Bahamas National Trust Strategic Plan 2013 – 2017

Strategic Plan 2013-2017 BAHAMAS NATIONAL TRUST Strategic cover.indd 1 4/11/13 2:04 PM The Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 Managing National Parks Preserving Our Future 2 Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 3 4 The lasting pleasures of contact with the natural world are not reserved for scientists but are available to anyone who will place himself under the influence of earth, sea and sky and their amazing life. —Rachael Carson, Silent Spring Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 5 Vision, Mission & Values Vision: A comprehensive system of national parks and protected areas, with every Bahamian embracing environmental stewardship Mission: To conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas, through stewardship and education for present and future generations Values: 6 Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 7 Introduction For more than half a century, The Bahamas National Trust has protected and managed designated land and sea areas of natural or historic interest for the benefit of Bahamians. on development, biodiversity, and heritage issues and policies. to protect natural habitats and open space is more urgent today than ever before. The revised Bahamas National Trust Act was unanimously approved by parliament and plays a key role in helping to achieve our conservation goals, by providing for more effective management of more than a million acres of land and sea territory. Most significantly, the BNT is now fully empowered to prohibit or regulate eas throughout The Bahamas. tions to achieve our conservation goals through the implementation of six will be accompanied by science, community outreach, and environmental education, and will benefit from environmental advocacy. plementation of the core programmes. These work programmes are derived from an analysis of our strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, as well as the threats identified during the strategic planning process. 8 2013 – 2017 Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives GOAL 1: Expand and effectively manage an ecologically representative national parks system. ncorporate and effectively manage an ecologically representative national parks system stablish management plans and park policies for all existing national parks for all national parks GOAL 2: Use scientific and traditional knowledge as the foundation to protect globally and nationally important biodiversity throughout The Bahamas. ncorporate key species and ecosystems protection, including action to reduce/ eliminate exotic species into the national park management planning process dentify and promote conservation interventions to protect at least three priority species located outside national park boundaries, such as conservation forests and locally managed marine areas onduct a biennial natural history symposium GOAL 3: Engage the Bahamian public in national park and protected area management and environmental stewardship. stablish partnerships to assist with park management throughout the islands of The Bahamas mplement national awareness campaigns for three priority conservation species Foster youth leadership in environmental conservation by expanding the Discovery a programme designed around national park management GOAL 4: Enhance The Bahamas National Trust’s position as the national leader on envi ronmental education and best practices. A Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 9 conservation pin programme that supports the national park system Deliver nationally and culturally relevant training and materials t emphasis on environmental education and priority ecosystems stablish demonstration programmes to showcase environmental best p GOAL 5: Continue to serve as a national advisor on balancing economic develop ment with natural resource management Strengthen relationships with government agencies and enhance consultation o ollaborate with, and encourage stakeholder participation on, critical en lo GOAL 6: Enhance and diversify financing mechanisms to support the Bahamas National Trust’s ongoing national park initiatives and future growth. lo G through user fees GOAL 7: Ensure The Bahamas National Trust’s organizational structure supports good governance, transparency, accountability and efficient and effective management for future growth. Guarantee appropriate oversight and institutional governance through the B mplement a comprehensive human resource programme, focusing on staff recruitment, career development and training 10 Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 11 How We Work Top left: Students from around the country learn about the ecology of ceived rave reviews from those who have taken part. Andros is home to five national parks and provides the ideal location for students to explore the Bahamian marine and terrestrial environment. Top right: ronmental projects around the world. Centre left: on reefs for their livelihood. The goods and services that reefs provide have Centre right: Bottom: 12 Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 13 Financial Outlook 2013-2017 The financial climate that prevailed over our last strategic plan presented significant challenges for vate sectors were affected. As a consequence, we fell somewhat short of our fundraising goals, and were therefore challenged to allowing us to execute many of our plans. Our staff remained resourceful; the high quality of executed programmes meant that we were yet able to achieve many successes. our efforts to engage public support through memberships and general donations. We will also deepen from our national parks will continue to fund our conservation work. viding annual audited financial statements that are widely circulated. 2013-2017 Financial Projections Anticipated Expenditure Endowment Growth $ 12,000,000 Programmatic Activities 20,000,000 Total Expenditures $ 32,000,000 Anticipated Revenues Government Grant 5,000,000 Earned Revenue and Secured Programme Funding 4,500,000 Endowment Fund Income 500,000 Total Revenues $ 10,000,000 Net Fundraising Goal $ 22,000,000 14 Adaptive Management of Natural Resources A concept that accounts for uncertainty in the way ecosystems respond to human intervention. Since our understanding of nature is imperfect, attempts to manage nature must be experimental. Adaptive management is a structured process of decision-making aimed at reducing uncertainty over time via system monitoring. The reward is improvement of long-run management outcomes, while the challenge is finding a balance between gaining new knowledge and achieving short-term results based on current knowledge. Adaptive management promotes shared understanding of ecosystems by stakeholders, scientists, policymakers, and managers. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 15 Conservation Strategies fine and shape our strategy and programme of work for the upcoming five years. umental environmental and conservation challenges facing the BNT, the country as a whole, and the world in which we live. Over the next five years Building an Ecologically Representative National Park System Protecting Globally and Nationally Important Biodiversity Expanding Public Participation in Environmental Stewardship Promoting Environmentally Friendly Practices Balancing Development with Resource Management The overarching goal is to integrate our work into the culture and life of as mechanisms to support our work and build our capacity to face the future. 16 Many more improvements are planned over the next five years to develop infrastructure, support ecotourism entrepreneurs, and expand nature-oriented activities for visitors and residents. 1. Observation tower at Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve 2. Boardwalk, Lucayan National Park 3. Boardwalk, Harrold & Wilson Pond National Park 4. Observation deck, Blue Hole National Park, Andros 1 2 3 4 Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 17 AN ECOLOGICALLY REPRESENTATIVE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM compass nearly two million acres of pine and coppice forest, blue holes, coral reefs and tidal flamingos, iguanas, and an abundance of marine species. to integrate our parks into the culture and life of as many Bahamians as possible. The distinct Bahamian environment gives rise to numerous irreplaceable habitats and species. There are vast stretches of pine forest, tidal flats with schools of bonefish, extensive barrier reefs, the highest concentration of blue holes in the western hemisphere, and critical marine wetlands that contribute to fisheries throughout the region. cies found in The Bahamas are the Bahama emn commitment to meet conservation targets logically representative national protected area system. The most pervasive and destructive threats to this national protected area system over the next five opulation growth and infrastructure development. nadequate environmental management policies. 3. of habitat due to sea level rise. 4. ntroduction of exotic or invasive plant and animal species. nappropriate tourism or commercial development near parks. To address these threats, the BNT has evaluated 2EVHUYDWLRQ�GHFN��%RQHÀVK�3RQG��1HZ�3URYLGHQFH� Students use Harrold & Wilson Ponds National Park as an outdoor classroom. Healthy ecosystems are key to a sustainable economy, and protected areas are an important tool to maintain healthy ecosystems. Global estimates of coral reef net value are on the order of half a million dollars per square kilometre per year, while the man agement costs of marine protected areas can be less than $800 per square kilometre per year - a pretty good bargain. Coral reefs in the Caribbean generated net revenues of $2 billion in 2000 from dive tourism alone. Reef fisheries are esti mated to be worth as much as $150,000 per square kilometre per year. Bahamian reefs account for roughly 5 per cent of the world total, surpassing that of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Recent studies demonstrate that ecosystems on Andros are worth about $260 million a year - 5 per cent derived from forests, 23 per cent from wetlands and 7 per cent from reefs. Commercial fishing (including crabbing and sponging) gener ates $70 million a year, while tourism produces $43.6 million. The long-term impact of depleting these resources will affect everyone’s livelihood, so their future security should be ad dressed by protecting forests, reefs, creeks, crabs and bonefish. The bottom line is that a fine balance must be struck between enabling development and protecting heritage. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, created in 1959, was the first of its kind in the world. In 2009 this park generated some $9 million, directly supporting over 100 jobs and almost 20,000 visitors. With secondary impacts, the net economic value was in the range of $12-20 million in 2009 - or as much as $374 million over the next 25 years. The 11-acre Retreat Garden is the site of the BNT headquar ters, and one of the few large green spaces left in the city of Nassau. The direct economic impact of the Retreat was more than half a million dollars in 2009 (almost two thirds of which was captured by the BNT itself). Taking into account secondary impacts, the total economic impact over the next 25 years is estimated at $10 million. The Retreat is the only BNT park to generate a large profit, and its full revenue potential has yet to be reached. Economic Value of Protected Areas Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 19 the current level of protection for major habitats and species throughout the country. From this extensive analysis, new priority areas have been identified for national park status. These include biodiversity hotspots on San Salvador and extensive areas on Grand Bahama, specific habitat for the endangered Bahama Oriole as an