Introduction

The Forestry department is the principle agency responsible for managing forest and wildlife resources on the island of St. Lucia. It does so through legislative authority granted by the following statutes:

 Forest, Soil, and Water Conservation (1964/1983)
 Wildlife protection Act 1980

The objectives of the department and the basic principles of current policy seeks to advance the areas of Forest Reservation (13% of the island), Natural Resource Management, Utilization, Environmental Education, Wildlife Conservation, Co-Management, Research, Recreation, Aesthetics, and Forest Extension. Through systematic management and educational interventions, St. Lucia has been able to recognize these multi-dimensional values.

The Motto of the Forestry Department, "La Forway Say La Vie" (The Forest is Life) provides a simple yet fundamental principle for the sustainable management of a small, tropical island.

Mission Statement
"Protect and conserve the natural resources for the protection of the environment and to obtain maximum utilization consistent with sustainable development with regards to the welfare of the rural communities and the country as a whole."