Going Tropical In Puerto Rico

By Author: Kriss Hammond
Total Articles: 43
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Going Tropical in Puerto Rico

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CULEBRA PROTECTS SEA TURTLES

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with Culebra Northshore, S.E. (Special Entity) and William V. Mailloux, Managing Partner, has established the first ever Habitat Conservation Plan for the Caribbean. Culebra Northshore, comprising 26 hectares of land, is a proposed residential development on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico.

"No single government agency working alone can ensure the survival of the wildlife resources we all share," said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "It takes the cooperation of private landowners and a wide variety of other interests to conserve our nation's animal and plant species for the future."

"Yet when people examine the effects of their activities on the environment, they sometimes face what they see as a choice between ...
... conservation and the legitimate use of their land," continued Hamilton.

Congress addressed that issue in 1982 when it amended the Endangered Species Act to authorize Habitat Conservation Plans. When carefully implemented, these plans allow resource managers and property owners to carry out their lawful activities while becoming partners in maintaining wildlife habitat.

A 12-year incidental take permit for the Culebra Northshore Habitat Conservation Plan was issued. The proposed development calls for the sale of 45 residential lots over an 8-year period. Three of the lots border Tortola Beach, which is approximately 90 meters long and 15 meters wide. The permit authorizes the take of two leatherback or hawksbill sea turtle nests on Tortola Beach during the 12- year life of the permit. The Service has been monitoring sea turtle nesting activities on Culebra since 1984. Three hawksbill nesting activities have been reported on Tortola Beach, one in 1985 and two in 1995. Leatherback nesting has also been reported on Tortola Beach during 8 of the previous 14 years. During the 8 years when nesting occurred, an average of 2.5 nests per year were documented.

The Service works with private landowners and other non-federal entities to develop Habitat Conservation Plans that authorize incidental take of listed species. This historic agreement highlights the cooperative efforts between the Service and private sector to conserve and protect endangered species while not sacrificing landowners' rights to develop their property.

The Service's Boquerón Field Office worked closely with the landowner in the design of minimization and mitigation measures.

"Development and environmental protection are often considered to be mutually exclusive," said James Oland, the Service's Boquerón Field Office supervisor. "This project, however, demonstrates that the two can co-exist when efforts are made to address potential conflicts before they become a problem."

The Culebra Northshore, S.E. proposed 17 conservation measures to minimize and mitigate impacts from the proposed project to sea turtles and their nesting habitat. These measures include:

* A conservation easemGet Your Dive Gear Here Onlineent on 2.2 hectares to protect natural forest and provide a buffer against upland erosion onto the beach.
* Prohibitions on construction activities (e.g., beach armoring, beach nourishment), mechanical beach clearing, and vehicle traffic or animals on the beach, as well as removal or trimming of beach vegetation.
* Directing pedestrian traffic to the beach on to only one boardwalk across the shoreline and sand dune area.
* Erection of a low fence at the end of the

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By Kriss Hammond - Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com


About the Author Kriss Hammond Jetsetters Magazine. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com