IUCN Management Category IV (Managed Nature Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 3.23.13. (Ascension and St.Helena)

Geographical Location Diana's Peak and High Peak are the highest and the third highest points, respectively, on the island of St. Helena. St. Helena is a British Dependent Territory situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, covering 121 square kilometres, and lying some 1,960km from the nearest point of the southwest coast of Africa and 2,900km east of South America. The nearest land is the island of Ascension 1,126km to the northwest. The two sites are 4km apart approximately in the centre of the island, some 6km southwest (in the case of High Peak), and south (in the case of Diana's Peak) of Jamestown. Diana's Peak lies at 15° 58'S 5° 42'W; High Peak lies at 15° 58'S 5° 44'W.

Date and History of Establishment The government-owned part of Diana's Peak was designated a National Forest in 1955 and two years later, in 1957, the then privately-owned section was declared a Dedicated Forest. High Peak was designated a Protection Area in 1955. Areas of endemic vegetation can be legally designated as Endemic Forest Reserves. These reserves are part of the National Forest or Dedicated Forest lands classification, themselves legally designated under the Forestry Ordinance No. 9 of 1954, amended by Ordinance No. 10 of 1955, No. 6 of 1959 and by Statutory Rules and Order No. 4 of 1967. Diana's Peak and part of High Peak are protected as National Forest with the remainder of High Peak designated as Dedicated Forest under the Forestry Ordinance 1954 as amended. The Forestry (Amendment) Ordinance 1985 should be read as the Forestry Ordinance 1954. Nine endemic species of trees and other plants are protected under Ordinance No. 15 of 1959 termed the Forestry (Indigenous Trees and Plants Preservation) Rules which were revised in Amendment Rules 1978 to include all angiosperms and the tree fern Dicksonia arborescens.

Area Diana's Peak has an area of 5.87ha and High Peak an area of 5.38ha. The total combined area is 11.25ha.

Land Tenure The two sites are within and part of larger National Forest areas or Dedicated Forest lands. Two-thirds of the island is classified as Crown Wastes. Diana's Peak Endemic Forest Reserve comprises 1.21ha of Crown Land (designated in 1955) and 4.66ha of Private Dedicated Forest (designated in 1957), both areas being declared as a nature reserve for endemic species. It is now a National Forest owned in its entirety by the Government of St. Helena, following the recent purchase of the private section. High Peak comprises 5.38ha of Crown Land (designated in 1955) declared a Protected Area and falling within the High Peak National Forest, itself constituted in 1955 (IUCN/UNEP, 1987). High Peak is, however, apparently part Government-owned and part owned by W.A.Thorpe & Sons.

Altitude Diana's Peak is the highest point on the island at 825m whilst High Peak reaches 798m.

Physical Features St. Helena's volcanic origin can be traced back some 14.5 million years to the Miocene. Over sixty percent of the surface of the island is described as lowland with the mountainous uplands restricted to the south and west central zone. The two sites are located on the highest parts of the central rugged uplands which are in the form of an open U-shaped ridge. The ridge forms part of the water catchment area for the island and in fact the only inland waters consist of small mountain streams. The two reserves together contain one of the few remaining areas of undisturbed soil cover which is in the form of a black organic-rich surface layer lying over heavy brown clay or volcanic basalt and trachybasalt rock. In addition, at High Peak, there is a massive iron pan at a depth of 2m suggesting the existence of wet periods at some point in the past. Elsewhere the soils have been badly degraded.

Climate The climate is mild with no sharp fluctuations. The steeply sloping terrain is frequently encompassed in mist and low cloud which is trapped by the vegetation and which is thought to contribute significantly to the recorded local precipitation of over 1200mm per year and the consequently lower temperatures. The north coast tends to be drier with the average annual rainfall only reaching 152mm and with a temperature range of 15°C to 32°C.

