VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND CORAL REEF NATIONAL MONUMENT

St. John, United States Virgin Islands

There is nothing to be ignored when you visit Virgin Islands National Park. Located on St. John, the smallest of the three major United States Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands National Park was established as a result of the visionary conservation efforts of the late philanthropist Laurence S. Rockefeller, who made a major land donation to the Department of the Interior on August 2, 1956. (photos 1)

Today VINP encompasses approximately 7,200 acres of land and 5,600 acres of water. Its mission is to protect, manage, interpret and preserve the park's unique natural and scenic resources and nationally significant cultural resources and values unimpaired for the education, enjoyment and inspiration of present and future generations. Nearby, the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument proclaimed in 2001 from 12,708 acres of federally owned submerged lands around the island (photo 2) is a no-anchoring, no-take zone (except exempt fish species), which protects the range of e elements in a Caribbean tropical marine ecosystem.

SIGNIFICANCE OF VIRGIN ISLANDS NP AND CORAL REEF NM

Virgin Islands National Park contains hundreds of nationally recognized prehistoric and historic sites that document the chronology of history and cultural heritage from different eras: Pre-Columbian American civilization, Danish colonial sugar plantations, African slavery, and the subsistence culture. Remnants at Annaberg Sugar Mill (photo 3) clearly depict the story of slavery and sugar-producing era on St. John. Today, living history demonstrations such as bread baking, subsistence farming, and basket weaving allow visitors to experience a part of the cultural heritage. (photo 4) The mysterious petroglyphs found along the Reef Bay trail, which some authorities speculate were created by Tainos or Carib Indians or by pre-Columbian Africans of the Akan people of Ghana, depict symbols of strength, humility, wisdom and learning from the past to build the future. Ivan Van Sertima, anthropologist, documented that, 'a dot and crescent script of African origin was found carved deeply in the rock face of an ancient waterfall at St. John.' Many visitors hike the trails primarily to see these famous rock-carvings. (photo 5)

Virgin Islands National Park protects and preserves hundreds of plants, birds and reef fish species along with thousands of invertebrates and insects. Inventory and monitoring projects include annual juvenile fish surveys and coral disease studies, exotic plant and feral animal control programs, weekly nesting bird counts, turtle nest monitoring, and water and air quality monitoring. Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument supports the most extensive and well-developed mangrove habitats on St. John (photo 6), provides habitats for great whales and other mammals that forage, breed, nest, rest, or calve in its waters and provides spawning stocks and critical development habitats for the restoration of regional depleted fisheries, as well as enhancement of adjacent fishing grounds.

Virgin Islands National Park provides global opportunities for scientists, students and the public to learn more about tropical marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the continuum of Caribbean History. It is recognized as the first of seven Caribbean International Man and the Biosphere Reserves within the Lesser Antillean bio-geographic province and is one of the few biosphere reserves in the world to have both significant marine and terrestrial resources. Throughout the year, with the assistance of the Friends of the National Park, student groups both local and from abroad come to the two parks to conduct studies and volunteer their services in areas of interest, particularly in the field of archaeology. These groups include, but are not limited to, local school volunteers, Americorps, Student Conservation Association, and Youth Conservation Corps. (photos 7). The park also provides outreach programs to the community to encourage public participation and volunteering efforts.

This park is host to many great educational and recreational activities. Exploration of the park may entail a stop at the Visitor Center to obtain maps and information, park brochures, educational books, activity schedules, and to view the wonderful exhibits and park video. Visitors are encouraged to swim and snorkel at any of the many white, sandy, pristine beaches, such as Trunk Bay, which is renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and includes 225 yards of a self-guided underwater snorkel trail (photos 8); scuba dive on colorful and enchanting coral reefs; hike on the many nature trails; dig at prehistoric archaeological sites; tour the remnants and historic ruins of the past; and participate in living history demonstrations of the local cultural heritage.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Virgin Islands National Park and Coral Reef National Monument are developing new General Management Plans and accompanying Environmental Impact Statements that will serve as the blueprints for the parks' protection and management for the next 15-20 years. The GMP and EIS planning processes rely greatly on public input and participation to identify significant issues and concerns, to develop a reasonable range of management alternatives, and analyze the environmental impacts of each alternative. The plans are to be completed in 2006.

LINKS:

Virgin Islands National Park»

Partnering & Managing for Excellence Report»

Previously Featured Parks»