Saint Lucia’s Forestry Department is concerned about a spate of bushfires, especially during the current dry season.
Chief Forestry Officer Alwyn Dornelly explained that although his department’s primary mandate is forest reserve management and protection, its interests extend beyond that, including protecting watersheds.
Dornelly spoke Tuesday at a joint news conference that announced Cabinet’s declaration of a water-related emergency in Saint Lucia.
He explained that fires sometimes increase during the dry season, especially when people clear land.
“It becomes even more risky, particularly when it is close to our watersheds,” he stated.
The Chief Forestry Officer noted that intakes lie along watersheds, and man-made factors could contribute to low water intake.
He appealed to the public to desist from setting fires that could get out of control and further destroy the limited vegetation and forests protecting the water catchments and soil.
The Chief Forestry Officer warned that without forests, we would be doomed regarding water supplies .
The Saint Lucia Fire Service (SLFS) has reported a significant surge in bushfire responses throughout the island this year compared to 2023.
From January to the end of April 2024, firefighters battled 287 bushfires, compared to 188 last year.
This year, the severity of the prolonged dry season and the alarming increase in indiscriminate fires to burn rubbish have contributed to the spike.
Any third-party or user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries published on the St. Lucia Times website (https://stluciatimes.com) in no way convey the thoughts, sentiments or intents of St. Lucia Times, the author of any said article or post, the website, or the business. St. Lucia Times is not responsible or liable for, and does not endorse, any comments or replies posted by users and third parties, and especially the content therein and whether it is accurate.
St. Lucia Times reserves the right to remove, screen, edit, or reinstate content posted by third parties on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times (this includes the said user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries) at our sole discretion for any reason or no reason, and without notice to you, or any user. For example, we may remove a comment or reply if we believe it violates any part of the St. Lucia Criminal Code, particularly section 313 which pertains to the offence of Libel. Except as required by law, we have no obligation to retain or provide you with copies of any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times. All third-parties and users agree that this is a public forum, and we do not guarantee any confidentiality with respect to any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website. Any posts made and information disclosed by you is at your own risk.
