Like other island nations, Antigua and Barbuda faces unique environmental issues created by its proximity to the ocean, and small size.
These include pressures on drinking water resources, natural ecosystems, and deforestation more generally.
Existing issues on the island are further made worse by climate change, where, not unlike other island nations affected by climate change, sea level rise and increased weather variability, create increased pressures on the communities on the islands and the land, through processes like coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion.
[1] Not only do these issues threaten the residents of the island, but also interfere with the economy – where tourism is 80% of the GDP.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Antigua and Barbuda has some 209 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre.