ST. EUSTATIUS MEMORANDUM OF EXPLANATION FLORA AND
FAUNA PROTECTION ORDINANCE
Island Ordinance relating to the protection of flora and fauna on the Island Territory of St.
Eustatius or the waters surrounding the island of St. Eustatius.
(Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance).
MEMORANDUM OF EXPLANATION
The native flora and fauna on the island of St. Eustatius or in the territorial waters surrounding
the island of St. Eustatius are to be protected as a natural inheritance for future generations.
The economic developments on St. Eustatius shall undoubtedly have an effect on the natural
and social environment of people, plants and animals.
Careful consideration must be taken to utilize the space available for housing, agriculture,
industry and nature (conservation) in order to create a livable and controllable environment.
The aim of this Ordinance is to protect the flora and fauna against further decline in quantity,
quality, to avoid the loss of striking or outstanding natural areas and/or trees, and to conserve
the flora and fauna in order to protect the character of the island, “the historical gem of the
Caribbean”, as an inheritance.
This Ordinance may, if necessary, be supplemented with (native) flora and fauna specimens that
are protected by international law (CITES Treaty). The following plants shall be protected
following the introduction of this Ordinance:
Ipomoea sphenophylla
Iguana delicatissima
Orchids and turtles, partly as a result of (inter)national laws and Ordinances protecting these
plants and animals
The ipomoea sphenophylla can now only be found on St. Eustatius
There are approximately eighteen specimens of this plants, all and only to be found on the
property of Statia Terminals NV.
Its unique character and extreme rarity are reason enough to protect this plant.
The number of iguana delicatissima on St. Eustatius has declined drastically and they could face
total extinction on St. Eustatius.
Orchids and (sea) turtles are protected by international treaties, summarized in the CITES treaty
(Convention in Trade of Endangered Species). Fifteen sorts of orchid have been counted on St.
Eustatius, these being:
- Epidendrum ciliare
- Epidendrum diforme
-
Epidendrum kraenzlinii
Epidendrum secundum
Erythrodes hirtella
Erythrodes plantaginea
Brassavola cucullata
Polystachya concreta
Oncidium urophyllum
Prescottia stachyodes
Spiranthes elata
Spiranthes lanceolate
Jacqquiniella globosa
Tetramiera canaliculata
Liparis nervosa
The Executive Committee give the named plants and animals to the Department of Public and
Environmental Health of Curaçao in order to place them on the CITES III treaty list.
Linking Island Ordinances to international law clearly shows the vision and policy of the
Executive Committee and the Island Council.
This memorandum of explanation is an initiative to emphasize the importance of protecting the
environment and its surroundings.
The Lieutenant Governor