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Marine Conservation History Made on South Africa’s Prince Edward Island

Emma — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:26:20 +0000

Located deep within the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean, South Africa’s all-but-uninhabited Prince Edward Islands have been declared a Marine Protected Area by green-thinking politicians.

Conservationists the world over are celebrating a formal announcement to declare South Africa’s Prince Edward Islands as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Long since heralded as a site of significant biodiversity, the islands, which consist of Prince Edward and Marion Islands, are home to everything from albatrosses to killer whales and from penguins to Patagonian tooth stocks.

Rockhopper Penguins on Marion Island, Part of South Africa’s Prince Edward Island chain.
Photo courtesy of nhuafrica.com

Plagued by poachers throughout the 1990s, it is hoped that this new measure will help recover the tooth stock populations and go a long way to protecting the islands’ other marine creatures, by deterring the illegal and unsustainable fishing practices and by restoring the natural balance of this delicate Southern Ocean eco-system.

The region forms South Africa’s first offshore MPA and a collaboration between several conservation charities and the South African Government. Declared as a “[significant contribution] to global initiatives towards protection of offshore and deep ocean areas” by Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, it is hoped that the move will be trigger further action involving the sub-Arctic islands.

Consisting of a 12 nautical mile no take zone, four restricted zones in which fishing is limited and a low-impact controlled zone linking the aforementioned restricted zones, the protection zones have been met with acclaim from the within South Africa and throughout the international community as a whole.

Jim Leape, the Director General of WWF International signaled his approval with the following statement: “It is inspiring to see such environmental leadership in South Africa. Still too little of the world’s precious oceans are protected from exploitation, and this is a landmark victory for marine conservation – and hopefully a sign of more to come.”

Tennessee Island Makes It To The Online Auction Block

Emma — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:49:29 +0000

As the global economic crisis continues to take its toll on the private island market, one shrewd seller has taken to the online auction house eBay in an attempt to sell his Tennessee island.

Wolf Island, Tennessee
Image Courtesy of eBay

The island market is abuzz with the news that Wolf Island is set to go under the hammer later this week. In an unusual twist however, this Tennessee island will be showcased to the public not at an auction hall, but on the internet auction site eBay.

Encompassing 116 acres of verdant woodland, this pristine private island calls the protected waters of the Tennessee River home. Located close to the historic Savannah Tennessee region, Wolf Island could be all yours at just the click of a mouse. Whether as a recreational retreat or the ultimate fishing destination – it’s not without reason that the region is known as the “Catfish Capital of the World”.

Fringed by two miles of soft, sandy shoreline and home to a magnificent hardwood forest, it’s certainly a tempting prospect. Indeed, who hasn’t dreamed of owning their own private island? Blessed by summer temperatures of around 27°C and home to the much sought-after farm tax status, there’s sure to be a fair few people “watching” this unique auction. But just how did the island end up on eBay in the first place?

Feeling the pinch of the global recession – from USD 500,000 to 99,000

Listed in 2011 for the princely sum of USD 500,000 the 116 acre island had dropped in value to USD 200,000 by 2012, before appearing at auction again earlier this year for only USD 116,000. Seemingly another victim of the economic recession, the picturesque Wolf Island forms a startling reflection of the island market as a whole.

The island certainly isn’t the first of its kind to feel the pinch of the global recession, however. Indeed, Nautilus, a picture-perfect island just of the coast of Maine was recently snapped up by one lucky buyer for only USD 2 million, despite an original asking price some USD 10 million more expensive. With rumors of the Bahaman Bird Cay Island going the same way, these so-called fire sales are appearing with increasing frequency within the island market.

The media attention surrounding Wolf Island may well work in its favor, and a number of bidders are already engaged in a battle to secure the deeds to this incredible island. With plenty of time to run and the latest bids all around the USD 99,000 mark, there’s no telling how this auction could end. Whatever happens though, you can rely on Private Islands News to keep you informed.

Asia: China Stakes its Claim by Opening Disputed Islands to Tourism

Alexis — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:01:13 +0000

Small disputed islands in Asia-Pacific are being promoted as exciting new tourism destinations, solidifying China’s growing influence over the region.

