IUCN Management Category II (National Park)

IX (Biosphere Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 8.41.13 (Lesser Antillean)

Geographical Location On the island of St John (52 sq. km), US Virgin Islands, 88km east of Puerto Rico. Its sister island, St Thomas, is to the west and the British island of Tortola to the north-east. 18°21'N, 64°44'W

Date and History of Establishment Established as a national park on 2 August 1956 under Public Law No. 925, a marine extension of 2,287ha was added on 5 October 1962 (16 US Congress 398). It was designated as a biosphere reserve when the initial network of biosphere reserves was established in June 1976, but formal dedication did not take place until May 1983.

Area Park (core area): 3,644ha land; 2,286ha sea. Biosphere Reserve: 6,127ha.

Land Tenure 4,953ha are currently owned by the park. 1,174ha are in private ownership, including less than 20ha owned by the Territorial Government.

Altitude 0m-389m

Physical Features The park occupies about two-thirds of the island and surrounding waters of St John, the smallest of the three major US islands. On St John and St Thomas the earliest volcanic deposits of the north-west Caribbean lava flows are visible in many places. The park features steep, verdant hillsides rising from rocky shores which are interspersed with coral sand beaches, numerous bays and cays. Clear, warm waters, fringing coral reefs, canyons of coral ledges, coral gardens, turtle grass beds, mangrove swamps, natural salt ponds, beaches and rocky shores. Various stages of reef development are apparent, from eastern Cinnamon Bay where development is minimal, to Annaberg and Mary Creek where the reef extends seaward over 100m, producing a broad, shallow back-reef. The shallowest fringing reefs, at eastern Cinnamon Bay, Windswept Beach and Denis Bay, are typically barren on their upper, wave-washed surfaces, which are occasionally exposed by extreme low tides. Tidal currents are usually weak and mean tidal range does not exceed 0.30m. Waves are 0.3-0.9m half the time, but occasionally reach 3-3.7m in winter (Rogers and Teytaud, 1988).

Climate Climatic conditions vary from the drier, windward (eastern) exposures to the moist mountain top. Temperatures are fairly constant around 26°C. Mean annual rainfall is 1200mm, with considerable variations from month to month and even year to year. The rainy season is usually from September to November with occasional storms, particularly in the spring.

Vegetation Forest and brush cover 70-85% of St John Island. Vegetation varies from cactus and other arid land types to mahogany Swietenia spp., bay, genip and palms. A subtropical moist forest grows at the higher elevations in protected valleys. The lower elevations, southern and eastern slopes and less exposed coastal sites are primarily subtropical, dry forests. Along the southern and eastern shore, the trade winds and direct exposure to the sun have created a xerophytic vegetation. There is little grassland left where cattle and horses used to graze during the period following the sugarcane and cotton agriculture. Seagrass beds are not extensive around St John but include turtle grass Thalassia testudinum, manatee grass Syringodium filiforme and shoal grass Halodule wrightii. Details of the marine and terrestrial vegetation are included in Rogers and Teytaud (1988).

Fauna The emergent reef crests support encrusting sponges, zooanthids, sea urchin Echinometra sp., seaweeds and encrusting Millepora sp. Seaward of the reef-crest, Acropora palmata stands, oriented in the direction of incoming waves, are interspersed with encrusting Diploria spp. and Millepora spp. The protected reef face is steep or overhung with Agaricia spp. and Cladocora spp. Montastraea spp. dominate the base of the reef (Robinson and Henle, 1978). The broad, shallow back-reefs support a dense growth of alga Halimeda spp. and isolated patches of Porites porites. Mary Creek has dense growths of seagrass Thalassia spp. Offshore patch reefs, such as Johnson's Reef off Trunk Bay, are similar to the fringing reefs (Robinson and Henle, 1978). A low-lying, shallow patch reef in the eastern part of Greater Lameshur Bay was surveyed in the course of a study of fish diversity (Risk, 1972). Corals present included Montastraea annularis, Millepora alcicornis, Porites furcata, and Agaricia agaricites. A variety of colourful tropical fish and invertebrates inhabits fringing coral reefs around St John. Threatened sea turtles nest on beaches within park boundaries, and the mangrove swamp ecosystem supports breeding populations of many marine animals and birds, including the locally threatened white-crowned pigeon Columba leucocephala, brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis, brown booby Sula leucogaster, man-o-war bird Fregata magnificens, Bahamian pintail Anas bahamensis, Zenaida dove Zenaida aurita and moustached quail dove Geotrygon mystaceae. Terrestrial fauna includes all four vertebrate classes. Reptiles include anoles lizards Anolis spp. and snakes. The amphibians are limited to frogs, and the only native mammals are several species of bats among which is red fig-eating bat Stenoderma rufum, a rare species. Exotic and feral mammals include Murinae rodents, ungulates, and the destructive mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus. More details on the fauna can be found in Rogers and Teytaud (1988).

