JVD GREEN

August 2008 Chronicling the JVDPS‟ project “Jost van Dyke‟s Community-based Programme
Advancing Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development”
A Jost van Dykes Preservation Society (JVDPS) Publication

Field Studies Identify Resident Bats, Frogs and Snakes on Jost van Dyke
During the first week of July,
Island Resources Foundation
(IRF) staff, Jean Pierre Bacle
and Kevel Lindsay hiked Jost
Special points of interest: Van Dyke, collecting data,
making observations, asking
Bats captured at Great questions and assessing envi-
ronmental issues. This was a
Harbour Jost van Dyke
challenging experience for
Rare plants identified on these researchers as Jost Van
Dyke is a rugged island and
Jost van Dyke
access to many areas
Meeting of Environmental (especially on the western
Advisory Group held third of the island) is very
difficult. However this made
Island Resources Founda- for an interesting trip as the
tion and JVDPS sign agree- researchers got the opportu-
ment nity to see natural landscapes
and make unique discoveries.
After conducting three nights
of bat and frog surveys, the
researchers were able to iden-
tify at least five species of
frog and three species of bat.
In addition, two species of
endemic snake (both of which
are harmless) were identified
during the visit.
Attention was also given to
the flora of the island and a
compilation of vegetation
types as well as a species list Bats caught on Jost van Dyke during
an evening of field research by Island
for Jost Van Dyke was also
Resources Foundation.
started. During surveys, two
regional endemics and a local
endemic (all very rare) were
identified.
A number of general environ-
mental issues were also noted.
These include the threat that
goats pose to the local ecol-
ogy of the island, the observa-
tion of severe erosion in some A picture of ( Eleutherodactyllus) , one of
areas, the presence of garbage the four species of frog caught on Jost
van Dyke during July fieldwork. (Photo:
and litter, (story cont. on p 2) Island Resources Foundation)

Visit us On-line: Read

about the project at
www.jvdgreen.org!
JVDPS receives OTEP Funding
The Jost van Dykes Preserva-
tion Society (JVDPS) of the
British Virgin Islands has
received funding to conduct a
community environmental
project entitled “Jost van
Dyke’s community-based
programme advancing envi-
ronmental protection and
sustainable development”.
The Preservation Society
whose aim is “To Preserve,
Maintain, and Protect the
Land, the Environment and
the Culture of Jost van Dyke,
British Virgin Islands” sub-
mitted a proposal to the UK
Overseas Territories Environ-
ment Programme (OTEP) of
the Foreign and Common-
wealth Office. The proposal
was successful and on March
17, 2008 OTEP agreed to
fund ( story cont. on p. 2)

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 JVD GREEN Page 2

Definition
Endemic— belonging or
native to a particular
place, area or environ-
ment.
Field Studies Identify Resident Bats and Snakes on Jost van Dyke cont‟d
the threat posed to wildlife The endemic Virgin
by mongooses, the use of the Islands Worm Snake
beachfront as a road, poor (Typhlops richardi)
road construction leading to
erosion and drainage prob- Frogs
lems, and the use of man- The Antillean frog
groves as waste disposal sites. (Eleutherodactylus antillen-
sis)
A list of the flora and fauna
identified on the field trip is The Mute frog
noted below: (Eleutherodactylus lentus)
Schwartz’s Eleutherodac-
Snakes tylus (Eleutherodactylus
The endemic Virgin Is- schwartzi)
lands Tree Boa (Epicrates Cocrane’s Eleutherodac-
monensis granti) tylus (Eleutherodactylus
cochranae)
The White-lipped Frog
(Leptodactylus albilabris)
Bats
The Cave Bat
(Brachyphylla cavernarum)
The Jamaican Fruit Bat
(Artibeus jamaicensis)
Pallas’ Mastiff Bat
(Molossus molossus)
Flora
Bastardiopsis eggersii
(formerly Sida eggersii)
The Ramgoat Cherry
(Malpighia woodburyana)

