Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 2.T.

6 Terrestrial Habitats Farm and Grassland

Rev: 19 March 2012

KRISTAN D GODBEER

Definition For these purposes, farm and grassland is regarded as any land which is activity managed for agricultural purposes (including occasional use), or comes under the influence of agricultural practice, specifically, the growing of fruits, crops or the keeping of livestock. Local Outline Given the paucity of good soil in the Cayman Islands, farm and grassland is typically fragmented. Additionally, farming in karst areas generally suffers from a lack of surface water, with rainwater quickly moving through crevices and deeper into the ground. A variety of natural habitats are modified to produce land suitable for planting and grazing. Clearance of low-lying buttonwood wetlands results in the formation of seasonally flooded grasslands, subject to prolonged flooding during the wet season. In most areas Urochloa mutica and Lippia nodifora dominate, however, in some unmanaged wet areas, such as the southern portion of the Salina Reserve, grassy marshlands develop. Dominated by Sawgrass Cladium jamaicense, these semi-natural grasslands are maintained under the influence of intermittent wildfires. These wildfires may contribute to the maintenance of the associate endemic herb Agalinis kingsii (Diochon 2003). In dryer areas, pasture derived from the clearance of forest and woodland results in the formation of medium tall tropical/subtropical grassland with broad-leaved evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs and, in the driest areas, short tropical or subtropical grassland with broadleaved evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs. In these areas, Guinea Grass Panicum maximum dominates. A native of Africa, Guinea Grass is cultivated providing pasture or cut fodder for cattle. Reversion to forest is generally prevented by seasonal burning which kills tree saplings.
For Reference and Acknowledgement: Cottam, M., Olynik, J., Blumenthal, J., Godbeer, K.D., Gibb, J., Bothwell, J., Burton, F.J., Bradley, P.E., Band, A., Austin, T., Bush, P., Johnson, B.J., Hurlston, L., Bishop, L., McCoy, C., Parsons, G., Kirkconnell, J., Halford, S. and Ebanks-Petrie, G. (2009). Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009. Cayman Islands Government. Department of Environment. Final Formatting and production by John Binns, International Reptile Conservation Foundation.

Section: 2.T.6 Terrestrial Habitats - Farm and Grassland Page: 1

In areas where pastures become relict, dry areas are naturally colonised by species such as Strawberry Eugenia axillaris, Lancewood Randia aculeata and Parrot Berry Bourreria venosa. However, in most cases, natural colonisers are marginalized by invasive species such as Logwood Haematoxylum campechianum and Wild tamarind Leucaena leucocephala. Farm and grassland additionally incorporates crops and plantations. While some vegetables are grown, fruit plantations are the predominant crop, including mango, banana, avocado, sweetsop and soursop. Key Habitat Categories for Farm and Grassland Incorporates the following vegetation formations, as per Burton (2008b): Seasonally flooded grasslands V.A.1.N.g. Medium tall tropical/subtropical grassland with broad-leaved evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs V.A.3.N.c. Short tropical or subtropical grassland with broad-leaved evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs V.A.3.N.f Saturated tropical or subtropical perennial forb vegetation V.B.1.N.d Agricultural plantation Key Species for Farm and Grassland The following are selected from the schedules of the draft National Conservation Law; illustrating some of the endemic species, and those protected under international agreements, which are dependent upon this habitat. KEY SPECIES for FARM AND GRASSLAND Category Mammals Detail PART 1 All bats are protected under part 1 All birds are protected under part 1, unless specifically listed in part 2. Of special significance to this habitat: Grand Cayman Parrot Brac Parrot West Indian Whistling-duck Grand Cayman Blue Iguana PART 2 None INVASIVE Birds Monk Parakeet (Parrot SAP) Myiopsitta monachus SAP Chiroptera Aves Amazona leucocephala caymanensis Amazona leucocephala hesterna Dendrocygna arborea Cyclura lewisi Agalinis kingsii SAP SAP SAP SAP SAP Scientific Reference NBAP

Birds

Reptiles Plants

Current Status of Farm and Grassland Working with local farmers, the Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Society, GIS mapping and assessment of current and relict farmland will be undertaken as part of the Research & Monitoring of this HAP - identifying key areas for farming, towards preservation of agricultural practice, and early identification of opportunities and possible conflicts for environmental conservation.