Vegetation The two reserves together represent the best examples of St. Helena's remaining natural vegetation and endemic flora. This is in the form of upland wet thicket vegetation which at Diana's Peak consists of 'cabbage tree' woodland of Melanodendron integrifolium, Petrobium arboreum and the dominant tree fern Dicksonia arborescens. High Peak has similar vegetation cover on its steep south-facing slopes where the largest concentrations of endemics occur, but on the drier northern slopes the vegetation takes on a different character with more open forest, scrub and grass which, however, does support the endemics Commidendrum robustum, Trochetiopsis erythroxylon and Trochetiopsis melanoxylon, all of which have been replanted in the area. Originally the island was covered in a forest of gumwood (interchangeably refered to as scrubwood) Commidendrum robustrum and was still largely wooded in the mid-seventeenth century, but as a combined result of felling and grazing within a little over 150 years the sources of the ebony and redwood timber was becoming rare. Below the two reserve areas at 450m to 750m there are pastures and plantations (now redundant) of New Zealand flax Phormium tenax and at 300m-450m the vegetation is replaced mostly by pastures and replanted woodland. The lowland areas of the island consist of dry rocky desert with sparse vegetation (Davis, 1986). Estimates made in 1875 predicted that there were once 100 endemic species but now the indigenous vegetation consists of about 60 species of flowering plants and ferns, 50 of which are endemic, out of a total flora of about 320 species, some 240 species of which are naturalized aliens. In total, nine plant genera are endemic to St. Helena. A complete list of endemics is provided in the nomination documents as Annex C with brief notes on these species provided in Annex D. All of the island's endemic genera are represented in the two reserves with a total of 18 endemic species of flowering plants and ferns. Five arborescent genera of Compositae are represented (Commidendrum, Lachanodes, Melanodendron, Petrobium and Pladaroxylon), which includes the giant woody members, known as 'cabbage trees'. The endemic genera Trochetiopsis with its species the St. Helena redwood and the St. Helena ebony is best represented at High Peak. Most of the island's endemics are now rare or threatened with extinction whilst 14 of those occurring in the reserves are classed as endangered including three of the endemic monotypic cabbage tree genera. For St. Helena as a whole the IUCN Plant Red Data Book (Lucas and Synge, 1978) lists three species: Pelargonium cotyledonis, Trochetiopsis erythroxylon and Wahlenbergia linifolia. By 1986 it was thought that 7 species were extinct, 23 endangered, 17 rare, and 2 insufficiently known. This represents 96% of all endemics (Davis, 1986).

Fauna A checklist of the recorded fauna is provided by Brown (1982) which records that of the Coleoptera fauna 137 species of the indigenous taxa are endemics. This is considered to be an exceptional degree of generic isolation within this group with unusually large numbers of species in the family Curculionidae (weevils). Eighteen endemic weevils are confined to the cabbage trees. Of these endemics Aplothorax burchelli is listed as endangered/vulnerable. The St. Helena Earwig Labidura herculeana is a vulnerable species in the IUCN Invertebrate Red Data Book. The rich endemic Coleoptera fauna is supported by the vascular plants, the devastation of which may have resulted in a loss of invertebrates with additionally 17 species of molluscs listed as extinct (Brown, 1982). There are no native terrestrial species of reptiles or amphibians. Similarly there are no native species of mammals.

Cultural Heritage None noted.

Local Human Population The population of the island is under 6,000 and is given differently as 5,600 (Oldfield, 1986) and 5,499 (in 1982) (IUCN/UNEP, 1987). There is no information as to the population immediately around the two reserves.

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Although there are some narrow footpaths used for walking in the reserves due to the steepness of the terrain and its thick vegetation, the majority of the two sites are completely undisturbed.

Scientific Research and Facilities There is still only one published account on the flora of the island although between 1805-1810 Burchell made a collection of the plants and prepared manuscripts and drawings, and a full flora of St. Helena is in the process of preparation as is a field guide. A preliminary nature conservation project carried out in 1970 under the auspices of the Royal Society and the International Biological Programme (Kerr, 1971) reported changes in the vegetation, assessed conservation status and the distribution of each of the endemics. Rescue programmes are continuing and recent surveys carried out by G. Benjamin, of the Forestry Department, have refound species thought to be extinct. The undisturbed soils of the two sites are regarded as important in studies of climatic changes and related history of indigenous vegetation. Completion of basic biogeographical inventories is still needed, with ecological studies and detailed distribution data. Little work has been done on bryophytes, lichen and other lower plant groups.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management The vegetation on the two peaks has remained relatively undisturbed due to the inaccessibility of the sites to grazing animals and the sites' unsuitability for agriculture. The maintenance of the natural vegetation is seen as a priority and this is reflected in the existence of a well-established plant conservation programme. The need for such a document has been acknowledged for the past 15 years and the developed programme focusses on the High Peak and Diana's Peak and involves both ex situ and in situ conservation, the latter concentrated at High Peak. The sites form discrete conservation units, surrounded by managed forest land which acts as a buffer zone. A marked boundary track separates Diana's Peak reserve from the adjoining National Forest land and the commercial forest, whilst around High Peak there is a stock-proof fence. At both sites regeneration of the natural vegetation is a strong possibility and once the vegetation spreads out from the reserves they can be extended. Both sites are actively managed for conservation by the Agriculture and Forestry Department of the St Helena's government which is also responsible for managing the surrounding forestry land. One important aspect has been the reintroduction of endangered plant species. The Agriculture and Forestry Department have a small arboretum at Cason's where endemics have been propagated and planted. The UK-based Flora and Fauna Preservation Society (FFPS) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with the help of the IUCN and grant-aided by WWF-UK have coordinated and sponsored a plant rescue programme. A WWF-funded propagation unit is now able to provide large numbers of plants for re-introduction. Planting has been in progress in four areas since July 1985 and recent rains have caused excellent regeneration, especially on protected sites. The combined programme of ex situ and in situ conservation (Goodenough, 1983 and 1985) is now incorporated into the five-year Forestry Project (Endemic Flora Conservation) of the Agriculture and Forestry Department. This has four components: management of existing endemic forest; re-establishment of discrete areas of endemic forest; endemic nursery development and arboretum development. Under this project areas of endemic vegetation are designed as Endemic Forest Reserves, to distinguish them from areas of new endemic plantings. At Diana's Peak management involves periodically cutting flax, and other exotics, and the propagation and re-introduction of the cabbage tree. At High Peak the emphasis has been on the exclusion of livestock but more recently selective weeding has also taken place on the southern slopes. The lower drier southern slopes and the drier northern slopes are being cleared of flax and planted with Trochetiopsis melanoxylon and Commidendrum rugosum supplemented by Trochetiopsis erythroxylon on the northern slopes. The Forestry Programme (1985-1990) concentrates on endemic planting, fencing and the removal of exotics (IUCN/UNEP, 1987). According to Forestry Ordinance 1954 No. 9 of 1954 the following prohibitions exist in relation to National Forest, Dedicated Forest and Protected Forest: cut, dig, burn, carry away soil; cut, gather, burn or carry away forest produce; entry and the use of the area by stock, fire restrictions and the obstruction of public officers. The penalty is a fine not exceeding |25 sterling. Legislation to eliminate free-ranging goats was introduced in 1940 and most had been removed by 1962. All conservation activities are managed by the Agriculture and Forestry Department, which comes under the political control of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee of the Legislative Council. This body has since 1986 been required to take the lead in nature conservation (Oldfield, 1986). Ultimately the responsibility for conservation remains with the UK Government as St. Helena is constitutionally and economically wholly dependent on the UK. The Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry was first established in 1934 but continues to have inputs from the ODA.