(Disputed Yongxing Island in the Paracels)

In past centuries, countries seeking to establish dominion over a territory had to build and maintain a costly military base. Now, tourism appears to be the new frontier when it comes to gaining the upper hand in island disputes.

China has been at the forefront of disagreements over which country owns what islands – and the valuable energy and fishing resources offshore – with hotly contested political battles ongoing with Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The superpower has also been fighting for allies within the small island nations of the South Pacific, and investment in tourism – such as the recent news about a massive Chinese hotel development on Yap in the Caroline Islands – is being used as an effective way to keep friendly relations.

When it comes to islands that are closer to home, China has gotten busy building new cities and planning to establish a population base on these remote outposts. Woody, or Yongxing Island, found several hundred kilometres of Hainan Province in the disputed Paracel Islands, is just one such example.

The island, also claimed by Vietnam, was named as a prefecture of China just last year, but its development has moved extraordinarily fast. It was recently announced the government would begin promoting cruises to Yongxing’s under-construction city of Sansha later in April.

(Duncan Island image from Wikipedia)

China is planning on making Sansha the administrative head of its South China Sea disputed territories, including the rest of the Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands, and the Macclesfield Bank, a vast underwater atoll to the north of the Spratlys. Other parts of the Paracels, like Duncan Island, are also being developed by China.

The gleaming city envisioned for Yongxing is still in the early stages of construction, but its completion is a top priority, according to the deputy governor of Hainan, Tan Li. “We have started the planning and development of Sansha, including basic infrastructure, at full speed,” he told the Chinese state news agency, according to CNN.

“Sansha’s sightseeing routes, scenic spots and docking locations have been confirmed,” he said. “We are hoping to begin [the cruise operation] before May 1.” Tan also made clear that the islands would not be exploited, but that the government would be making conservation a strong focus.

While it may be an unusual way of settling territorial disagreements, if these battles can be fought bloodlessly with resort developments and cruise ships as opposed to military bases and cruise missiles, it certainly seems like progress.

USA: Restaurant Mogul Buys a Minnesota Private Island Retreat

Alexis — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:23:34 +0000

The placid waters of Lake Minnetonka are home to a spectacular private island retreat with a chequered past and a high-profile new owner.

(Image from Google Earth)

Minneapolis restaurateur Kam Talebi, founder of some of the city’s top gourmet establishments, has reportedly purchased a private island in beautiful Lake Minnetonka. While the selling price has not yet been disclosed, the local media is speculating that it was in the $2 million range.

While photographs of the island show an impressive, sprawling mansion, the reality of the island estate is somewhat more complicated – and poses a challenge that the enterprising new owner has eagerly taken on. The 18,674 sq ft mansion is only half-finished – the construction was abandoned in 2008 when its former owner ran into some serious trouble.

The grand home on the island was the dream of Jeffrey Wirth, a hotel and waterpark magnate who reportedly spent more than $6 million on purchasing the island and the unfinished construction. Last May, Mr. Wirth was sentenced to several years and prison and heavily fined for conspiring to commit tax fraud, the proceeds of which, according to the court, were poured into trips, gifts for family, and the island project.

The abandoned mansion came to be regarded as an eyesore by the wealthy cottagers in the area, who are no doubt happy that a new owner will be putting an end to the project. Listed by local real estate broker Nick Leyendecker at an “as-is” price of just over $2 million, the island needed a seriously determined buyer to take up the task of rebuilding the estate.

(The island’s unfinished mansion)

The listing offered plenty of appeal for the right buyer, however. The island, which connects to an included mainland property via a causeway, could serve as either a luxurious retreat or a primary residence. For Midwesterners with a love of fishing and the outdoors, gorgeous Lake Minnetonka is a sought-after market for both life and play.

A vast natural paradise covering almost 60,000 sq km, the lake has long been a favorite getaway spot for Twin Cities elites. In the peak of the lake’s glory days in the early 20^th century, it attracted wealthy visitors from as far away as the Deep South, and grand mansions and hotels still line its shores.

