 Helen Temple
Studies of the White-breasted Thrasher have revealed the vital importance of the area now ear-marked for development on St Lucia
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Cricket hotel hits rare thrasher for six
22-04-2005
A hotel and residential estate development on St Lucia threatens almost a quarter of the world population of the White-breasted Thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus, an Endangered species. The project is part-funded by the European Investment Bank, and linked to St Lucia’s hosting of the Cricket World Cup in 2007.
Work to clear the woodland on which the thrasher depends is on hold awaiting the response of St Lucia’s Development Control Authority (DCA) to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which stresses the vital importance of the proposed site to the long-term viability of this species. But developers hope to begin work early in 2005.
The White-breasted Thrasher is unique to the islands of St Lucia and Martinique in the West Indies. Each island has a well-differentiated subspecies, and genetic analysis may result in their being given species status. The global population is just 1,250 breeding adults, 80% of which live in coastal and dry woodland along the eastern side of St Lucia, within 3 km of the coast.
The majority – an estimated 436 pairs – are found between Praslin and Dennery, which includes the Dennehy Estate, site of the proposed development. This population was not discovered until 1993. The better-known northern population has declined over the last 30 years to just 45 breeding pairs.
"The imminent destruction of such a large percentage of this unique species' population is a devastating blow to its long-term survival prospects. It is now up to the developer and the funders, such as the European Investment Bank, to step up to the plate and ensure sufficient funding is made available to secure the future of the bird outside the Praslin Bay development." —David Wege, Caribbean Programme Manager, BirdLife
A preliminary EIA by a US company found no Endangered species in this area – even though the population, discovered in 1993, is well documented in St Lucia’s government and tourist literature.
The 215 ha site of the proposed development is home to an estimated 138 breeding pairs of White-breasted Thrashers – around 22% of the world population.
The UK-based developer, Design Construction Group (DCG), proposes two phases. Phase I involves a hotel, spa, golf course and apartments on Praslin Bay. This would affect around a third of the habitat on the estate and also threaten the colony of endangered St Lucia whip-tailed lizards on Praslin Island. Phase II, is a residential development stretching inland from the bay, and including extensive landscaping. DCG claims the project will not be financially viable unless both phases are built.
Forest clearance, construction work, new roads and footpaths, and an increase in the number of visitors (up to 3,000 per week), will lead to increased disturbance of areas where the thrasher lives.
"St Lucia's beautiful, rugged eastern coastline is under-utilised as a tourist destination, but needs more sustainable development of its potential." —Helen Temple, World expert on White-breasted Thrasher
The construction of a major resort development is likely to catalyse development on adjacent properties, leading to further habitat loss for the thrasher. The hotel complex would provide jobs, but local feelings are mixed. Although the bayside development would improve marina facilities, the fishermen and sea-moss/grass farmers of Praslin Bay would be forced to move, and dredging and destruction of mangroves would impact fish stocks.
Threatened by a World Trade Organisation ruling, which in late 2005 will end the favourable status its bananas have enjoyed in the European Union, St Lucia sees tourism as the future mainstay of its economy. Sadly, proposals by World Bank/GEF to turn the coast into a protected area were dropped when the Dennehy Estate came onto the market, since the future integrity of the landscape couldn’t be guaranteed.
St Lucia has a fine conservation record. The successful action to reverse the decline of the St Lucia Parrot Amazona versicolor, combined with a highly effective environmental awareness campaign, is frequently cited as a textbook example of how to carry out conservation work on a small developing island.