Management Constraints St. Helena has been described as 'the most devastated of all the tropical islands in the South Atlantic' (Williams, 1981). The two peaks are one of the few areas where undisturbed soil cover remains. Since the introduction of goats (in 1513, and only 75 years later forming herds upto 2km long) and other animals, the natural forest became reduced to its present day remnants. These remnants are themselves now being invaded by exotics. Major problems are erosion, caused by vegetation clearance by man for fuel, timber and agriculture as well as a result of the changes in climate. Destruction of the tree and shrub vegetation of the higher peaks may have contributed in reduced precipitation, mainly because of fall-off in mist interception. The greatest single threat is from the spread of exotic species of plants such as Rubus pinnatus, R. rosifolius, Solanum mauritianum, Fuchsia coccinea and specifically flax Phormium tenax, a species no longer grown viably, but one which has severely encroached most peaks and ridges and continues to spread up the slopes. Natural regeneration is slow (limited by exposure) and species are mostly found as individuals or in small enclaves, with considerable encroachment of exotics (IUCN/UNEP, 1987). There are, however, no direct development pressures affecting High Peak and Diana's Peak.

Staff The Forestry Section of the Agriculture and Forestry Department has ten forest guards who each patrol and carry out routine silvicultural work in their respective districts. The recently trained supervisor has a staff of ten, specifically allocated to the maintenance and re-establishment of endemic flora.

Budget Under the Forestry Ordinance, 1954 No. 9 of 1954 all expenses arising from the management of Dedicated Forests shall be met in the first place by the government, but will be charged against revenue of the forest.

Local Addresses

The Agriculture and Forestry Officer, Agriculture and Forestry Department, Scotland, St. Helena.

St. Helena Heritage Society, c/o The Bishop of St. Helena, Bishopholm, St. Helena.

References

Brown, L. C. (1982). The Flora and Fauna of St. Helena. ODA Project Record 59. Land Resources Development Centre.

Davis, S. D. et.al. (1986). Plants in Danger What do we know? IUCN/UNEP Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge.

Goodenough, S. (1983). St. Helena: A plant propogation project and recommendations for the conservation of the endemic flora of the Island. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Typescript.

Goodenough, S. (1985). Ebonies, cabbages and baby's toes. World Heritage News.

IUCN/UNEP. (1987). The IUCN Directory of Afrotropical Protected Areas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Kerr, N. (1971). Report on a preliminary nature conservation project, Island of St. Helena. July-August 1970. IBP/4 (71). Mimeo.

Lucas, G. L. and Synge, H. (1978). IUCN Plant Red Data Book.

Oldfield, S. (1985). Conservation in the UK Dependent Territories. Draft. BANC. WWF-UK.

The Agriculture and Forestry Department of St. Helena. The Nature Conservancy Council. (undated). Nomination of Diana's Peak and High Peak. St. Helena for inclusion in the World Heritage List. Submitted by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Williams, A. J. (1981). Breeding distribution, numbers and conservation of tropical seabirds on oceanic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. In: Status and Conservation of the World's Seabirds. ICBP. Tech. Pub. No.2. Cambridge.

Date June 1987