Department of
Planning & Natural Resources
Department of
Planning & Natural Resources
In the northwest corner of St. Croix, the rugged coastline of Annaly Bay rises to the peaks of Maroon Ridge. This landscape once sheltered Maroons who escaped enslavement and built hidden communities amongst the steep cliffsides. Today, it stands as the island’s largest intact forest, home to several rare and endangered marine and terrestrial life.
On August 15, 2025 the Department closed on 2,469 acres of this land including 1.8 miles of coastline. These properties are now permanently protected these properties which will be managed by DPNR’s Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas. This achievement was made possible with the support of several community leaders and partners like the Trust for Virgin Islands Lands and the Trust for Public Land.
More details on this monumental achievement are coming soon. In the meantime, explore Olasee Davis’ op-ed in the St. Thomas Source to learn about the decades-long effort that made it possible.
