the Antilles. Also, certain species can be used in hair creams, allegedly favouring a fast regrowth and nutrition of hair. The seeds are also used as a spice to perfume dishes. The exploitation of pimenta is assured by the association "Le Mapou" at Terre-de-Bas island, in the medicinal garden "Éloit Germain". The aridity allowed the establishment of colonies of very diversified cacti and succulents, which the most remarkable are: Ceroid cacti prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Melocactus - which are on the logo of the Tourist information office of the archipelago. Aloe The dry ground of the hills is strewn with herbaceous plants, sometimes composed by urticant lianas (Acalypha arvensis), cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa), Croton balsamifer, philodendron and fabaceaes (trees with toxic or edible seeds), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), sword beans (Canavalia gladiata), Senna alexandrina, margosa or bitter melon (Momordica charantia), Caesalpinia ciliatea, Caesalpinia bonduc (from which children make balls), rosary pea (Abrus precatorius), castor oil plant (Ricinus communis - used in the local small business sector). The seaside has a vegetation of: Yellow, green or orange huge coconut palms Baygrape (Coccoloba uvifera) Portia tree (Thespesia populnea) Paradise plum (Chrysobalanus icaco) Muricife (creole term), a variety of edible West Indian olive that has almost disappeared from beaches Three rare species of orchid grow naturally in the archipelago and are the object of a severe protection: Fringed star orchid (Epidendrum ciliare) Tolumnia urophylla Brassavola cucullata - more rare; endangered on les Saintes Numerous walking tours were established by the Conservatoire du Littoral through the forest, in such a way to allow observation of these natural resources, the historic ruins of the fortifications, and the exceptional panoramas offered by les Saintes to its visitors. The sand of the beaches is dominantly white or golden, although some zones of black sand remain under the white sand. On the semi-submerged rocks, crabs can be found: Ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata), hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus), Sally lightfoot (Grapsus grapsus). Environmental and energy policy Numerous things are done to protect this fragile ecosystem at international, national, departmental and municipal level. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) listed several sites of the archipelago and categorised their degree of protection according to the current classification. So, several sites are registered in category IV, as defined by the non-governmental organisation. During the 1990s, most of the beaches and hills of the archipelago were listed under a