Geographic Consulting partners with a a renewable energy company to survey endangered plants

 

Geographic Consulting has recently partnered with Tibbar Energy to further our survey and mapping activity on the federally endangered plants. Our previous work was summarized in this publication for the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources.  This most recent project focused on the tropical lilythorn (Catesbaea melanocarpa). Tibbar is a renewable energy company that is planning the development of a biomass facility on St. Croix to produce energy for WAPA and was featured in a recent Wall Street Journal article

 

 

 

 

The biomass will come from the giant king grass and the resulting biomass can be used to generate electricity and other products. Tibbar is expanding their king grass nursery on the south shore near Ha’ Penny Beach. Thanks to surveys conducted by Geographic Consulting for VI-DPNR earlier this year, Tibbar knew that the only known population on the endangered tropical lilythorn (C.  melanocarpa) on St. Croix was nearby, so they called the endangered species and mapping specialists at Geographic Consulting.

 

During our surveys of the proposed area of expansion, we found several previously undiscovered plants. With the maps we created, Tibbar was able to alter their development plans without having to abandon the area and ensure the protection of this rare plant. We are pleased to provide this important endangered species survey service for environmentally responsible companies like Tibbar and others when they propose development or land clearing in the Virgin Islands.