important network of mangrove wetlands on Abaco. The BNT will work with key stakeholders to develop and implement management plans for financing will be incorporated into the overall planning process. An effective monitoring and evaluation system is key to protected area management. Our new Science Division will incorporate conservation goals for key species and ecosystems into park management plans. Knowledge gained from the monitoring process will be applied using adaptive management techniques. management plan and regulations, formulated with input from local communities and stakeholders. The goal of each plan is to balance the needs of local communities with preservation of the surrounding environment. huge advantages to nearby communities. They incorporate significant recreational opportunities The BNT has invested millions of dollars to improve accessibility and upgrade the visitor experience at key national parks on New These improvements include boardwalks, interpretive signage, publications, moorings, and a native plant preserve that is unique to the region biodiversity while using the parks as outdoor classrooms and recreational destinations. Many more improvements are planned over the next five years to develop infrastructure, support oriented activities for visitors and residents. Wildlife viewing trails and visitor centres are for visitors, and we will continue to improve Endangered Piping Plover 20 Guided by Science At The Bahamas National Trust, our conservation decisions are guided by our science-based approach. This approach uses scientifically rigorous surveying techniques to collect data per taining to the distribution and status of key species, habitat condition and the identification of current and future threats. These ecological assessments enable The Bahamas National Trust to identify conservation gaps and establish priorities for protection. To effectively manage our resources, it requires an understand ing of what exists. Here at the BNT, we collaborate with nu merous scientists and partners to gain the knowledge required to make informed decisions. Before any recommendations are made to the government to have an area protected under our National Park System, the first step in the process is to conduct a Rapid Ecological Assessment, also known as an REA. This process is rigorous but a necessary one to determine the overall ecological importance of an area and its conservation value in addition to the identification of proposed boundaries for the government’s consideration. More importantly, the data collect ed provides a baseline for which future monitoring can be con ducted to determine changes in both habitats and important species. Supporting our work, we have a Science Advisory Committee of more than 40 Bahamian and international academic and public agency scientists. The mandate of this group of highly skilled scientists is to advise BNT on conservation issues from a scientific perspective. Through this group, BNT has access to the best science and scientists in areas critical to future conserva tion efforts, to guide us towards sound strategic decisions. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 21 PROPOSED NATIONAL PARKS The Bahamas government has pledged to preserve cent of Bahamian land area is currently protected, ternational obligations. Moriah Harbour Cay National Park but the finalised lease covered an area that was logical support of important species. West New Providence Marine Managed Area west to include the area known as Shark Arena/ the health of coral reefs and protect important marine species while permitting sustainable fishing, tourism, transport and development. ment areas for the offshore reefs of this proposed park. East Abaco Creeks National Park by incompatible development pressures. The en sity network of blue holes, which contributes to the health of the overlying ecosystem. The creeks are important nursery habitats for marine species, ties and ecotourism. South Abaco Blue Holes Conservation Area ries of blue holes and underwater caves located preserve the unique lifeforms and historical data derwater passages. Snake Cay area of Abaco. 22 Tourism and National Parks With over two million annual cruise visitors to New Providence and 775,000 to Grand Bahama, there is a rising demand for quality nature tourism experiences that can benefit both the BNT (through user fees, etc) and local communities (through tours, concessions, etc). We are working with the Ministry of Tourism to train eco-tour guides, and will strengthen this partnership by developing and marketing park visitation experiences. We will also build on the ‘Parks Pal Experience’ developed with Bahamas Ferries, which has introduced thousands of New Providence schoolchildren to Blue Hole National Park on Andros. As we develop new partnerships, we will work closely with local communities and tourism providers to manage the negative impacts of tourism and promote sustainable use of our natural resources. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 23 Grand Bahama Several new protected areas have been proposed for Grand Bahama, to meet national conservation goals for key habitats and biodiversity hotspots remaining karst cave system to the north, as well as a portion of the offshore reef. The North shore/ Gap area will protect prime bonefish habitats, is proposed for protection, the archipelago of cays panded to incorporate offshore seagrass meadows and reef formations. San Salvador National Park Four areas on this island will be protected. contains the most extensive seagrass meadow nas and large colonies of seabirds. The creek and the offshore waters are important nursery areas. tant visitor attractions. Joulter Cays National Park corporate a large intertidal to shallow subtidal area of sand flats, fringed by roosting habitats for shorebirds and a ridge of vegetated islands. Other islets are scattered among the sand flats. This is an important fishing ground for communities on Andros, as well as a wintering habitat for the Bahamian rock iguana. Reddish egret. 