Norman Island

A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, B(ii)Site contains an exceptional number of species of high conservation importance, C(iii)Site contains nationally threatened or restricted habitat or vegetation types, AND/OR habitats that have severely declined in extent nationally

The whole island has been identified as a TIPA for its botanical richness, presence of globally threatened and high national conservation importance species and having one of the best sites for the nationally threatened Coastal shrubland habitat.

The whole island has been identified as a TIPA. The island is privately owned, mostly undeveloped with a few unpaved roads and a restaurant and club at The Bight Bay.

This TIPA qualified under sub-criterion A(i) for two globally threatened species found across the island, the Puerto Rican Bank endemics Bastardiopsis eggersii (EN) and Malpighia woodburyana (VU). The latter is locally known as mad dog due to the painful stinging hairs on the leaves. One can find large populations of this shrub from Norman Hill eastwards, particularly above Sabu Mathia Bay and Money Bay. A population of Agave missionum (VU), a Puerto Rican Bank endemic species, has been recorded between the Bight, Soldier Bay and Benures Bay. This succulent is highly threatened by the invasive and non-native agave snout weevil, which has been killing individuals across the BVI. This population within the TIPA is important nationally as many healthy plants have been recorded here. The rare Puerto Rican endemic Marsdenia woodburyana has also been recorded in this TIPA; however, it was not considered during the TIPAs assessment because further surveys are needed before the species can be assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Norman Island has the third largest area in the BVI of Coastal shrubland (5.19%) after Anegada and Virgin Gorda, being identified as the fourth-best site in the BVI for the habitat. This habitat is found across the island, covering more than a quarter of the land and qualified the TIPA under sub-criterion C(iii) for its national importance. The nationally threatened Dry salt flats habitat is found around the salt ponds at The Bight Bay and small pockets of Mangroves habitat at Benures Bay. However, areas with these two nationally threatened habitats are small and did not qualify under sub-criterion C(iii). The rest of the island is mostly covered in Seasonally deciduous forests and woodlands.

The main threat to the TIPA is future development which could degrade the habitats and cause losses of coastal vegetation and important plant species. Feral animals previously grazed the island and caused significant habitat degradation before their eradication. The vegetation has responded well to the removal of the invasive ungulates and threatened plants that were able to persist now have a better chance of long-term survival.

The island is rich in wider biodiversity and one of only two breeding sites in the territory for brown pelicans.

BVI TIPAs National Team, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands - BVI Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration