Annandale and Grand Etang Forest Reserves Management Plan (2007)

Some 100 years ago, the Government of Grenada formally recognized the vital importance of the forested lands in the Central Mountains and established, by the Grand Etang Forest Reserve Act, some 1600 hectares as the Grand Etang Forest Reserve. 

100 years later, after acquiring the lands in the mid 1960’s, the Government of Grenada formally recognized the significance of a portion of the adjacent Annandale Estate and established, by Gazette Notice Volume 124, Number 19, some 236 hectares as the Annandale Forest Reserve in 2006. Although both areas have been designated as Forest Reserves, the purpose overlying their establishment has been watershed protection as these lands are relied on to supply a constant and continuous supply of water to adjacent communities.

Although the concept of forest conservation has been recognized by Grenada for over 100 years and the Grand Etang Forest Reserve has benefited from management under successive government departments and ministries charged with administration of the Act, a management plan outlining all of the issues associated with the Forest Reserve and how theses issues will be addressed has never been prepared. 

The Annandale Forest Reserve, benefiting from its more recent acquisition and designation, has a 1985 draft management plan. More recently, an updated version of the draft management plan was prepared in 2002 by the Forestry and National Park Department with significant community input. However, Hurricane Ivan delayed continuation of work on that plan until 2006 when the planning process was revived.

Recognizing that actions proposed in this plan are part of a regional initiative and affect environments downstream, in the sea and the rest of the Caribbean, the purpose of this plan is to build upon the longstanding and ongoing management of the Grand Etang Forest Reserve and the draft 2002 Annandale Forest Reserve Management Plan and present an overall plan for both, acting as one, that identifies the issues associated with both protected areas, addresses associated livelihoods and recommends management actions that are intended to meet not only the original intent of the Forest Reserves that is still valid today but other environmental, social and economical priorities of Grenada as well.

Area of interest: Grenada

Year: 2007