Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategyfor the U.S. Virgin Islands

Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy

for the U.S. Virgin Islands

Table of Contents

Title Page	Page	Section
Message from the Director	i	0.b
Executive Summary	ii	0.c
Acknowledgements	iv	0.c
Acronyms Used	v	0.d

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE USVI CWCS	1	1.0
Introduction	2	1.1
Geographic Context	2
Division of Fish and Wildlife	2
Mission	4
Need for a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy	5
Strategies for Conserving Wildlife	7
Integration of Research and Management	8
Format of the CWCS	9
Agency Coordination in Development and Implementation of the CWCS	10
Public Participation in the Development of the CWCS	10
Periodic Review and Update of the CWCS	11
Eight Required Elements	12	1.2
Overall Wildlife Conservation Priorities	19	1.3
Development of Species List	25	1.4

PART TWO: HABITATS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS	27	2.0
Beaches and Rocky Shorelines	28	2.1
Wetlands	33	2.2
Shrublands and Grasslands	41	2.3
Forests	46	2.4
Cays	55	2.5

PART THREE: WILDLIFE SPECIES OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS	66	3.0
Non-vascular Plants	67	3.1
Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrates	70	3.2
Amphibians	75	3.3
Terrestrial Reptiles	81	3.4
Sea Turtles	98	3.5
Seabirds	106	3.6
Waterfowl, Marshbirds, and Shorebirds	122	3.7
Landbirds	133	3.8
Terrestrial Mammals	151	3.9
Exotic Species	159	3.10

PART FOUR: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CWCS	166	4.0
Inventory and Biological Collections	167	4.1
Environmental Monitoring and Adaptive Management	170	4.2
Coordination with Other Agencies	187	4.3
Environmental Enforcement	191	4.4
Technical Guidance	194	4.5
Environmental Education	196	4.6
Wildlife Viewing	199	4.7
Information Management	201	4.8
Publications	204	4.9

Appendix
Appendix 1: Comprehensive Wildlife Species List	206	5.1
Appendix 2: USVI Endangered Species	221	5.2
Appendix 3: Proposed Revision of USVI Endangered Species List	224	5.3
Appendix 4: Habitat Maps of the USVI	232
Vegetation Maps of St. Thomas	232	5.4
Vegetation Maps of St. John	236	5.5
Vegetation Maps of St. Croix	240	5.6
Appendix 5: Habitat Availability	244	5.7
Appendix 6: Wetland Types	245	5.8
Appendix 7: Terrestrial Protected Areas within USVI	246	5.9
Appendix 8: External Consultation of CWCS	249	5.10