Protected areas and nature reserve of Saint-Barthélemy
The archipelago boasts exceptional ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial, combining endemic flora and fauna such as scorpions (Béatrice's solifuge, Saint-Barth's scorpion), and snakes (Saint-Barth's typhlops). The island is also a nesting site for bird species, and a nesting site for turtles (green and hawksbill turtles). The marine environment is home to phanerogam meadows, over 50 species of coral and more than 180 species of fish (including eagle rays and long-nosed seahorses), as well as marine mammals (humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins). The threat to this biodiversity led to the creation, in 1996, of the Saint-Barthélemy Nature Reserve, currently managed by the Saint-Barthélemy Territorial Environment Agency (ATE) and divided into several zones with different protection statuses. The management of this area also includes a mission to inform and raise public awareness. Botanists can explore the dry forest in search of orchids, cacti and white lilies.
Risk management and environmental policies
Human activities increase the vulnerability of environments to climatic hazards, and also cause damage to biodiversity, notably through pollution. Global warming could increase the frequency and severity of extreme events, such as Hurricane Irma. The island's urbanization has increased its vulnerability to natural hazards. Urban sprawl and surface sealing threaten biodiversity (disappearance and degradation of natural environments) and hinder the drainage of runoff water into the ground. Tourism generates numerous environmental problems: drinking water supply, treatment of aqueous effluents, and in particular the discharge of wastewater into the natural environment in the event of heavy rainfall (saturation of treatment systems). The island suffers from a shortage of water resources, and efforts are currently being made to improve infrastructure for both drinking water production and wastewater treatment. In terms of energy, the Agence Territoriale de l'Environnement has developed a program for the development of renewable energies on the island. Another area of concern is marine pollution, in particular the concentration of heavy metals in fish and marine mammals, leading to contamination of the entire food chain. The introduction of exogenous species generates a risk of ecosystem imbalance and loss of biodiversity, particularly through the weakening of endemic species. In short, Saint-Barth is a paradise for biodiversity, which requires constant, shared efforts to safeguard.
