THE ENDANGERED ARCHIVES PROJECT OF MONTSERRAT.
Taking cue from Anguilla, Montserrat National Trust and other Government institutions were awarded a Grant by the British Library to enable the Montserrat National Trust gather important information. This comes after a realization that, due to natural disasters and lack of safe keeping of our records, most of our records were being lost over time creating a serious void.
TRAIL DEVELOPMENT.
Trails require regular and on-going maintenance to keep them open and accessible. A Technical Manager, employed by the Tourist Board advises the trust on certain aspects of the work and the Development Unit and the Tourist Board provide the finances. The Cudjoe Head Action group recently cut the Katty Hills Trail. A guided hiking tour on some of our most difficult trails can always be arranged and if one is adventurous enough to undertake a trail on their own, trail maps can be purchased at the Trust.
Another on-going project being funded by the Overseas Territories Environmental project is the establishment of a Botanical Garden. A master plan has been produced to include a medicinal plant area; a historic and economic plants section; a seasonal ghaut; and an orchid garden. There will be a link between what is showcased in the garden and what is found in the wilds of the Centre Hills. Educational tours and activities will be offered in the garden to educate visitors about the importance of plants to human life and issues related to conservation. However, funding for this project is not likely to meet all of our needs, so we are inviting interested persons to volunteer a bit of time and expertise to make the funds go further.
THE CENTER HILLS
Since the start of the volcanic crisis in 1995 the Centre Hills have become the main forested area and the last remaining habitat for threatened endemic species such as the Montserrat Oriole, The Galliwasp Lizard, The Montserrat Orchid and the Rondeletia Buxifolia. The Centre Hills are the source of the islands’ water supply.The Centre Hills Project was therefore launched in June 2005 with the intention of developing a management plan to conserve the biodiversity of the Centre Hills for the benefit of present and future generations. The project collects socioecomic, ecological and GIS data to inform the management plan.Several international partners – Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew and Scientists from the UK and USA assist the locally employed staff with data collection.