Whatever challenges lay ahead for the owner in redeveloping the property, the lifestyle it offers would be well worth the work. With his impressive business track record and obvious entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Talebi seems like the right buyer to give the Minnetonka island mansion a new lease on life.

Read more about this story: Lake Minnetonka Patch

UK: A Family’s Story of (Very) Rustic Living on Their Private Islands

Alexis — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:07:33 +0000

The Scotland Isles are known for blustery weather, inhospitable landscapes and remoteness from civilization – what better place to own a set of private islands?

(Image of Home Island by Tony Kinghorn/Geograph.org)

Paradise may come in all forms and places – but takes a truly hardy soul to consider the Shiants, a small group of three islands in the Outer Hebrides, a little slice of heaven. Icy waters, ferocious winds and scarce amenities make visiting the islands a true test of character. The Nicholson family, however, wouldn’t have it any other way.

(Shiant Isles image by Jac Volbeda)

A recent article published in the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper paints an entertaining portrait of the family’s Shiant adventures throughout the generations – the author, noted writer Adam Nicholson, has had the benefit of countless amusing anecdotes from the private islands his family has owned since the 1930’s.

Their little archipelago lies in the chilly Sound of Shiant, between isles of Lewis and Harris. Composed of Garb Eilean, Eilean an Taighe and Eilean Mhiure, Adam describes their 500-odd acres as a place with no good harbour, bereft of any trees, steep beaches without sand, and ultimately, no spot “where it is possible to feel comfy”, he writes.

The only form of comfort on the Shiants is hosted on a flattish piece of waterfront on Eilean an Taighe – also known as Home Island – and according to the author, its comforts are sorely lacking.

Rats are the one form of life that seems to flourish on the island – and the small 19^th century house, restored by his grandfather when he purchased the islands, is each year punctured by more holes for their unfettered entry.

The roof of the two-room house also periodically blows off in the wind, it has lost its door to squalls, and once, Adam writes, he arrived to find the contents of a neighboring beach – dead crabs, seaweed, and cobbles – piled inside the house by a stormy high tide. Lacking even an indoor bathroom, spending any amount of time on the Shiants is challenge. Reading Adam’s account, it would be easy, at first, to get the impression that one would have to be crazy to venture out to those inhospitable isles.

(Cave on Garbh Eilean by Tony Kinghorn)

However, a holiday of blissful ease and relaxation isn’t the point for many private islands owners. On the Shiants, nature most undeniably reigns supreme, and this has been a powerful lesson for generations of children in the Nicholson family. A spirit of adventure pervades every visit, and cultivating self-sufficiency is a necessity.

Surrounded by the epic beauty of wild gray seas, sheer rock cliffs and an incredible abundance of nature, the hardships of Home Island are more than worth the battle, according to Adam. He has now passed the islands on to his eldest son Tom – and the next generation of Nicholsons will experience the wild challenges and pleasures of the Shiants.

Asia: Conservationists Rally to Save the Raya Islands from Destruction

Alexis — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:13:49 +0000

Two islands near Phuket serve as a cautionary tale of how small resort islands can be seriously harmed by a rapid influx of thousands of tourists.

(A popular beach on Raya Yai Island)

Phuket and its surrounding islands have long been known as an ultimate tropical idyll. International backpackers first happened upon this southern province of Thailand’s in the 1970’s, and the last 10 years, it’s become a surprising hotspot for the highest of high-end island resorts.

With each passing year, Phuket and its surroundings lose more of their unexplored territory: real estate prices have shot sky-high as hotel developers have bid for every acre of prime beachfront land. Dozens of major international firms have moved in to capture the luxury end of the market, turning what was once a quiet paradise into a world-class island destination.

Travellers seeking a less commercialized version of southern Thailand have moved beyond the main island of Phuket, out to smaller archipelagos like the coral Raya (Racha) Islands, Yai and Noi, found 12km to the south. Day-trippers staying come out to enjoy the stunning beaches and sparser crowds, and a small handful of resorts cater to overnight visitors.