24 The problem with Conch The BNT is working with the non-profit group, Community Conch, and with the Department of Marine Resources over the last three years to research our conch fishery. A summary of the current state of knowledge of Bahamian conch resources and management options submitted to the government in 2011 contained the following conclusions: Conch densities are decreasing in commercially fished areas to levels that will not sustain the populations. Fishing grounds in Abaco, Berry Islands, Andros and Lee Stocking Island all show evidence of collapsing populations. Conch densities at the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park study area have decreased 35 per cent over the last two decades. Although the park protects existing conch, there is not sufficient recruitment from outside the protected area to maintain conch populations within the park, and further decline is expected without new fishery manage ment policies. for reproduction, and they are being harvested before sexual maturity. Experience in Florida and elsewhere in the region show that recovery of conch populations is slow after populations fall below those thresholds. Mexico, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas have not been able to rebuild stocks. Due to the ecological, economic and cultural importance of this species, the BNT has joined key stakeholders to advocate new management and enforcement policies and create wider pub lic awareness of the issues in order to ensure a sustainable fishery for this iconic species. The campaign, while focused on conch, will address the need for sustainable management of other aggregatory species such as Grouper, Mutton fish and Lane Snapper. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 25 PROTECTING GLOBALLY AND NATIONALLY IMPORTANT BIODIVERSITY The Bahamas faces significant challenges to conser vation and sustainability. Fishery stocks are begin ning to decline, and invasive species are increasingly evident throughout the islands. For example, conch and grouper are both culturally important foods for Bahamians. But populations are falling here while both are already commercially extinct elsewhere in the region. The BNT is working to build a network of marine protected areas over the next five years as a key goal of marine conservation. The sustainability of our marine resources is an ur gent consideration for policymakers and fishermen alike. These challenges must be addressed holistical ly and strategically through enhanced collaboration w ment agencies to bring about a substantive change in behaviour in the harvesting of these resources. Iguana being tagged on Andros.Bahama Oriole. We will seek to build support for new fisheries regu lations to protect our declining populations of conch, grouper and other aggregatory marine species. This is a vitally important task. Two types of forest are present in The Bahamas. The dry broadleaf evergreen forest known as coppice is by far the most diverse terrestrial habitat found in Pinus caribea var. baha mensis These two forest habitats provide breeding and for aging grounds for a large number of bird species, as w Cyclura cychlura for key species, which use components of each for food and shelter. 26 Birds and Biodiversity Birds are one of the best-known and most highly valued groups of animals, and over 300 species have been recorded in The Bahamas. One hundred and nine species breed on the islands. The others are migrants that pass through or winter here. Some 45 are vagrants that have occurred only a few times each. The Bahama Oriole ( ) is one of the rarest birds in the Caribbean. It is found only on Andros, and the population is in decline. The Bahama Yellowthroat (Geothlypis rostrata) and Bahama Swallow (Tachycineta cyaneoviridis) are endemic to cer tain islands. The Brace’s Emerald was a national endemic, but is now extinct. There are 43 Important Bird Areas in The Bahamas, which are international priorities for bird conservation. They include nine BNT-managed protected areas, but only two of these areas are protected in their entirety. Seven are partly protected, while 30 cur rently have no legal protection. Significant populations of key bird species are found in two or more IBAs. Also, as the IBAs are almost evenly split between the north ern, central and southern Bahamas, there is good geographic representation for most species (where this is possible) throughout the archipelago. For sheer numbers, both the North Atlantic Abaco Cays IBA and the Cay Sal IBA stand out as supporting the largest numbers of seabirds, while the Great Inagua IBA is home to the largest congregation of waterbirds. Important Bird Areas are priorities for protec tion and incorporation into the national park system. The impact of protection can be clearly seen in the survival of our national bird - the West Indian Flamingo. In the early years of the 20th century this bird was on the edge of extinction throughout the region due to indiscriminate hunting, the depredations of invasive species, and disturbance of habitat. Scientists persuaded The Bahamas to ban hunting and establish reserves to help stem the decline, but there were only a few thou sand flamingos left when the BNT assumed responsibility for con servation in the 1950s. Lake Rosa, a huge wetland in the centre of Inagua that was the fla mingo’s last refuge, was incorporated into a 184,000-acre national park in 1965, and this proved to be the tipping point. Today, there are more than 60,000 flamingos and they have begun to breed again on other Bahamian islands.The Bahama Parrot Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 27 ly manage protected areas it is necessary to under stand the local ecology, as well as the expectations and demands of visitors. The role of research is to solve problems arising from the ongoing management of