Foreword

The idea for this Action Plan was originally conceived at an international workshop on the biology of West Indian iguanas carried out in conjunction with the IUCN/CBSG Population and Habitat Viability Analysis for the Jamaican Iguana. Held in Kingston in 1993, the workshop was attended by field biologists, academic researchers, zoo managers, and government policy makers from throughout the West Indies and abroad. This represented the first time that so many professionals with a strong interest in the survival of West Indian iguanas had gathered to share their expertise and concerns. As such, it proved to be a valuable forum for beginning to identify and prioritize the conservation needs of this unique group of lizards.

Much of the background information for this first edition of the Action Plan was initially compiled for use in the IUCN/CBSG Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for Iguanid and Varanid lizards (Hudson et al. 1994). Since the CAMP results were published five years ago, this material has been substantially expanded and updated. Regional development and related habitat disturbance are progressing so rapidly that status estimations for some of the taxa involved are constantly changing. In light of this, the present edition of the Action Plan should be considered a starting point for an evolving process of reassessment and continuing evaluation. As new information becomes available, interested parties are strongly encouraged to contact the Co-Chairs of the IUCN/SSC West Indian Iguana Specialist Group to ensure that subsequent drafts remain as accurate and comprehensive as possible.