Native plants are better able to withstand the dry forest climate and its low rainfall. However, there are many threats to our native flora:
->The island's roaming goats (around 2,000 to date) are among the invasive exotic species, each eating up to 15 kg of vegetation a day and having up to 8 young a year!
Urbanization and the development of private and public green spaces also lead to the introduction of exogenous* plants, often imported from Florida by boat. By reducing the space dedicated to native species, these exogenous plants also require more water and maintenance, and have little or no resistance to hurricanes.
The containers in which these exogenous species arrive also contain numerous animal species (larvae, insects, amphibians, reptiles, etc.) which, once released on the island, constitute exotic species, some of which are invasive (Cactus moth, Cuban brown anolis, Anolis Chevalier, corn snake, etc.).
These exogenous plants create the landscape of an imaginary tropical island, lined with palm trees, aloe vera or Central American plants... which in no way reflects our local biodiversity.
The island's native flora is varied, can meet every need if species are carefully selected, and is fully adapted to the island's fauna, with which, for many species, it functions in symbiosis.
ATE has set up its nursery to support local biodiversity and help degraded habitats come back to life.
By collecting seeds, we germinate and grow native species in the nursery. Once grown, these plants are used to reinforce plant cover or diversify species in weakened ecosystems, during nature workcamps where we need volunteers.
This mission also enables us to improve our knowledge of some of the island's native plant species, which are threatened with extinction (due to their limited distribution over the territory) and hitherto very difficult to germinate, and to develop the best germination methods with a view to their conservation.
To highlight native floral species, their characteristics and their strengths, we invite you to download the following documents:
My Garden Saint Barth
This is a projection of the ideal garden in Saint-Barthélemy, featuring only native plants. Selected according to the needs of a home (shade, physical and visual barrier, wall cladding, green roof, path creation...), they can be used on all types of building.
The species suggested vary according to the location of the building (seaside, limestone, clay), so we suggest the species best suited to these environments.
The ATE offers you this tool to embellish your outdoor spaces with native species, adapted to the island's dry, cyclonic climate. It's also an opportunity to showcase the island's characteristic plants, which tend to be forgotten...
Native Flora of Saint-Barthélemy
This PDF details the island's native plants and their scientific names, so that you can import them if necessary. We have also used pictograms to highlight the strong points of these species, which are adapted to local climatic conditions: low maintenance, abundant flowering, able to withstand proximity to the sea, sun or half-shade exposure, evergreen foliage, etc...
It complements the document “Mon Jardin Saint Barth” with more details.
Local Garden” leaflet
This leaflet, available in hard copy from the Agence Territoriale de l'Environnement, gives an overview of the native plants that deserve to grace our green spaces.
The importation of plant species is subject to authorization, and certain exogenous species are prohibited from entering the territory of Saint-Barthélemy. We therefore strongly advise you to fill in the import authorization request form as soon as you order your plants, so that the ATE can approve your order in good time for collection from the docks.
One of ATE's missions is to issue opinions on applications for land-clearing permits. In natural zones and on plots of land in building zones that are still planted with vegetation, ATE agents visit the site, carry out an inventory, geolocate protected species and provide elected representatives with an opinion enabling them to grant or refuse authorization, the aim being to promote native flora wherever possible.
The following are subject to environmental authorization :
Any clearing or felling operation carried out on a parcel or part of a parcel with little or no construction (Annex to article 24-4 of the French Environment Code);
Any clearing or felling operation carried out in a natural zone delimited by the urban planning map;
Declaration is required:
All brushwood clearing operations carried out in a natural zone delimited by the town planning map, or on one of the parcels or parts of parcels shown on the map mentioned in the fourth paragraph of article 24-4, must be declared to the Territorial Environment Agency, unless they involve land located less than thirty meters from the dwelling.
Brush clearance declaration form ;
These notices aim to limit soil erosion and protect the biological balance of the territory, from the point of view of conserving ecosystems and the animal and plant species they shelter;
Consult the list of plant species, including protected species;
For any questions or reports concerning pollution, landfill or other issues, please contact the relevant departments:
Collectivité online services
Environmental nuisance claim form
*Exogenous: A species that does not occur naturally on the island, but has been introduced voluntarily or involuntarily by humans. Exotic is a synonym.
Native: A species that occurs naturally on the island. In Saint Barth, native species are typically American species with a fairly wide distribution, but also species endemic to the West Indies or the Lesser Antilles. The term native is a synonym.
Endemic: This is a species native to a limited geological entity (e.g., endemic to the Lesser Antilles), and which does not naturally occur elsewhere. In Saint Barthélemy we have species endemic to the Banc d'Anguilla, i.e. present only in Saint Martin, Anguilla, Saint Barthélemy and their satellite islets around the world.
