Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:33 pm
yes, that is all correct. The Park management made an agreement, or so they thought, and accepted certain trails, effectively granting amnesty in exchange for not prosecuting. Bob Garrison, after his major legal problems in his home state of New Hampshire became more cautious about his VINP activities--which also included cutting through private property here on island. The new cutting projects were taken over by others, and the publicity was assumed by a tourist website that you are probably familiar with.
In the past two years, trails have been hacked and herbicide applied through some of the most pristine vegetation in the entire Caribbean. A federally listed Endangered plant has been cut, as well as a shrub with a known global population restricted to 2 tiny areas on the south shore of St. John. Ruins in remote spots that still had quantities of artifacts on the surface have had trails cut to them, and those artifacts have disappeared within months.
In the past two years, trails have been hacked and herbicide applied through some of the most pristine vegetation in the entire Caribbean. A federally listed Endangered plant has been cut, as well as a shrub with a known global population restricted to 2 tiny areas on the south shore of St. John. Ruins in remote spots that still had quantities of artifacts on the surface have had trails cut to them, and those artifacts have disappeared within months.
The totally unsanctioned trails are only mapped on a website run by a friend of the perpetrators.