“...components
JVDPS receives OTEP funding cont‟d
(of the project)
the project. The project will
include science have several components in-
cluding science-based field
based field research, publication of this
research… newsletter and of an Environ-
mental Profile, education, de-
community velopment of an environ-
mental information centre,
involvement…” community involvement, and
development of a monitoring
programme. Project mobilisa-
tion started in April 2008 and
the project is expected to be
completed by December
2009.
This project is one of eleven
(11) projects funding by
OTEP this year out of the
twenty-nine (29) applications
received. More information
on OTEP can be found online
at www.ukotcf.org/otep.

Rugged terrain on JVD’s western side will

provide a challenge for researchers. (Photo:
compliments of L. Fluekiger)

Project Coordinator hired

JVDPS has hired a Project
Coordinator.
Jost van Dyke’s rocky northern coast.. (Photo
compliments of L. Fluekiger)
In July of 2008 the JVDPS
hired Mrs. Rosemary Delaney
-Smith as project coordinator
to manage the activities and
communications of the OTEP
Programme “Jost van Dyke’s
community based pro-
gramme advancing environ-
mental protection and sus-
tainable development”. Mrs.
Delaney-Smith’s responsibili-
ties will include coordinating
field research visits, providing
support to the Island Advisory
Group, coordinating commu-
nity meetings and educational
presentations, preparing cor-
respondence and publications.
Mrs. Delaney-Smith has six
years of experience in envi-
ronmental management in the
BVI. She holds a B.S. and a
M.S. in marine resource and
environmental management
from the University of the
West Indies.
Rosemary may be contacted
at: projco@jvdps.org or by
telephone at (284) 540-0861.

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JVD GREEN
JVDPS and IRF Sign Agreement
The Jost van Dykes (BVI)
Preservation Society (JVDPS)
and the Island Resources
Foundation (IRF) have signed
an agreement. This agree-
ment is part of the mobilisa-
tion phase of the project enti-
tled “Jost van Dyke Commu-
nity-based Programme Ad-
vancing Environmental Pro-
tection and Sustainable De-
velopment”.
It has been agreed that the
IRF will provide technical
services to the JVDPS to ac-
complish specific tasks that
are necessary to the success-
ful implementation of the
above mentioned project.
IRF will have the primary role
in executing the Environ-
mental Profile phase of the
project. The main output of
Project Personality— Jean Pierre Bacle
Jean Pierre Bacle (JP) at Sandy Cay.
(Photo compliments of IRF.)
JEAN-PIERRE BACLE - As
the Foundation's senior natu-
ral resource specialist, Jean-
Pierre has facilitated and co-
ordinated IRF's applied re-
search and field activities for
this phase will be the develop-
ment and preliminary distri-
bution of an Environmental
Profile for Jost vn Dyke, Lit-
tle Jost van Dyke, Sandy Cay,
Sandy Spit and Green Cay.
The Environmental Profile
will provide a detailed charac-
terization of the natural re-
source base and the current
state of the environment of
the target islands.
The IRF, under the leadership
of Judith A. Towle, will as-
semble a team of it staff to
lead the activities necessary to
complete the Environmental
Profile. Where possible, the
IRF will recruit staff, consult-
ants, specialist and other per-
sonnel from within the British
Virgin Islands to assist with
carrying out activities related
over 15 years, primarily in the
U.S. and British Virgin Is-
lands . A Canadian national
with a degree in geography
from the University of Ot-
tawa, Jean-Pierre has been a
part of IRF since 1986, where
he has specialized in resource
management studies, environ-
mental impact assessments,
endangered species research,
air-photo interpretation and
natural resource mapping of
coastal and terrestrial environ-
ments in both the U.S. and
British Virgin Islands, as well
as the wider Caribbean. He
also is a champion Duathlon
competitor and has partici-
pated in competitions in Can-
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Page 3
to the completion of the Envi-
ronmental Profile phase of the
OTEP-funded project. IRF
staff and consultants will also
participate in community
meetings to review and dis-
cuss the Environmental Pro-
file report as necessary.
IRF has a long history of en-
vironmental work in the BVI.
They contributed to the proc-
ess of Sandy Cay becoming a
National Park. IRF maintains
an office in Road Town.
JVD students relax during a National Parks
Their extensive library collec- Trust Event on Sandy Cay. The small cay will
tion is currently housed at the be studied in the upcoming Environmental
Profile.
H. Lavity Stoutt Community
Center. Further information
on IRF may be found at
www.irf.org “The Environmental Profile
will provide a detailed
characterization of the
natural resource base and
the current state of the
environment of these target
ada , the United States , the islands.”
Caribbean , and
internationally.
Mangroves, JVD’s East End: A chapter of the profile will
address issues and provide recommendations for coral reef,
sea grass bed and wetland communities. (Photo compliments
of A. Marenberg)
Jost van Dykes Preservation Society
Great Harbour
Jost van Dyke, BVI
VG 1160
Phone: 284-540-0861
Phone:284-540-7428
E-mail: susan@jvdps.org or
projco@jvdps.ortg
Website: www.jvdgreen.org
Website:www.jvdps.org
The Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society, a BVI non-profit organisation, is dedicated to the preservation of the
island of Jost van Dyke—its land, the surrounding sea, its living creatures and its culture through conservation,
cultivation, education and research. The Society endeavours to protect key elements of the islands culture and
environment for the future generations of all peoples to see, feel, and to understand. In addition to this OTEP-
funded project, the Society works to implement other environmental, historical and cultural projects. The Soci-
ety‟s largest and most well-recognised project is a maritime heritage programme that involves the building of
Endeavour II, a „tradition-inspired‟ island sloop (constructed primarily by local high school students.) Once
launched, she will be used for sail training, marine sciences education and cultural demonstrations.

