Abstract
Barbuda is one of two major islands that comprise the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. The island is known for its secluded pink and white sand beaches and, more recently, for Hurricane Irma (September 2017). The category five mega-storm decimated much of the island’s landscape and infrastructure, and the physical damage was widely publicized. Three years after Hurricane Irma, many challenges related to humanitarian aid, fiscal resources, and materials to rebuild remain. There are many natural resource commodity and human social challenges including those related to water resources, agriculture, marine ecosystems, feral animal populations, human health, tourism, and economics. This article includes some of Barbuda’s historical context and identifies a number of current critical challenges and recommendations for activities (approaches) that may advance a number of management practices. For example, the Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) and/or One Health approach(es) include social and fiscal mechanisms to implement programs, policies, legislation, and research in which multiple sectors of Barbuda could communicate and work together to achieve sustainable outcomes. Context is provided to substantiate humanitarian aid, scientific engagement, scientific progress, and political support for a semi-closed cultural socio-ecological island ecosystem at the precipice of change.
Highlights
Barbuda is one of two major islands that comprise the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda [1]located in the West Indies, midway along the Lesser Antilles island chain [2,3] (Figure 1)
Many of the historic agricultural activities that made the island self-sufficient have been abandoned in modern times [3]. This has contributed to the continued emigration of people from Barbuda to other parts of the Caribbean and cities in the Global North to seek employment [27]
Uplifting caused by two separate volcanic events gave way to coral reef building, which resulted in the formation of Barbuda Island [1,28]
Summary
Barbuda is one of two major islands that comprise the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda [1]. (c) feral livestock, and (d) marine needs including (a) fresh water and agriculture, (b) native vegetation, (c) feral livestock, and (d) resources and tourism. Amerindian societies (pre‐history), British colonialization (1632), and the period since gaining events) [3] These challenges, in conjunction with the lack of employment opportunities, have provided independence (1981)tourism and, thereafter, becoming state of Antigua andofBarbuda the impetus to develop on the island [15].the. There has been great motivation to rebuild and develop in more contemporary integrative ways to manage the island using sustainable and ecologically focused development practices [13,17] This is important because, with restoration and development, many of Barbuda’s natural resources will require improved planning and management. There is, an urgent need for research and investment that will result in more deliberate and intentional approaches of development that are sustainable and conserve the historic way of life and living
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