Antigua and Barbuda has taken a major step toward environmental conservation by officially designating the Shekerley Mountains area, located in Christian Valley, as a protected biodiversity zone.
Senator the Honourable Michael Joseph, Junior Minister for Health, Wellness, the Environment, and Civil Service Affairs, confirmed the development during a televised interview following his return from global health and climate discussions.
“Cabinet, I think three weeks ago, have declared the Shekerley Mountain area—that’s in the Christian Valley area—as a protected zone,” Joseph stated. “So, the Department of Environment is now going to be working with partners to protect the biodiversity in that area, to protect the flora, the fauna, and everything that goes with it there, as well as in other protected areas.”
He linked the move to Antigua and Barbuda’s broader strategy ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), noting that climate impacts are felt more acutely in small island developing states. “I said to some colleagues in Geneva at WHO, you know, when we lose two feet of land mass around the entire circumference of our island, it’s noticeable, it’s significant. They lose two inches, nobody knows. You know, it’s a secret.”
Joseph also pointed to regional preparations for a more assertive stance at COP: “We’ve also identified that there has to be a greater emphasis on biodiversity.”
The minister praised the work of senior officials in driving the environmental agenda. “We have to commend, you know, Minister Molwyn Joseph for really, he was one of the forefront individuals in driving this agenda… as well as the Prime Minister, the Honourable Gaston Brown, with the climate justice agenda.”
Speaking on the global Loss and Damage Fund, he added, “We haven’t been able to get funding out of it as yet, but the fact that it’s there on the table, it’s a great success. How we actually make it into something that’s result-based—that we have to work on.”
The protection of the Shekerley Mountains area is expected to strengthen national biodiversity efforts and support Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership in the regional climate dialogue.