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Seasonally Flooded Grasslands - Grand Cayman

Section: 2.T.6 Terrestrial Habitats - Farm and Grassland

Protected Areas National Trust Land Seasonally Flooded Grasslands V.A.1.N.g.
0 0.5 1 2 Kilometers 3 4 5

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Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 www.doe.ky www.caymanbiodiversity.com

Seasonally Flooded Grasslands - Cayman Brac

Section: 2.T.6 Terrestrial Habitats - Farm and Grassland

Protected Areas National Trust Land Seasonally Flooded Grasslands V.A.1.N.g.
0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 Kilometers 2 2.5

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Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 www.doe.ky www.caymanbiodiversity.com

Seasonally Flooded Grasslands - Little Cayman

Section: 2.T.6 Terrestrial Habitats - Farm and Grassland

Protected Areas National Trust Land Seasonally Flooded Grasslands V.A.1.N.g.
0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 Kilometers 2 2.5

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Cayman Islands National Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 www.doe.ky www.caymanbiodiversity.com

HABITAT STATUS 2006 FARM AND GRASSLAND Category GC Seasonally flooded grassland V.A.1.N.g Farmland 99.6 Total area (acres) CB 1.3 LC 50.5 Area within protected areas (acres) GC 92.5 CB 0.0 LC 0.0 Area outside protected areas (acres) GC 7.1 CB 1.3 LC 50.5 % Habitat protected GC 92.9 CB 0.0 LC 0.0

Current farmland usage, including crops and plantations, actively grazed pasture, and areas of prime relict farmland, to be determined in consultation with local farmers and partners.

Key Sites for Farm and Grassland Currently, no farm and grassland is actively managed for wildlife conservation in the Cayman Islands. Nature Conservation Importance of Farm and Grassland Grassland is not a natural habitat of the Cayman Islands. All pasturelands and grasslands may be regarded as either actively man-modified or influenced. Grassland supports a variety of herb species, however, these are generally pantropical weeds; many are invasive species. The lack of structural diversity of grassland, combined with its complement of largely exotic species makes it generally of low biodiversity importance. The loading of exotic species mean that, even once abandoned, invasive species establish ahead of natural succession. As a result, even in relict form, grassland rarely reverts to truly native woodland. Of greater conservation interest are the semi-natural Sawgrass Wetlands, in the southern margins of the Salina Reserve. These wetlands support one of only two known populations of the endemic herb Agalinis kingsii, the other known population being in disturbed areas of exposed peat, in the Central Mangrove Wetland. Fruit plantations are of significant biodiversity value. While fruit trees are generally exotic in origin, they are structurally diverse, and many native species are attracted to feed on the fruits. The ready availability of food acts as a honeypot, attracting native wildlife from the surrounding area. In some cases, predation is restricted to windfall fruits, such as is the case with the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Cyclura lewisi. In other cases, native wildlife feeds on, and damages, fruit still on the trees, resulting in a conflict situation with farmers. Damaging species include the Cayman Parrot Amazona leucocephala, West Indian Woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris, Bananaquit Coereba flaveola and several species of bats. Feral crop pests include rats, Agoutis Dasyprocta punctata and Monk Parakeets Myiopsitta monachus. Land use planning: while of limited conservation value, farm and grassland has the capacity to directly impact areas of conservation importance through inappropriate land use planning. The current trend towards the loss of prime farm and grassland to residential development has to an extent marginalized the agricultural industry. This has the potential to encourage expansion of agricultural land into areas of primary vegetation. Sustainable land use planning would identify and preserve the best areas of agricultural land, and reduce pressure on both agricultural land and natural areas from inappropriate development. Adaptive species: while farm and grassland is not regarded a natural habitat, some native species are able to effectively adapt to the modified environment which it affords e.g. Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Cyclura lewisi and the endemic herb Agalinis kingsii. As native habitats come under increasing pressure, appropriate management of farm and grassland towards encouraging and maintaining its complement of adaptive species will become increasingly important. Other: Cultural value: agricultural practice is a central component of the culture of the Caymanian people. In recent years, the industry has declined in the face of the immediate and short-term profits from land-sale and real estate, however a core of dedicated farmers remain, and the agricultural tradition in carried on in the backyards and gardens of many Caymanians. Current Factors Affecting Farm and Grassland Illegal shooting: while some farmers are content to absorb the costs of crop damage by protected species, for others, crop management has long extended to illegal shooting, particularly of Cayman Parrots Amazona leucocephala. Despite paper protection under the Animals Law, authorities have turned a blind eye to this activity, and to date no prosecutions have been brought.

