A one-acre property high on Bordeaux Mountain in the Coral Bay on St. John watershed has been permanently protected from future development through a conservation easement donated in favor of the St. John Land Conservancy, a press release announced Wednesday.
The landowner, who requested anonymity, placed the permanent conservation easement on the steep, forested parcel to protect its undisturbed tree cover, soils and other natural features that support the Coral Bay watershed. The property will remain in private ownership, but future development rights have been relinquished, according to the press release.
“The natural beauty of St John is the main reason visitors come and why many choose to live here,” the landowner said. “Whether you consider it your ancestral land or you have moved here from other parts of the world, we must do everything we can to balance environmental protection and development. I am very thankful to St. John Land Conservancy for playing such a key role in this process. Once land has been developed, it is too late. Conservation is not only crucial for the local economy, but also of utmost importance for the health of the many ecosystems found within this small island, including within Coral Bay. The mountains, ghuts, watersheds, reefs and ocean life are all closely tied together. We need to work hard to preserve this island’s natural capital – now more than ever.”
In accepting the easement, Lawrence Taft, president of the St. John Land Conservancy, said the organization appreciated the donor’s decision to limit future use of the property in order to protect the surrounding environment.
“We are grateful to this donor for having the forethought and conservation-minded charitable intent to relinquish substantial value of the property’s building potential in favor of helping to protect this important watershed,” Taft said.
The St. John Land Conservancy was established in 2011 and has worked to protect multiple parcels on St. John and nearby cays. The organization collaborates with private landowners to permanently conserve land while keeping it in private hands, according to the release.
