Protected land as percentage of total land area: 16% partially protected

CO₂ emissions trend: 2.2 tonnes per capita

ENVIRONMENTAL TREATIES

		Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Washington DC, 1973		yes
		Convention on Biological Diversity Earth Summit in Rio, 1992		yes
		1992 Amendment to protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer (amendment to Montreal Protocol) Copenhagen, 1992		yes
		Kyoto Convention on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions Earth Summit in Kyoto, 1997		no
		Basel convention on the dumping of hazardous wastes (Basel) Basel, 1989		yes
		Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) Ramsar, Iran 1971		yes

St. Lucians are proud of their island, and environmental questions arouse fierce debate. In recent years the greatest controversy surrounded the decision to allow a luxury hotel development on the ecologically important Jalousie Plantation, which encompasses the extraordinary twin Pitons and includes an important Amerindian archaeological site. The issue illustrates a key problem in St. Lucia, where business pressures to develop tourism can outweigh vital environmental concerns. One notable conservation success has been the St. Lucia parrot. In 1978, there were 150 birds; strict laws against the trade in parrots ensured that by 2000 numbers had risen to over 800.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004