Raya Noi is completely uninhabited, while Raya Yai has a little community of fishermen and several resorts. Both islands have been in the news as of late – and unfortunately, it’s not for their abundant natural beauty, but problems that have arisen due to their attraction to tourists.

With 500 visitors a day flooding the islands’ beaches in in the low season and up to 2,000 in the busy season, Raya Noi and Raya Yai have been forced to deal with a high volume of tourism – and without the necessary amenities to support it.

(Raya Yai’s beautiful sheltered harbor)

It’s a cautionary tale for small islands anywhere in the world; tourism brings many economic benefits to local residents, but can have a devastating impact on their fragile home. On the Raya Islands, the surrounding waters have become polluted from illegal refuse dumping and hotel effluent, reefs have been damaged by divers, and piles of garbage are littered across once-pristine beaches.

All is not lost for the islands, however. The Raya communities have banded together with Phuket conservationists to form the Raya Yai Island Conservation and Self-Care Club, which is dedicated to regulating tourism and overseeing the environmental management of the islands.

The newly-formed club intends to gain government support, monitor tour groups, and implement a protection plan for the reefs and tropical forests. It has widespread public support, and forms a valuable lesson for any island community facing the same problems – when your home is in danger, often the best solution is to take conservation into your own hands.

Forbidden Islands – A Look At The Work of The Nature Conservancy Part 3

Emma — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 10:00:18 +0000

In the final installment of Private Island News’ three-part special, guest author P.J Ryan – regular columnist at the excellent National Parks Traveler – treats us to an in depth look at the work of The Nature Conservancy – America’ leading conservation organization. Acclaimed for their work to protect ecologically important lands and waters, The Nature Conservancy has now protected more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide, including an array of private islands. This time P.J Ryan explains their role in wildlife conservation:

Image courtesy of www.easternshorevablog.com

A Preserve For Wildlife

That is just fine with the birds. The 40,000-acre reserve supports over 250 species, some nesting, but most as vital resting and feeding stops in migration. The most famous of their migrants are a species of shore bird called the Whimbrel (Curlews), which migrates between the Canadian Arctic and Venezuela, with stops along the way, notably at the Virginia Coast Reserve.

TNC has pioneered in satellite banding, in which a 1.5-gram transmitter is attached to a Whimbrel and you can track them in real time. “Hope,” a female Whimbrel, recently made a 3,200-mile non-stop journey from The Virginia Coastal Reserve to Great Pond on St. Croix in the American Virgin Islands. If you like, you can track the Whimbrels by Googling up Virginia Coastal Reserve and following directions.

So what will be the ultimate fate of this unique private reserve? Well, I don’t know. Perhaps if a rising sea does not take the reserve, the TNC might sell it to the Department of Interior for addition to their nearby Assateague and Chincoteague barrier island holdings. We shall see.

This article originally appeared in the National Parks Traveler on October 17th 2012. Many thanks to the author, PJ Ryan, and the rest of the team at National Parks Traveler for their assistance.

Forbidden Islands – A Look At The Work of The Nature Conservancy Part 2

Emma — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 10:00:22 +0000

In part two of our three-part special, P.J Ryan – author at the excellent National Parks Traveler – treats us to an in depth look at the work of The Nature Conservancy – America’s leading conservation organization. Acclaimed for their work to protect ecologically important lands and waters, The Nature Conservancy has now protected more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide, including an array of private islands. P.J Ryan tells us more:

The Nature Conservancy Owns More Than A Few Islands

The Nature Conservancy Logo appears with thanks to www.nature.org

Today, aside from the islands mentioned, about the only private islands of any size in America are owned by The Nature Conservancy and The Catalina Island Conservancy, which manages that Channel Island and which is open to the public.

What is The Nature Conservancy?

Well, if “The Episcopal Church is the Republican Party at prayer” as some have said, then The Nature Conservancy is the Republican Party at Conservation. Yes, neighbors, there was a time, before the advent of the reverse rapparee Congressman Paul Ryan, the late philosopher Ayn Rand, and, of course, Bishop Romney, when the Republicans were interested in the environment in a positive non greed-head manner.

