Antigua & Barbuda

This Caribbean country is often referred to as a "twin-island state", as most of its 85 000 inhabitants live on the main islands of Antigua and Barbuda. It is in fact a group of dozens of islands surrounded by 240 km2 of coral reefs. With a beach every day of the year, the country attracts more than a million visitors a year. But poverty is still present and the environmental challenges are immense. Much of the country's forests were cleared during the colonial period and coastal areas are now under pressure from tourism and housing development. The spread of many invasive alien species has proved particularly disastrous for the terrestrial wildlife. In view of the many pressures on inhabited islands, the small islands off the north-east coast of Antigua have become vital refuges for wildlife. Endemic and endangered species such as the Antiguan Racing Fritillary, the White Crowned Dove and the elegant West Indian Whistling Duck rely on the islands for survival. The biodiversity of these stunning islands is recognized worldwide and attracts thousands of tourists every year. Another jewel of the Antigua and Barbuda archipelago is the rarely visited Redonda Island, 50 km west of Antigua. This 60-hectare island has been left in a seriously degraded state by invasive rats and goats introduced by guano miners who settled on the island in the 19th century. Despite this, Redonda is still a treasure trove of biodiversity, with numerous endemic lizard species and significant colonies of seabirds such as Red-Footed, Brown and Masked Boobies.