Cultural Heritage There is evidence that a seafaring group known as Arawaks inhabited Lameshur Bay in St John as early as 770 B.C. They practised a mixed subsistence economy that involved harvesting marine organisms, cultivation of manioc and other foods (Tyson, 1987). When St John was claimed for Spain in 1493 by Christoper Columbus, the island had already been uninhabited for some 100 years. Between 1671 and 1717, it was only occupied intermittently and colonisation only started in 1718 by the Danish who parcelled land for plantations (sugar cane, cotton, coffee and indigo). By 1728, most of the island was under this plantation system (Larsen, 1986; Rogers and Teytaud, 1988). It became part of the USA in 1917 (Rogers and Teytaud, 1988).

Local Human Population The island has a seasonal fluctuating population of about 3,000 to 4,000 residents. The park has contributed considerably to the growth of commercial activities (businesses and support services) situated on private land in the periphery of the park (Towle and Rogers, 1989).

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Combined local and visitor use has tripled since 1976; there are now around 900,000 visitors per year concentrated mainly on the beaches, reefs and surrounding marine environment. The park is readily accessible by ferry from St Thomas and by seaplane from St Croix, and visitors have access to the core area as well. Many nearby visitors arrive by speed boat, sailing boat, private yachts and even small cruise ships (Towle and Rogers, 1989). The Cruz Bay Visitor Centre provides orientation talks, maps, literature, guided snorkel trips, hikes and cultural demonstrations. There is a self-guiding underwater trail at Trunk Bay and snorkel equipment can be rented at Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay. The park maintains a small reference library, and brochures have been produced for visitors. Caribbean cruises make day trips from St Thomas; Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay (a concession inside the park) and Maho Bay (private nature-theme) are the main recreational areas, full for most of the year (Towle and Rogers, 1989). Coral Bay and Hurricane Hotel are important safe anchorages for boats during hurricanes or tropical storms (R. Boulon, pers. comm. to S. Nash, 1983).

Scientific Research and Facilities This relatively undisturbed tropical island provides excellent conditions for research and much has been carried out including some environmental monitoring and ecological research. The "Tektite" underwater program has been the largest effort (Lee et al., 1975). In cooperation with other local institutions and agencies, the Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative has recently completed a variety of studies within the reserve, including characterisation of local fisheries, analysis of the cultural role of fishing, mapping of nearshore marine communities, descriptions of the bays and marine communities and lists of organisms found within the reserve area. Other projects emphasise watershed management, including the development of long-term monitoring programmes for coral reefs and fisheries and determination of the impact of terrigenous run-off on coastal ecosystems. A study of beach erosion within the park was carried out in the early 1970s (Hoffman et al., 1974). Seagrass anchorage sites have been studied at Lameshur and Francis bays as part of a programme to establish long-term monitoring for existing safe anchorages. A series of reports on marine life and habitats around St John is available. A two-phase programme focusing on reef assessment methodologies is being carried out by the National Park Service. In addition, a computerised bibliography (Caribbean Parks and Protected Areas Bibliography) has also been completed (Towle and Rogers, 1989).

The Virgin Islands Biosphere Reserve Centre, at Lind point on St John, was completed in 1986. Its long-term objectives are addressing some of the training and education needs of the Caribbean Island park and the St John reserve, and protected area resource managers as well. It has a laboratory, offices, storage for scientific collections, housing for visiting scientists and students and conference facilities (Towle and Rogers, 1989).

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management The site is the only biosphere reserve in the Lesser Antilles (Towle and Rogers, 1989) and receives total protection. Concurrent jurisdiction with Virgin Islands Territorial Government on those park lands in federal ownership. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Chapter 1, provides major protection, including natural resources, visitor safety and control of commercial activities. The establishing legislation for the park, passed on 2 August 1956 and added to on 5 October 1962, provides for the taking of certain marine animals by traditional methods to meet the food needs of the local population. The park occupies less than of the land area (Towle and Rogers, 1989). Park lands are classified into four general zones - natural, historic, development, and special use. These zones are defined where various strategies of management and use will best fulfill management objectives and achieve the purpose of the park. Environmental protection zone (Trunk Bay) -; outstanding natural features zone (coral reefs and park waters) -; natural environment zone (land area) -; historic zone (ruins) -; development zone (developed areas) -; special use zone (transport) -.

Following formal designation of the park as a biosphere reserve, the Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative (VIRMAC) undertook a detailed descriptive survey (as described above) in 1983 and 1984 and provided guidelines for management of the reserve and adjacent areas. There are possession limits on conch, lobster and whelks. Under the US Endangered Species Act of 1973 turtles may not be caught (Koester, 1985). Off-shore rod and reel fishing is the only form of fishing permitted and may not be carried out in the vicinity of public swimming or snorkelling beaches, but nets of a maximum length of 20ft (6m) may be used within the park (Koester, 1985). There are catch limits imposed by the government and licences are handled by the local division of the Fish and Wildlife Service (Towle and Rogers, 1989). The use or possession of any type os spearfishing equipment within the park boundaries is prohibited. All taking of marine life is prohibited in Trunk Bay and the defacing, breaking or removal of natural features, including underwater growth, as well as water ski-ing is prohibited throughout the park.

A data management plan exists for the reserve, as well as an herbarium collection and maps, which were completed in 1988. 'Friends of the National Park', a citizens group has been organised. Personnel training at an experimental stage has taken place in the reserve and it is expected that this will increase in the future (Towle and Rogers, 1989). There has been a considerable increase in the amount of literature published on the biosphere reserve and most of this has been done by the Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative and the Island Resources Foundation (Anon., 1988; Potter et al., 1988; Rogers and Teytaud, 1988; Towle and rogers, 1989). Furthermore, lists of research reports are available from these two organisations.

Management Constraints After 250 years of intensive agriculture on St John's flatlands and much of the steep slopes, 200 years of selective cutting associated with charcoal making, and the introduction of many exotic species, the vegetation barely resembles the natural forest. Gradual regrowth has brought back some forest, permanently altered by the absence of some native species and the presence of exotics. Roads and residential development are also present within the authorised park boundaries. Exotic burros (donkeys) and mongoose are present. Private development of real estate within the park's boundary is causing abnormal erosion of soil and detracts from the scenic landscape. The marine environment around St John has remained relatively undisturbed, but there is some visitor impact on the reefs of Trunk Bay, poaching of turtle eggs, coral collecting and boats anchoring on reefs. The underwater trail at Trunk Bay has been badly damaged by tourists, usually collecting coral momentos. There has been noticeable damage in some areas caused by people breaking corals while walking on reef flats, diving or swimming (Rogers, 1985). The reefs off Windswept Bay are regularly damaged by charter boats running aground. Small cruise ships anchor in park waters, sometimes overnight (Towle and Rogers, 1989). The Division of Fish and Wildlife has produced a number of reports on the fishing industry within the area. The majority of subsistence fishermen who use reserve resouces live on St John, but there are an unknown number of users from St Thomas and the British Virgin Islands. Recreational fishermen from many of the adjacent islands make extensive use of the area. There is some conflict between the fishermen and park staff but, in general, the local people benefit from the park, despite losing their traditional economy.

Staff Thirty-four full-time; 25 seasonal (1981). These employees carry out the maintenance, protection, interpretation and administrative functions of the park.

Budget US$985,000 (1979)

Local Addresses

Superintendent, Virgin Islands National Park, PO Box 806, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801, USA

References

A series of reports on marine life and habitats around St John is available. The park maintains a small reference library (see separate reference list).

Anon. (1988). Abstracts of Virgin Islands Biosphere Reserve Research Reports, Nos. 2-28. Report No. 1. Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative. US Department of the Interior, National Parks Service and Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative. 32 pp.

Britton, N.L. et al. (1919-1952). Scientific Survey of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. New York Academy of Science. 19 vols.

Connelly, T.W. (1966). Geology of St Thomas and St John, US Virgin Islands. Geological Society of America Memoirs 98: 85-176.

Larsen, L. (1986). The Danish colonization of St John, 1718-1733. Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative publication. Island Resources Foundation, St Thomas, VI.

Little, E.L. Jr. and Wadsworth, F.H. (1964). Common trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Agriculture Handbook No. 249, USDA.

Potter, B.G., Green, K.M. and Goodwin, M.H. (1988). Management of natural resource information for the Virgin Islands National Park and Biosphere Reserve. Special Biosphere Reserve Report. US Department of the Interior, National Parks Service and Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative. 45 pp.

Randall, J.E. (1963). An analysis of the fish populations of artificial and natural reefs in the Virgin Islands. Caribbean Journal of Science 3(1): 31-47.

Rogers, C.S. and Teytaud, R. (1988). Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems of the Virgin Islands National Park and Biosphere Reserve. Biosphere Reserve Report No. 29. US Department of the Interior, National Parks Service and Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative. 112 pp.

Towle, E.D. and Rogers, C.S. (1989). Case study on the Virgin Islands Biosphere Reserve. Contribution to the UNESCO/IUCN Workshop on the Application of the Biosphere Reserve Concept to Coastal Marine Areas. San Francisco, California. 14-20 August 1989. 9 pp.

Tyson, G. (1987). Historic land use in the Reef Bay, Fish Bay, and Hawksnest Bay watersheds, St John, US Virgin Islands: 1718-1950. Biosphere Reserve Research Report No. 19. US Department of the Interior, National Parks Service and Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative. 49 pp.

US National Park Service (1977). Statement for Management - Virgin Islands National Park.

Date 30 March 1981, revised August 1986 and May 1990

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