The Saint Lucia National Trust C-19 Relief Fund

The Saint Lucia National Trust, would once again like to thank you for your generous donations to our conservation campaign.  We are extremely thankfully for your kind donations which have allowed us to continue our ongoing conservation work. 

During this reporting period, The Trust rehabilitated one of the Turtle nesting beaches at the Pigeon Island National Landmark.  As part of the project, several Casuarina or Australian pine trees were removed. The Casuarina pine is a non-native species of tree introduced to Saint Lucia and Pigeon Island in the 1970’s. The roots of the Casuarina pine are known to create dense mats which prevent marine turtles from nesting. Trust staff have observed that this is indeed the case at the Landmark, with a considerable number of unsuccessful attempts by turtles – primarily endangered greens and critically endangered hawksbills. The Casuarina is also known to create sterile, acidic soils, that inhibits growth of other plants which effects the incubation environment and ultimately, hatchling sex ratios and hatchling success, particularly of the hawksbill turtle. Therefore, as a conservation measure and in keeping with recommendations from the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), all Casuarina pines were removed from Beach No. 3. The wood from these trees were used to construct much needed park benches. As well, in order to create a wider beach for turtle nesting, and reduce death and injury of turtle hatchlings by vehicles, the coastal access road at the Landmark was realigned and moved further inland.

Although the Turtle nesting season is ongoing, we are already seeing an increase in turtle nesting activity and rate of successful nesting.

We are very thankful for the contributions received thus far and express our deepest gratitude to all our donors. Your support has enabled us to continue our efforts to conserve the critically endangered species of Saint Lucia. We hope that you will continue on this journey to conserve Saint Lucia's unique natural heritage.

The Saint Lucia National Trust, would once again like to thank all those persons who have generously donated to our campaign.  

With inflation rates increasing across the global, which in turn is further impacting the spiraling costs of goods and services caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Saint Lucia National Trust, as a small not for profit organisation, has not been left unscathed.  The increase costs of these goods and services, together with shortages and shipping delays  has had spin off effects on our operations and conservation work.  Therefore, we are extremely thankfully for your kind donations which have allowed us to continue our ongoing work at our various sites. 

During this reporting period, in addition to our regular site maintenance, we have continued with the clean ups of the 18th and 19th Century French and British Military sites vested in the National Trust. As well, the Trust is conducting research and monitoring in collaboration with local and international partner agencies, including the Forestry Department, Fauna and Flora International and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in the conservation of the world's rarest snake, the Saint Lucia Racer. This is a nonvenomous snake, endemic to Saint Lucia and although previously common on mainland Saint lucia, the introduction of rats and mongoose during the colonial era, lead to their extinction there.  They can now only be found on one of the small offshore islands, Maria Major, located in the south of Saint Lucia and the population estimate is approximately twenty individuals. 

Both the built heritage and natural heritage conservation of Saint Lucia, form intergral components of the Trust's work programme, as they form an important part of Saint Lucia's unique history and biodiversity.  

We are very thankful for the contributions received thus far and express our deepest gratitude to all our donors. Your support has enabled us to continue our efforts to conserve the heritage of Saint Lucia. We hope that you will continue on this journey with us as we work steadfastly to conserve Saint Lucia's unique natural and cultural heritage.