A premier conservation group in the Caribbean is attempting to bring pressure to bear on the Keith Mitchell government in St. Geoprge's over its plans to build a luxury hotel at Mt. Hartman.

The Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) has mounted a campaign aimed at stopping the government from building the hotel in the area that is populated by the Grenada Dove.

The President of the group, Andrew Dobson has sent letters to Prime Minister Mitchell, other government ministers and the proposed hotel developer, the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts group urging them to rethink the project.

SCSCB, the largest single regional organisation devoted to wildlife conservation in the Caribbean, is fearful that the Grenada Dove could be completely wiped out through the building of the luxury hotel.

Following is the full text of the letter sent out by Dobson to the interested parties:

Re:  IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED TO SAVE GRENADA'S NATIONAL SYMBOL

Dear.....

As you may know, Mount Hartman National Park, one of the last remaining refuges of Grenada's national bird, the Grenada Dove, is threatened by the proposed development of a luxury resort supported by the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts group.

The SCSCB Board is shocked and dismayed by the imminent threat to the Grenada Dove, a unique and irreplaceable aspect of Grenada's national heritage.

Please understand that we are not opposed to development. Indeed, we clearly recognise the need for economic growth and prosperity.  However this must proceed in ways that do not threaten our valuable natural assets and those things that are uniquely Grenadian.  

Mount Hartman National Park is particularly valuable in this regard. This area was previously prioritised for protection to conserve one of, if not the most, threatened species of bird in the entire Lesser Antilles, the Grenada Dove.

The Mount Hartman National Park was established in 1996. As research has clearly shown, the Dove is so sensitive to human disturbance, it is virtually impossible to mitigate against either the direct (habitat loss) and indirect effects (habitat fragmentation, human disturbance due to increased traffic, etc) of a development.

Sacrificing this irreplaceable population of what is truly a Caribbean gem for yet another tourism venture is an action the world will hold against us all in perpetuity.

The Grenada Dove predates all human presence in the Caribbean by thousands of years. Human actions which threaten its survival are irresponsible, short-sighted and clearly do not represent sustainable development.  

Do not let Grenada be the first Caribbean island to bear the infamy of sanctioning the extinction of its most highly acclaimed national symbol.

Instead, we urge you to do the right thing and support permanent protection of Mount Hartman National Park. This crisis has attracted the attention of environmental NGOs, government conservation departments, private sector organisations, universities, and concerned groups and individuals from across the region, North America and Europe.

As President of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (the largest single regional organisation devoted to wildlife conservation in the Caribbean) I personally find the proposed development shocking.

David Wege of BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organisations with partners in over 100 countries, has declared that the development of Mount Hartman Estate will destroy a globally Important Bird Area (IBA).  

Over four decades of biological study and scientific research funded by the World Bank and others has confirmed the following:

*The Grenada Dove is found on the island of Grenada, and nowhere else on the earth.

*The Grenada Dove is now restricted to small, very isolated populations with the largest stronghold now occurring within the Mount Hartman National Park.

*The species will only survive only if the coastal dry forest habitats in which it lives continue to exist.  

We urge you to take decisive action to ensure protection of Mount Hartman National Park and the preservation of the Grenada Dove.
Please don't sacrifice your children and grandchildren's unique natural heritage for a hotel development.
If action is not taken on this development issue, there will be no second chance. We are counting on your support!

Sincerely,

Andrew Dobson
President, SCSCB
www.scscb.org