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David Blockstein’s scientific information sent to the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr.
the Hon. Keith Mitchell.
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December 22, 2006
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The Hon. Keith Mitchell, Ph.D.
Prime Minister
Government of Grenada
Ministerial Complex, Sixth Floor,
St. Georges
Grenada, West Indies
Dear Honorable Dr. Mitchell,
I am writing to provide scientific information regarding the devastating effect that the proposed
development within Mt. Hartman National Park, Grenada will have on the critically
endangered Grenada Dove (Leptotila wellsi), the National Bird of Grenada. I am the first
scientist to study this species. I began my research in 1987. My publications and presentations
about the Grenada Dove are listed below.
My research and the subsequent work of my colleague Bonnie Rusk has demonstrated
that the
Mt. Hartman estate is the most important habitat for the Grenada Dove. It is for this reason,
and on our recommendations, that the Government of Grenada, in its wisdom, protected
Mt. Hartman in perpetuity as a National Park. The protection provided by the
National Park has been successful at protecting the Dove and other species of southwest
Grenada. The Grenada Dove flourished and its population increased to the point where it
repopulated adjacent lands, which are inferior in quality to Mount Hartman. It is very likely
that the protection of the National Park allowed the Grenada Dove population to survive
the destruction of Hurricane Ivan. Ms. Rusk’s work showed that Post hurricane Ivan
(2004), over 50% of all the remaining Grenada Doves were in Mt. Hartman Estate and
immediately surrounding forest.
Now, the Grenada Dove is once again threatened by a force that could be even more devastating
than Hurricane Ivan. The proposed sale of the National Park for development of a
Four Seasons hotel and luxury resort would lead to the destruction of the principal home
of the Grenada Dove.
Mount Hartman National Park is small (less than 155 hectares). It cannot withstand the
proposed development and still provide a home for the Grenada Dove, the threatened
Grenada Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus uncinatus), which I also studied, and
other species.
The bottom line is that sale and development of Mt. Hartman National Park is extremely
likely to lead to the extinction of the Grenada Dove, the National Bird of Grenada.
Please contact me if you desire additional information.
Sincerely,
David E. Blockstein, Ph.D.
Chair, The Ornithological Council
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