“To Preserve, Maintain and

Protect the Land, the
Environment, and the Culture of
Jost van Dyke, British Virgin
Islands”
BVI High students pose with Endeavour II. Once JVD youth prepare for swimming and snorkeling at
launched, the sailing vessel will be used largely for Little Jost van Dyke.
educational activities.

Environmental Advisory Group Established

The JVD Environmental Ad-
visory Group (also referred to
as the Island Advisory Group)
“A project such as has been established. The
this gives us (the establishment of this group is
residents of Jost van one of the mobilisation activi-
Dyke) our own ties of the OTEP funded pro-
identity” ject of the Jost van Dykes
Preservation Society. The
Carmen Blyden - first meeting of island resi-
Island resident and dent members the group was
member of the En- held in July, 2008 A number
vironmental Advi- of local residents participated
sory Committee in this meeting. Other resi-
dents interested in participat-
ing in the advisory group
should contact 540-0861 or
540-7428.
The purpose of the Advisory
Group is to encourage com-
munity involvement in the
project. During the first meet-
ing, the group provided inte-
gral information to the re-
searchers about the island and
historic natural resource use
and also voiced some of their
concerns about the island’s
environmental health. The
quality of a Salt Pond near
White Bay, the islands ever-
growing solid waste problem
and the need to educate island
youth about the importance of
appropriate waste disposal
were discussed.
The Advisory Group is ex-
pected to be active throughout
the project (and beyond). The
Advisory Group is expected
to represent the residents of
Jost Van Dyke; help direct
attention to local concerns;
review draft materials pro-
duced for the Environmental
Profile (an output of the pro-
ject) and provide local input
to the Profile; advise on edu-
cation and exhibition materi-
als and methods and partici-
pate in a quarterly review of
the project. Membership of
the Advisory Group includes
a cross-section of residents of
Jost Van Dyke as well as rep-
resentatives of the Conserva-
tion and Fisheries Department
and the BVI National Parks
Trust. Representatives from
other government agencies
are also invited to contact us.