Ally

The natural beauty of Grenada has been a treasure to its people since they first arrived. To this day, efforts to preserve the Island's diverse ecosystems continue to be a major priority among the Islanders. From dedicating land and nature preserves to introducing artificial reefs in order to encourage marine life, work to maintain Grenada's pristine environment is well underway.

To prevent the over encroachment of people to the Island, the Government of Grenada has dedicated 1/6 of its current landmass to national parks, nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Among the most treasured of these is Levera National Park. Adorned with some of the Island's most picturesque beaches, lagoons and ponds, Levera National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife and fauna. At anytime, bird enthusiasts can catch a glimpse of herons, black-necked stilts and common snipes among the mangrove swamps.

From May to September, the shores of Levera National Park are closely guarded as hundreds of sea turtles climb ashore to make their nests. Naturalists and volunteers are on hand during these months to ensure that no harm comes to the turtles or their nests. Levera National Park also sports an equally impressive underwater eco-system, with a vast reef system that offers shelter to lobsters and colourful reef fishes.

Maintaining Grenada's natural beauty has extended from its shores to the depths of its surrounding waters. In the past few months several exciting steps have been taken to develop the Island's coral reefs including the world's first statue park (www.underwatersculpture.com), and the sinking of the MV Hildur to act as an artificial reef.

Creating artificial reefs is a practice that has been in use for centuries, across the world. The artificial reefs, traditionally made of sunken ships and construction material, assist natural reefs that have been damaged or destroyed by providing a place for corals and other organisms to attach themselves and re-grow. A flourishing reef will encourage the return of marine life, including mollusks, crustaceans, and tropical fish species that make the reefs so enchanting. Artificial reefs are also used to alter the hydrodynamics of an area, preventing shore erosion and redirecting problematic currents to make the waters safer for surfers and swimmers.

Innovative artist Jason de Caires Taylor designed the world's first underwater statue park (located in Moliniere) with support from the Grenada Board of Tourism. The statues not only create a unique underwater world for aquanauts to explore, but also create artificial reefs to encourage the development of marine life. The statues have been carefully placed in shallow waters so divers, snorkellers, and passengers of passing glass-bottom boats can access and view the statues.

The sinking of the MV Hildur, a 30m Coastal Freighter that was no longer seaworthy, was a joint effort between the Grenada Scuba Diving Association and the Peter de Savary Development Company. The ship is currently sitting perfectly on her keel in the sand at Grand Mal Bay, and is rapidly becoming home to migrating fish from adjacent reefs. The MV Hildur is the 20th wreck to be sunk off the shores of Grenada in hopes of maintaining the diversity of the Island's underwater ecosystems.

For more information regarding ecotourism and preservation efforts in Grenada, visit http://www.grenadagrenadines.com/softa.html