Republicans such as John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, Steve Mather, Horace Albright, and Russell Train come to mind.

The Nature Conservancy is a remnant and reflection of that time. Wealthy, shrewd, and well-managed; it is the Daddy Warbucks of conservation outfits. It is a rapid response private organization able to do things that the National Park Service and other government agencies are unable to do; that is, to move quickly and scientifically to acquire endangered critical habitat.

The NPS is somewhat hampered in this goal by (a) lack of funds, and (b) a desire on the part of its constituency, the American Public, for spectacular landscapes that tower, thunder, erupt, roar, challenge, awe, or stupefy the taxpayer.

TNC Does “Science,” Not Necessarily “Pretty”

Unfortunately, Nature is not always spectacular, but is still deserving of preservation. This is where The Nature Conservancy comes in. “We don’t do pretty,” said one TNC biologist, “We do science.”

For example, TNC was able to purchase the 350,000-acre Gray Ranch in the boot-heel country of New Mexico and thus prevent the previous owner from subdividing it into 20-acre “ranchettes,” something which would have destroyed the ecological integrity of the ranch. Three years later, TNC sold the ranch to Drummond Hadley, the world’s only wealthy cowboy poet, who agreed to legally binding environmental easements that prevented the ranch from being subdivided and sees that it is operated as a working cattle ranch in a sustainable manner, with all biomes intact.

Through a masterful series of real estate deals, TNC was able to acquire and preserve most of the Virginia Barrier islands, some 14 islands in all, off the Virginia coast of the Delmarva peninsula that makes up the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay.

While only four of the 14 TNC islands are forbidden or off limits to the general public for a variety of reasons, the other ten islands are hard to access unless you have your own boat.

However, twice a year, usually in early spring or late fall to avoid the bugs, TNC would offer a weekend visit to 14 TNC members on a first-come, first-served basis. Understandably, these slots fill quickly. It is not quite as competitive as getting a berth at Great Smoky Mountain’s Le Conte Lodge, or a slot on Wupatki’s Hole in the Rock Ruin Hike, but one must persevere. We were successful.

TNC’s Virginia Coastal Reserve Weekend starts at their headquarters on the mainland opposite Hog Island. TNC has its own bed-and-breakfast; the historic 1806 plantation headquarters Brownsville House. The 1,250-acre plantation has been in the same family since 1682 until its purchase by TNC in the 1960s. Although the plantation grew and shipped corn, it was perhaps most famous for an unusual crop—castor oil, used as a lubricant and in paints.

TNC selects its staff carefully, pays them well and treats them well and morale is correspondingly high. Mary Catherine was the liaison lady during the weekend and charmingly saw to everyone’s needs.

The Reserve’s chief scientist, Barry Truitt, was a large, extroverted “salt water cowboy” type who could answer any question, biological or historical, as he had grown up on or about the Virginia Barrier Islands. He was also the Reserve’s boat handler, taking us across the choppy 6-mile wide Hog Island Bay to Hog Island.

Since European settlement on the Virginia Barrier Islands dates back to the 17th century, the area is rich in history. The pirate Blackbeard careened his ship in one of the tidal creeks on Smith Island, now a TNC property.

I asked Barry if he ever found buried treasure.

“Oh, yes!” he laughed, one hand on the wheel. I thought he was kidding. He wasn’t.

His practiced biologist eye had noted a strange pattern in the dune grass on Hog Island. The Coast Guard was summoned. They dug up 1,000 kilos of hashish, neatly wrapped in plastic with a street value of upwards of $6 million dollars, deposited by a present-day Blackbeard.

“The main thing to realize is that the barrier islands are what we call, ‘high speed real estate,’” said Barry as we stepped ashore on Hog Island. “The islands change shape year to year and even day to day. It has taken planners and realtors an incredibly long time to realize this. You enjoy these islands for what they are, a dynamic fluid ecosystem, but you do NOT put permanent infrastructure on them.”

This article originally appeared in the National Parks Traveler on October 17th 2012. Many thanks to the author, PJ Ryan, and the rest of the team at National Parks Traveler for their assistance.