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 Honeypot effect: the value of fruit farms as a feeding habitat draws wildlife from outside of the immediate area, into concentrated feeding aggregations. This exacerbates damage and encourages a perception of greater numbers in the population. The honeypot effect makes lethal control of wildlife on site especially damaging, establishing a cycle of removal and immigration, resulting a concomitant reduction in both proximal and distal populations. Development: loss of traditional farm and grassland to residential development reduces its value as a wildlife habitat, and may have the knock-on effect of forcing agriculture practice to expand into new areas. Invasive species: due to its disturbed nature and heavy loading of exotic species, invasive species are usually the first to establish in abandoned farmland. Fire: poorly managed use of fire to maintain pasture land often leads to damaging wildfires. Deliberate arson attacks also constitute an occasional source of fire damage. Notably, there is some evidence that occasional, moderate burning may contribute to the habitat requirement for Agalinis kingsii (Diochon et al. 2003). Financial cost: given the paucity of soil and limited land area, agriculture is not and never will be a highly lucrative business in the Cayman Islands. Financial constraints moderate opportunities for intensive farming practice and many forms of pest control prove cost prohibitive. Immediately profitable options, such as selling land for real-estate development contribute to the pressure on farmers. Lack of public education: as land prices in the Cayman Islands increase, traditional farming practice will become increasingly unsustainable financially. If farming is to survive in the future, innovative practices and diversification of product and market will be required in order to maintain the viability of the industry. Opportunities and Current Local Action for Farm and Grassland Parrot Jam: a long-pending initiative of the Department of Environment, the Parrot Jam Project seeks to establish an USDA-approved jam-making facility on Grand Cayman to process prime and damaged fruit produce into a premium product for sale locally and to the tourist market. The initiative would pay farmers an elevated premium for their product, and run on a not-for-profit basis, trading on the parrot conservation angle. Profits would be passed directly to farmers to directly offset costs incurred by pest damage, with the objectives of preserving the Cayman parrot and the farmland feeding habitat, and elevating the parrot from a crop pest to an effective marketing tool. Agritourism: is currently a target area of interest for the Department of Agriculture. Given the honeypot effect of farm and grassland, such initiatives might prove effective, assuming legal compliance and effective management, and marketing of initiatives. HABITAT ACTION PLAN for Farm and Grassland OBJECTIVES 1. Update and refine existing maps of farm and grassland for the Cayman Islands. 2. Ensure that environmental consideration is given due weight in the development planning process for farm and grassland, with a view to seeking mutually beneficial progress. 3. Reduce any negative impact of farm and grassland on the surrounding environment. TARGET 2008 2012 2015

Farm and Grassland PROPOSED ACTION Policy & Legislation PL1. Pass and implement the National Conservation Law. PL2. Implement the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. PL3. Commence active enforcement of provisions under the Animals Law, Part 9, 78a, 78b and 78c, against illegal shooting and removal from the wild of native parrots, in tandem with Government ringing programme.

