Quill Boven National Park

Date established: 1997
Area (Km2): 540 hectares

General description of site:
The Quill / Boven National Park gives full protection to the fauna and flora of two very different volcanic regions at either end of the island of St Eustatius. In the South, the Quill is a strato volcano with a thrown top. This beautifully shaped dormant Quill volcano is characterised by its intact circular rim (750m in diameter) which peaks at Mazinga (600m). In the North, the Boven (289m), Venus, Gilboa, Signal and Bergje hills are much older and consist of remains of a strato volcano. The Quill is sufficiently high to ‘snag’ clouds and therefore has a monsoon forest dry climate, whereas the northern hills experience lower rainfall with a Savannah-type climate giving rise to completely different vegetation and associated fauna. The flora of St Eustatius consists of 482 wild plants and almost all can be found in the National Park.
The Quill sub-sector (220ha) protects the dormant Quill volcano above the 250m contour line. An adjoining limestone sheet, or spur, called White Wall on the south eastern flank is also protected and connects the Quill sub-sector with Statia Marine Park. The change in altitude from 250-600m gives rise to a number of distinctive ecosystems, including remnants of elfin forest at the highest section of the crater rim. The Boven sub-sector (320ha) encompasses the five main hills and their surrounding valleys. The vegetation types reflect the lower rainfall with large numbers of Acacias and Century plants. The endemic Statia Morning Glory vine is found here.
Staff and volunteers of STENAPA build, maintain and signpost a network of seven trails in and around the Quill sub-sector and routinely patrol the area. Educational activities include school hikes and a junior ranger club. An active research and monitoring programme is in place to learn more about native species and protect the natural vegetation from invasive species.

Ecosystems:

• Evergreen seasonal forest – this type is closest to the rainforest and exists in the Quill crater with three layers of trees (up to 30-40m in height) and a shrub layer.
  
• Pioneer forest – in small clearings in the Quill crater.
  
• Elfin forest – remnants exist in the highest section of the Quill crater rim at 600m.
  
• Dry evergreen forest – this vegetation belt starts at 350m and is home to the richest moss flora on Statia and the Quill rim is said to be the only location where liverwort mosses growing on leaves have been found.
  
• Montane thicket – on the leeward side of the Quill bewteen 250-350m.
  
• Semi evergreen seasonal forest – this is more or less original forest on the north-western slope and is the best example of semi-evergreen seasonal forest in the Dutch Windward Islands.
  
• Deciduous seasonal forest – on the southern and south-western slopes of the Quill.
  
• Evergreen bushland – exists on the lower slopes of the Quill.
  
• Secondary forest-like vegetation (between seasonal forest and evergreen forest) occurs in the Boven sub-sector.
  

Threatened, endangered, endemic species:

• Statia morning glory (Ipomoea sphenophylla)
  
• 15 species of orchid
  
• Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima)
  
• Red bellied racer snake (Alsophis rufiventris)
  
• Bridled Quail Dove (Geotrygon mystacea)
  
• Red-necked pigeon (Columba squamosa)
  
• Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis jamaicensis)
  
• American kestrel (Falco sparverius caribaeum)
  

International recognition

• National park status

Legal status: legally protected by the Island Ordinance Berscherming Fauna et Flora AB1997/07.

Vision and goals:

• Vision: The conservation of biodiversity on St Eustatius in as natural a way as possible, for the benefit of all citizens, and as a contribution to the development of sustainable forms of use, in particular tourism, agriculture and livestock farming.
• Goal(s): Management and development of the natural and cultural-historical values of the National Park, promotion of recreational use aimed at experiencing these values, and generation of income to guarantee a sustainable management situation.

Site Management

Visitation: 1100 hikers / year

Management body: St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA)

Type of management structure: Co-management

Main challenges:

• Boundaries of the Boven sub-sector are poorly defined
  
• Land tenure issues in the Boven sub-sector
  
• Invasive species (Corallita vine Antigonon leptopus)
  
• Development pressure
  

Does a management plan exist? Yes

Main stakeholders:

• Islanders
  
• Tourists
  
• Land owners

Listing of current/recent research activities:

Contact Information:
Manager: Nicole Esteban
Address: STENAPA, National Parks office. Gallows Bay, St Eustatius
Phone: +599.318.2884
Email: STENAPA@goldenrocknet.com
Website: www.statiapark.org