Nature in St Vincent and Grenadines

Saint Vincent is volcanic and mountainous, with La Soufrière rising to 1,179 metres and remaining an active volcano. The country includes Saint Vincent and 32 smaller islands and cays. About 12,700 hectares of tropical vegetation include primary and secondary rainforest, palm brake, elfin woodland, littoral woodland, dry scrub and mangrove. The main watersheds are Richmond, Cumberland, Colonaire and Montreal. The Grenadines contain drier islands, coral reefs and seagrass beds, while mangroves, rivers and coastal habitats connect land and sea ecosystems. The current National Parks Authority list identifies 35 protected areas. Their legal framework includes the National Parks Act 2002, Forest Resources Conservation Act 1992, Wildlife Protection Act 1987, Fisheries Act 1986, Marine Parks Act, Botanical Gardens Act, Beach Protection Act and Sand Mining Act. Protected-area types include forest reserves, wildlife reserves, marine parks, marine reserves and conservation areas. Examples in the Grenadines include protected marine areas around Tobago Cays, Bequia, Canouan, Isle de Quatre, Mustique, Petit St. Vincent, Union Island and Palm Island. Prospect Mangrove Conservation Park was added in 2025. The Forestry Department manages forest and wildlife reserves and supports mapping, inventories, public education, wildlife work and compliance with forest law. The National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority, Fisheries Division, Sustainable Development Unit, Tobago Cays Marine Park and community and NGO partners share responsibilities across different sites and functions. Management is institutionally divided, so the responsible body depends on whether the matter concerns forests, wildlife, fisheries, beaches, rivers or a marine park. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has about 190 recorded bird species. The St. Vincent Parrot and the Whistling Warbler are island endemics, and the St. Vincent Parrot is the national bird. The country also has 21 reptile species, including the endemic Union Island Gecko, and four marine turtle species: Hawksbill, Green, Loggerhead and Leatherback. Its flora includes about 1,150 flowering plants, 16 of them endemic, and 163 fern species, including four endemics. Marine records include more than 500 species, about 450 finfish, 12 whales and dolphins, four marine turtles and around 30 coral species. The Botanical Gardens supports conservation breeding for the St. Vincent Parrot. Monitoring reports indicate that the Union Island Gecko population increased from about 10,000 to about 18,000 since 2018, while the parrot population remained stable despite habitat effects from the 2021 eruption. Nature supports drinking-water supply, hydropower, agriculture, fisheries and coastal protection. Fishing and healthy coastal ecosystems also support livelihoods and tourism. Places used for nature-based visits include the Vermont Nature Trail, La Soufrière Cross Country Trail, Falls of Baleine, Cumberland Trail, Dark View Falls, the Botanical Gardens, Rawacou Recreation Park, Owia Salt Pond, Joseph Chatoyer National Park, beaches and Tobago Cays. Many managed sites generally operate around 9:00 to 17:00 and charge a small conservation fee. Schools, companies and institutions may need a general site agreement or booking, with possible charges for gazebos, day units, fire pits, photography, weddings or concerts. Tobago Cays Marine Park access uses the PAY system, which issues a receipt by email and allows ranger checks. The published 2023 schedule listed XCD 15 per person for 24-hour entry, XCD 60 for a 24-hour mooring, XCD 5 per person for a local excursion and XCD 500 for a filming or wedding permit. Fees, access conditions and availability should be verified before visiting. Scuba diving requires a registered local dive operator. Visitors must not anchor on coral or seagrass, fish, remove coral or marine life, damage vegetation, discharge rubbish, bilge water or wastewater, or disturb nesting and resting birds. The speed limit is 5 knots, pets are prohibited, and lobster outside the closed season from 1 May to 31 August should not be purchased. Wildlife may not be hunted, captured or disturbed when protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, close seasons or reserve rules. Some reserve visits may require a fee established through the Gazette. Private property protections also apply. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines participates in the CITES and Convention on Biological Diversity frameworks. Illegal use can lead to sanctions under the relevant special laws. The NPRBA has operated a water-quality programme since 2013, covering about 13 sites and 42 stations with monthly monitoring of rivers, reefs and recreational waters. Recorded pressures include greywater and stormwater, livestock near rivers and industrial discharge. Beach profiles help track sea-level rise and erosion. The Fisheries Division conducts biological tests. Nature-related hazards include volcanic ash and lahars from La Soufrière, landslides, hurricanes, intense rainfall and flooding, storm surge, coastal erosion, drought, earthquakes and tsunamis. Evacuation and emergency planning belong to disaster management, while the natural processes and ecosystem resilience remain part of nature protection. Public education includes National Parks Authority awareness work, Conservation Guardians Summer Camp, Forestry Department programmes, school participation in water-quality and biodiversity monitoring, Botanical Gardens activities, parrot breeding, research and internships in Tobago Cays Marine Park. Key conflicts involve deforestation, resource overuse, overfishing, coastal construction and jetties, agricultural and industrial runoff, waste, wastewater and habitat loss linked to the 2021 eruption and Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Limited enforcement capacity, data gaps and funding needs complicate protection. Community co-management can help balance fishing, tourism, recreation and development with the protection of coral reefs, mangroves, forests and wildlife. Wetlands such as mangroves, seagrass areas, coral systems and rivers are functionally significant, but Tobago Cays should not be described as a Ramsar site because no local Ramsar designation was confirmed in the available search.