(a) The Government of the Virgin Islands declares its intent to ensure that the unique habitats and ecosystems and cultural and historical resources including, underwater archeological resources of the Virgin Islands are not entirely destroyed by development pressures and are preserved, protected, maintained and used for the long-term benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. To fulfill this mandate, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources in conjunction with the Board of Trustees shall formulate and execute a long-range, comprehensive conservation plan and program to acquire, maintain, preserve and protect, where appropriate, privately and publicly-owned properties that are suitable for development as parks or protected areas; and by operating a territory-wide system of terrestrial and marine parks and recreation programs for the cultural, educational, recreational, environmental, and economic benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands known as “The Territorial Parks System”. The park areas developed in furtherance of these activities must be marketed and be suitable for such outdoor leisure activities as camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, environmental education, sightseeing, boating, fishing, swimming, or other similar outdoor recreational activities for both residents of the Territory and visitors alike.
(b) There is created within the Department of Planning and Natural Resources a Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas. The Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources shall employ a Director of such Division who shall be designated Director of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas, and shall employ such other persons as may be necessary to efficiently administer the provisions of this chapter. The compensation of the Director and other employees of the Division shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of chapter 25 of Title 3 of this Code. The Director of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas shall perform such duties as may be assigned him by the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources.
(c) It shall be the duty of the Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas to supervise, administer, manage, regulate and control the use and operation of all public parks, lands for public recreation, marine parks, and such others as may be designated by regulations by the Commissioner, including but not limited to beaches within the coastal zone as defined in Title 12, chapter 21 of this Code, that either are owned by or which may be acquired by the Government of the Virgin Islands, or to the operation, development, preservation or maintenance of which the Government may have made or may make contribution or appropriation of public funds, with the exception of those lands managed by another entity, authority, foundation, organization, or government instrumentally under applicable law and the neighborhood parks or recreation areas that are primarily designed to provide facilities for team, recreational or individual sports which are managed by the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation.
(d) The Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas shall identify, supervise, administer, manage, regulate and control the use and operation of all public campgrounds, natural areas, scenic waysides, historic sites, recreational trails, monuments, marine parks, and such other sites classified as “Protected Areas” that constitute the Territorial Parks System, as may be designated as such through regulations promulgated by the Commissioner.
(e) The Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas shall work in partnership and collaboration with community-based organizations, private philanthropic organizations, and other organizations, entities and individuals to invest in, maintain, preserve and protect areas identified as constituting the Territorial Parks System and to develop the long-range comprehensive conservation plan and program under subsection (a) of this section.
(f) The Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas shall work in cooperation and collaboration with the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation and the Department of Tourism to market, promote, maintain, preserve, and protect the Territorial Parks System.
(g) The comprehensive plan must be adopted within 180 days following the first meeting of a fully constituted board. The plan must be made available to the public for 30 days for review and comment before it is adopted.