In April 2023, it was announced that access to certain areas of the Peaks National Park (PNP) would be prohibited due to concerns about plant pathogens affecting endemic trees within the park. The prohibition, initially set until the end of December 2023, was extended until March 2024 for review based on relevant information and evidence.
The Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) has been actively working to address the issue since the discovery of the pathogens over a year ago. Collaborating with organizations such as the St Helena Research Institute (SHRI), the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), and the Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFor), the ENRP has been conducting research under the Darwin Plus DPLUS157 project.
Recent efforts have included inoculation experiments on selected PNP plant species to assess vulnerability to plant pathogens and genetic analysis to identify the presence of these pathogens in infected trees. A report on the findings and recommendations for the future of access to the PNP and conservation efforts is currently in progress.
As a result of these ongoing studies, the ENRP has announced that sites within the PNP with Environmental Protection Notices (EPNs) will remain closed for the next few months. Following the receipt of recommendations, a plan for access will be formulated and implemented. This plan may involve the continued closure of some areas or the reopening of certain areas with biosecurity measures in place.
For essential work requiring access to prohibited sites, individuals can apply to the Chief Environmental Officer, Isabel Peters, for permission.
In a statement, the ENRP expressed regret over the continued closure of certain areas within the PNP, stating, "It is therefore regrettable but necessary for the sites within the PNP that have Environmental Protection Notices (EPNs) erected to remain closed for the next few months." The department also thanked the public for their support and patience in safeguarding St Helena's biodiversity.
"We will continue to provide updates to the public and would like to thank everyone for their support and patience in helping to ensure St Helena’s important species and habitats are protected as far as possible," added the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP).
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