Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda has established a strategy to incorporate biodiversity conservation issues into disease control and waste management practices. There are no centralized sewage or wastewater treatment facilities in Antigua and Barbuda. Waste management and disposal is already beyond the handling capacity of the country’s responsible agencies. Existing legislation and funds are inadequate to implement and manage national waste treatment and disposal. Most residences, especially in urban areas, are equipped with individual cesspits through which waste is disposed of at sea or in the waterways. Although most of the sewage in urban areas is treated, the grey water runs off into the gutters and into St. John’s Harbor. Solid waste disposal on land in Antigua and Barbuda is limited to a single sanitary landfill disposal site located on the outskirts of the capital. A large part of the waste is burnt. Waste management at the private level is piecemeal and is not regulated by specific criteria for levels of treatment, recycling, disposal, etc.

Antigua and Barbuda has established coastal zone, EEZ and watershed management institutions. The relevant management legislation has also been strengthened.The marine and coastal environment is particularly important to Antigua and Barbuda. However, population increases and tourism-based developments are putting pressure on coastal resources. More than 60% of the population lives within the coastal zone. Antigua and Barbuda’s coastal resources include mangroves and wetlands, coral reefs, sea grass beds and beaches. These eco-systems sustain Antigua and Barbuda’s sandy beaches and fisheries resources and serve as protective barriers against tropical storm and hurricane activity. It is alarming, therefore, to note the dramatic decline in the quality of reef areas across Antigua and Barbuda in the past few decades.

A national water resources management plan exists in Antigua and Barbuda. In addition, an irrigation policy and a programme to reduce water loss in distribution systems have been established. Antigua and Barbuda has also ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Coastal aquifers and watersheds contribute to the water resources of Antigua and Barbuda. Whereas Antigua is heavily dependent upon desalinated water, Barbuda depends greatly on its ground water resources. Periods of prolonged dry spells or droughts have resulted in water shortages in all settlements of the country. Water supply in Antigua and Barbuda is directly affected by climate change. Reductions in rainfall are likely to reduce surface and ground water availability. Increased rainfall, particularly in the form of torrential downpours, is likely to produce landslides and soil erosion, as well as damage water intakes and flood residential and commercial areas. To better manage water resources in this regard, the use of desalination and rainwater collection systems have been promoted by the authorities.

Antigua and Barbuda has established land-use plans. Decision making tools such as Land Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems have been developed. A housing strategy has been formulated to address issues of shelter.White sandy beaches, wetlands and sea grasses are also key components of Antigua and Barbuda’s land resources. In the 1980s, it was estimated that wetland systems constituted approximately 11% of Antigua and Barbuda’s total land area. Over the past 30 years, Antigua’s wetlands have suffered severe decline as a direct result of coastal development to fuel the island’s tourism boom. Clear signs of erosion are apparent in beaches. The mining of sand, which contributes largely to construction in the industrial sector, has a heavy impact on beach stability, as it reduces the sediment budge from already eroding beaches. This activity also significantly reduces nesting areas for animals and plants.

Antigua and Barbuda is virtually 100% dependent on imported petroleum products for its energy sources. The three most important sources of energy used in Antigua and Barbuda in order of preference are natural gas, oil and steam turbines. The country appears to have considerable potential for renewable energy utilization. This is particularly true for wind and solar technologies. Historically wind power was used extensively in Antigua for sugar production, reflecting the presence of a favorable wind regime. Antigua and Barbuda is reported to have one of the best solar regimes in the Caribbean in terms of potential for energy. The use of renewable energy within protected areas will be the focus of Antigua and Barbuda’s mitigation and biodiversity work program for 2010 onwards.

Antigua and Barbuda has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was produced in 2001. Antigua and Barbuda has submitted its Fourth National Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010. Antigua and Barbuda has important biodiversity for its relatively limited territory. The natural vegetation of Antigua was virtually decimated during the sugar production years, and most of the coverage is secondary growth. Watershed is the most important terrestrial ecosystem for biodiversity in Antigua and Barbuda. Measures of protection for biodiversity include establishing marine and terrestrial parks, promoting public awareness programme, and developing integrated pest control management. However, the use of economic/fiscal instruments is still lacking in the implementation of biodiversity conservation strategies.