Outlook Estate Bakkero Response From Rukiya Andrews Date Thu 1/8/2026 1:21 PM To Leia LaPlace 1 attachment (332 KB) Virgin Islands Tree Boa Site Clearance Protocol 2025.pdf; Good Afternoon, See my response for Estate Bakkero Below. DFW VI Tree Boa Protocols attached. The Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) is mandated to “protect, conserve, and manage indigenous fish, wildlife and plants, and endangered or threatened species for the ultimate benefit of all Virgin Islanders, now and in the future” by Virgin Islands Code Title 12, Chapter 2, Subsection 101. This act ensures protection for all fish and wildlife indigenous to the Virgin Islands and within its geopolitical boundaries.  The DFW team reviewed the proposed plans to rezone parcels: 1-68-A, 1-68-1, 1-68-2, 1-68-3, 1-68-4 (1-61-4), and 1-68 Remainder Estate Bakkero, No. 5 Frenchman Bay Quarter, St. Thomas. Our database shows that there is a riverine south of the project, according to the National Wetlands Mapper, and the VI Tree Boa and Calyptranthes thomasiana were noted by the federal IPAC system. Given the possibility of runoff and other harmful substances falling into the gut, DFW suggests that a SWPP be required and reviewed by necessary DPNR departments, if the rezoning is allowed. We suggest a flora and fauna survey for the Calyptranthes thomasiana and will send the VI Tree Boa protocols to necessary parties to be followed by the developers and other project staff. The project staff explained that while the rezoning is for all plots listed above, the actual project development will be conducted on 1-68 and 1-68-4 (1-61-4), while the other plots will remain as green space. We support the decision to maintain already existing green spaces. During the public hearing, developers mentioned that there were plans to use Areca palms (non-native palms from Asia) to assist with noise buffering (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca). We suggest  Puerto Rican Palms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabal_causiarum) as a more acceptable and environmentally friendly alternative. Please feel free to contact me if clarification is needed for any part of this response. Best Regards, Rukiya Andrews Special Projects Coordinator, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Government of the Virgin Islands. Email: rukiya.andrews@dpnr.vi.gov 1/9/26, 7:54 AM Mail - Leia LaPlace - Outlook https://outlook.office.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGNhY2Q3NDY2LTRhMmYtNGQ3Ni1iMzFlLWYxOTJiMGFmMzI5NgAQAK%2Fw0xDlVt5BnyUR0NkeR… 1/2 Website: https://dpnr.vi.gov/fish-and-wildlife/   The information contained in this communication, and in any accompanying documents, may constitute confidential or proprietary. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, then you may not disclose, print, copy, or disseminate this information, nor take any action in reliance on this information. If you have received this communication in error, please reply and notify the sender (only) and then delete the message. Unauthorized interception of e-mail communications is a violation of federal criminal law. 1/9/26, 7:54 AM Mail - Leia LaPlace - Outlook https://outlook.office.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGNhY2Q3NDY2LTRhMmYtNGQ3Ni1iMzFlLWYxOTJiMGFmMzI5NgAQAK%2Fw0xDlVt5BnyUR0NkeR… 2/2