TOTAL ENCLOSED Address Tel Fax E-Mail