Environmental
Indicators
Environmental Indicators
represent a powerful tool for communicating synoptic information on the state of the
environment to policy decision-makers and the public. Indicators are developed from
statistical parameters. Environmental indicators can be based on physical, chemical
or biological measures associated with environmental aspects to socio-economic factors.
The
selection of indicators for the BVI has been guided by the identified priority
environmental issues of the territory during the process of the National Integrated
Development Plan.
Waste
Management
| Environmental Indicators |
Indicator Type |
|
| Soil/Ground Water
Quality |
Normative Indicator
Parameters |
|
| Number / Areas of
Waste Disposal Sites |
Retrospective/
Predictive Values |
Four sites
on four main islands. |
| Quantities of Waste
Disposed |
Retrospective/
Predictive Values |
|
| Marine
Debris |
Retrospective |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| 2,551 kg. |
850 kg. |
1,334 kg. |
Resource Use, Conflict and
Urban Environmental Quality
| Environmental Indicators |
Indicator Type |
|
| Land Use Changes |
Retrospective |
|
| Habitat Loss |
Retrospective |
|
| Non-Point Source
Sediment Loadings |
Normative-Parameters |
|
| Beach Erosion |
Normative-Parameters |
See 1989-1992 figures
below table |
| Marine Debris |
Normative-Parameters |
|
Beach Erosion
Figures
Average rates for beach erosion for the BVI from 1989 - 1992
Tortola |
-0.48m/yr |
Beef Island |
-0.21m/yr |
Eustatia Island |
-6.3m/yr |
Virgin Gorda |
-0.31m/yr |
Anegada |
-1.04m/yr |
Jost Van Dyke |
-0.23m/yr |
Over-Exploitation
of Reef Fish, Benthic Invertebrates and Crustaceans
Undeveloped Pelagic Fishery
| Environmental Indicators |
Indicator Type |
|
| Fish Stock Size |
Representative Values |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| Landed Catch Values |
Retrospective |
US$1,295,552 |
US$1,345,295 |
US$2,656,255 |
| Commercial Catch Trend |
Retrospective |
92,050 kg |
108,837 kg |
203,313 kg |
| Recuperation Rate for
Juvenile Fish |
Index |
|
|
|
| Fish Resource Imports |
Retrospective |
US$1,783,307 |
US$3,298,014 |
|
Siltation of Near-Shore
Habitats
Habitat Degradation
| Environmental Indicators |
Indicator Type |
|
| Extent of Dead
Acropora Palmata (Elkhorn Coral) as Part of Total |
Representative |
The 1993 Coastal
Inventory shows an area of 929.7 Ha. (13%) of dead acropora out of 7,568.6 Ha. covered by
coral |
| Wetland Agreage |
Retrospective |
Same as for Water
Quality |
| Water Clarity Ratio |
Normative-Parameters |
|
| Turbidity |
Normative-Parameters |
1988 - 1989 figures
show an average measurement of 5 or less than for near shore waters |
Water
Quality
| Environmental Indicators |
Indicator Type |
|
| Marine Debris |
Retrospective |
Same as
for Waste Management |
| Eutrophication of
Caostal Waters (Dissolved Oxygen and BOD levels) |
Normative-Parameters |
*Average
Baseline Dissolved Oxygen levels for 1998
5.5 - 6.0 mg./l. |
| Nutrient and Phosphate
Levels |
Normative-Parameters |
|
| Wetland Acreage |
Retrospective |
1993
BVI - 534 Ha.
Tortola-36.7Ha. |
1997
Tortola-23.3Ha. |
| Non-Point Sources of
Sediments |
Retrospective |
|
| Drinking Water Supply |
Index |
370
Million Gallons per Year |
* The baseline water quality data for the BVI are presently being
developed, hence the stated DO level should be used with some restraint.
Biodiversity Changes
| Environmental Indicators |
Indicator Type |
|
| Loss of Benthic
Communities |
Retrospective |
Information would be
available after the ongoing coastal survey |
| Habitat Change |
Retrospective |
Information would be
available after the ongoing coastal survey |
| Stock of Key Species
(Species Richness) |
Representative Value |
Corals-28,
Gastropods-10, Insects-1, Amphibians-2, Reptiles-12, Birds-54, Mammals-5, Plants-32,
Total-144. |
| Endemic Species |
Representative Value |
7 Species |
| Threatened and Extinct
Species as Part of Total |
Representative Value |
11 Species (9
Endangered or Threatened and 2 Extinct) |
| Species Threatened
With Extinction |
Representative Value |
9 Species |
| Ratio of Exotic to
Endemic Species |
Representative Value |
7 Endemic Species, 1
Exotic Species |
| Species Risk Index |
Index |
|
|
The