LEAD

PARTNERS

TARGET

MEETS OBJECTIVE 2,3 3 3

CIG DoE DoE

DoE CIG CIG RCIP DoA

2006 2006 2006

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Farm and Grassland PROPOSED ACTION PL4. Continue and improve implementation of international conventions, agreements and declarations to which the Cayman Islands is committed. PL5. Work with Department of Planning to introduce regulations to prevent speculative clearance of land, and enforce regulations prohibiting clearance of land by mechanical means without planning permission. PL6. Strengthen the Development Plan on Grand Cayman, and develop and implement guidelines towards preservation of traditional high-value farmland while maintaining and maximising conservation value. PL7. Promote establishment of a Development Plan for the Sister Islands, incorporating a long-term vision for the environmental, social, and economic development of the Islands. SM1. Implement KEY SPECIES SAPs, with special attention to the Cayman Parrot SAP. Advisory A1. Promote best practice in Development Plans, to ensure the preservation and natural function of the environment of the Cayman Islands. A2. Ensure that local planning mechanisms take into account the wildlife interest of the natural environment of the Cayman Islands. A3. Work with Department of Planning to address the loss of natural habitat and prime farm and grassland to urban and suburban development. A4. Targeted awareness of the need for the National Conservation Law and the Endangered Species (Trade & Transport) Law. A4. REPORT: Extensive public outreach Mar-Sept 2010. A5. Work with Department of Agriculture to ensure that agricultural development policies adequately take into account the preservation and natural function of the natural environment of the Cayman Islands. RM1. Update and refine existing maps of farm and grassland. RM1. REPORT: (2009) Completed in NBAP. RM2. Work with Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Society to identify key areas for farming, towards preservation for agriculture practice, and early identification of opportunities and possible conflicts for environmental conservation. RM3. Incorporate all pre-existing and forthcoming research and monitoring data, habitat mapping and imagery into a spatially-referenced database. RM4. Develop and expand research programmes, to incorporate and target indicators of climate change. RM5. Utilise remote sensing to instigate a five-yearly habitat mapping programme. RM6. Expand studies into the biodiversity of farm and grassland species.

LEAD DoE DoE

PARTNERS CIG DoP CPA DCB CIG MP DoE CIG MP DoE

TARGET ongoing 2012

MEETS OBJECTIVE 3 2

DoP CPA DoP DCB

ongoing

ongoing

Safeguards & Management DoE 1,2,3

DoE DoE DoP DoE

DoP CPA DCB DoP CPA DCB DoE DoA AS MP CIG NT

ongoing ongoing 2009 2006

2,3 2,3 2,3 2,3

DoE

DoA AS CIG MP

2009

2,3

Research & Monitoring DoE 2008 1

DoE

DoA AS

2009

DoE DoE DoE DoE IntC DoA CIG MP DoA DoT CIG NT MP Page: 8 IntC

2015 2010 2015 2009

1 2 1 3

Communication & Publicity CP1. Promote environmentally sound farming in the Cayman Islands. CP2. Utilise environmentally sound farming to promote the Cayman Islands internationally. DoE DoE ongoing 2006 3 2

Section: 2.T.6 Terrestrial Habitats - Farm and Grassland

References and Further Reading for Farm and Grassland

Brunt, M.A. and Davies, J.E. (1994). The Cayman Islands Natural History and Biogeography. pp. 604. Kluwer Academic Publishers. ISBN 0-79232462-5. Burton, F.J. (2008a). Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK. Burton, F.J. (2008b). Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands. In: Threatened Plants of the Cayman Islands: The Red List. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Richmond, Surrey UK.
Diochon, A., Burton, F.J., and Garbary, D.J. (2003). Status and ecology of Agalinis kingsii (Scrophulariaceae), a rare endemic to the Cayman Islands (Caribbean Sea). Rhodora, 105: 178-188.

Proctor, G.R. (2011). Flora of the Cayman Islands. ISBN 978 1 84246 403 8. 736 pp. Kew Publishing.

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