MARIA ISLANDS NATURE RESERVE – SAINTE-LUCIE

Description

The Maria Islands Nature Reserve, declared a nature reserve in 1982, consists of two small uninhabited islets located a short distance off the southeast coast of Saint Lucia. The larger of the two islands, called Maria Major, covers approximately ten hectares. It has a small sandy beach on the west side and steep rocky cliffs on the east side. The smaller island, Maria Minor, covers only two hectares and consists mainly of a rocky outcrop. In addition, the offshore coral reef was declared a marine reserve in 1986 to protect the many marine species that live there.

Biodiversity

This nature reserve serves as a refuge for several endemic reptiles, including the Saint Lucia Racer (Erythrolamprus ornatus), also known as Kouwess in Creole, considered the rarest snake in the world with an estimated population of only twenty individuals, and the Saint Lucia Whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus vanzoi), also known as Zandou in Creole, one of the rarest lizards in the world. Both are critically endangered. Other reptiles can also be found there, such as the thread snake and several species of geckos.

Known for its lush vegetation, the reserve includes cacti on the cliffs of the Atlantic coast, coconut palms on the beaches, and a wide variety of plants, with more than eighty species recorded.

The islands also serve as nesting sites for hundreds of birds. Black-tailed doves (Columbina passerina) and white-tailed doves (Zenaida aurita) can be seen on the scrub-covered slopes of Maria Major. Colonies of terns, frigatebirds, noddies, and boobies nest on the steep cliffs. Some migratory species cross the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa to nest on the site, leading to restricted access to the island from May to July in order to ensure a peaceful environment for them.

Its ecotourism potential

The Maria Islands Nature Reserve is managed by the Saint Lucia National Trust in collaboration with the Forestry Department and the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Forestry, and Fisheries. Their role is to protect and conserve the natural, cultural, and historical heritage of Saint Lucia for future generations.

Visitors can begin their excursion at the Saint Lucia National Trust’s southern regional office. They will take a short canoe trip accompanied by a trained guide and a two-way radio system, set up to maintain contact with the mainland.

Due to the critically endangered status of the islets, strict biosecurity controls are in place and visits to the Maria Islands are only permitted by the National Trust.