The Conservation Projects Development Unit is collaborating with the National Parks Trust, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean on the following project:

	Darwin Initiative Project Integrating National Parks, Education and Community Development (British Virgin Islands)
Gorda Peak National Park, Virgin Gorda		The British Virgin Islands, which are a UK Overseas Territory, comprise some 40 islands of 153 square miles total land mass, which are part of the Puerto Rican Bank, Eastern Caribbean. Most are of volcanic origin, with steep topography except for Anegada, the second largest island, which consists of an emergent coral limestone (Oldfield, 1998).

The islands contain important areas of dry tropical broadleaf woodland and xeric scrub both of which are assigned 'Critical' conservation status for the Leeward Islands (World Bank Report, 1995). The islands support a number of endemic and threatened species of international importance, including the plant species: Croton fishlockii and the palm Sabal causiarum; as well as what is thought to be the world's smallest reptile, the Virgin Gorda Gecko, Sphaerodactylus parthenopian, known only from one site and the 'Critically Endangered' endemic iguana - Cyclura pinguis.

This three year Darwin funded project was developed by the National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands in collaboration with Fauna and Flora International and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The main objectives are to:

• enable the British Virgin Islands to move towards meeting its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity,
• develop general species identification and survey methodologies,
• document the key components of the plant and animal diversity within Gorda Peak National Park and Anegada (proposed protected area),
• develop protected area management skills within the National Parks Trust,
• enhance the role of the National Parks Trust as a national education resource through improved links with National Parks Trust, national and community-based education groups,
• improve the socio-economic value of National Parks in the British Virgin Islands by building a mutually advantageous collaboration with community groups and the tourism sector.

The Conservation Projects Development Unit with the Education Department will provide:

• Training in field survey techniques, establishment and monitoring of permanent plots, training in biodiversity data analysis,
• Training in species recovery planning.

For more information please refer to the BVI National Parks Trust or Fauna and Flora International.

Melocactus communis	Psychilis sp.

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