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Initial letter from Michael Rands, Director and Chief Executive of BirdLife
International to Mister Isadore Sharp, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Four
Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
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Mr Isadore Sharp
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
1165 Leslie St.
Toronto, Ont.
M3C 2K8
Canada
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Dear Mr Sharp |
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I am writing to you in relation to the proposed Four Seasons hotel development at the
Mount Hartman estate on the island of Grenada. BirdLife International is a global partnership
of over 100 like-minded national organizations working together to conserve birds,
their habitats and global biodiversity by working with people towards the sustainability use
of natural resources. |
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| The BirdLife Partnership is concerned about the huge negative biodiversity impacts the
proposed development of a hotel, villas and golf course will have in Grenada. The Mount
Hartman Estate (a National Park established by the government just 10 years ago, with a
visitor centre opened there just this March) is internationally recognized as an Important
Bird Area. The 480 acre Mount Hartman estate is home to 50% of the global population of
the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi, while the150 acre National Park
(or Dove Sanctuary) supports c.22% of the population (or c.20 pairs of birds). With just
c.180 birds clinging on in Grenada, the Grenada Dove is one of the rarest birds in the
Caribbean. |
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The isolated ridges of the Dove Sanctuary that overlook Hog Island will apparently be the
main focus of villa construction. This fact raises serious concerns about the potentially significant
loss, degradation, and fragmentation of the Grenada Dove's habitat (from the villas,
access roads, parking lots, swimming pools, non-native landscaping, free-roaming
pets, and human disturbance). Such a development in the heart of the Grenada Dove's
largest and (to date) best-protected stronghold might lead to the eventual extinction of this
species, something that I am sure Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts would not want to be
associated with. |
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The proposal for development does however provide Four Seasons with an opportunity to
lead the way within the Caribbean by redefining what acceptable development is in such
environmentally sensitive areas. BirdLife would be happy to advise on any move towards
the full integration of environmental concerns and opportunities into the Four Seasons
plan for Mount Hartman, and look forward to an open dialogue with you on this issue.
Yours sincerely
Dr Michael Rands
Director & Chief Executive
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