protected areas. protected area achieves its conservation goals under locations for international research and monitoring mental change. n areas that protect necessary habitat for endan gered or threatened species, special management plans are put in place which speak to the monitoring of specific populations and set conservation goals for each species. These plans also cover enforcement of wildlife regulations and seek to set recovery goals for endangered species. The BNT Science Division will evaluate the extinc tion risk of Bahamian species and subspecies in or der to convey the urgency of conservation issues that affect these species to the public and policymakers. island species and drawing attention to our threat ened biodiversity is important if we are to influence n Some species are vital to an ecosystem and its proper functioning. These species are referred to as key an ecosystem, the result can be the virtual or actual disappearance of other species. Keystone species can include predators that help to maintain levels of prey, or pollinators like bees and bats that help plants to reproduce. Keystone species should be given priority in conservation efforts. versity, priority may be given to ecosystems that con tain many species, that contain species which occur nowhere else, that are representative samples of ma jor or rare ecosystems, or that contain large numbers of genetic lineages of economic value. species survival can be protected. Sometimes impor coverage and create functional ecological corridors, plored. The BNT will work with landowners to create private protected areas and conservation easements. communities to restore critical habitats that would support endangered species as well as provide habitat for important commercial species. An example of this would be mangrove wetland restoration. These highly productive ecosystems act as nurseries for fishery spe cies such as conch, crawfish and grouper. *RYHUQPHQW�DQG�FRQVHUYDWLRQLVWV�MRLQHG�WR�EDQ�VKDUN�ÀVKLQJ�WKURXJKRXW�7KH�%DKDPDV� 28 Summer Camps Teach Ecology Week-long safari camps for younger children are held annually on islands where national parks are located. Activities are environmentally themed and include guided visits to the parks. The BNT runs the Bahamas Eco Camp for 13- to 15-year-olds annually on the island of Andros. The camp encourages a deeper appreciation for the natural environment and a commitment to conservation and sustainable development. These camps provide immersion experiences for students in all of the Bahamian ecosystems – coral reefs, mangrove wetlands, rocky and sandy shores, coppice and pine forests. Eco camps are coordinated with the Bahamas Hotel Association, the Ministry of Tourism and corporate sponsors. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 29 EXPANDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP the floral and faunal biodiversity of The Bahamas by protecting habitats in these natural areas. tunities and important ecosystem services such as water catchment, soil stability, pollination of economic species, and nurseries for commercial marine species. Overall, national parks are an important resource for scientists, educators and the community due to the variety of aesthetic, recreational and economic uses they offer. They help to mitigate human impacts by protecting natural areas that provide food and shelter to important animals and plants. of our national parks is critical to help overcome threats from overfishing, habitat destruction, development, pollution and climate change. port of national conservation programmes and policies. vides an avenue for BNT members and corporate and fundraising activities, or serve as volunteer visitor guides. of endangered species, the removal of invasives, or the creation of new protected areas, offer further opportunities for environmental stewardship. Fostering youth leadership has always been a key goal of the BNT. Our educational programmes Volunteers help clear trash and invasives, build trails and boardwalks at our na tional parks. 30 Discovery Club Spotlight: Nassau Christian Academy Nassau Christian Academy launched a Discovery Club in 2008 with a dozen members. Today the club has mushroomed to 60 members led by an energetic teacher named Lethera Bodie, who stimulates interest with an array of field trips to local destinations like the Retreat Gardens, Rocky Farms and the Maillis Farm. Meetings are held every Friday afternoon. Among the badges that Discovery Club members work to acquire are the Bugs badge, the Flora badge and the Endangered Species badge. Discovery Clubs offering a fun outdoor learning environment, combined with enthusiastic teachers who love nature and thrive on the excitement of their students are key ingredients for successful environmental education. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 31 a members acquire the knowledge, values and skills needed to generate respect for nature, people and history. They promote the ideals of community service, outdoor learning and environmental stewardship. ism and the environmental sector. Members participate in BNT events and are encouraged to churches. reach with scientific data collection. By involving volunteers directly in the monitoring and active management of national parks, the BNT seeks to create a source of information that will lead to positive and measurable impacts on biodiversity. event has become an international activity, and the data gathered show trends in bird populations The goal is to support a local monitoring initiative to record wintering shorebirds in The Bahamas, most endangered shorebirds in North America. dence suggests that their survival depends in large part on the health of their winter habitats, such as The Bahamas. Sustained monitoring of important coastal wetlands will identify changes in the environment that could negatively affect this species and help spread local awareness about other threatened wildlife. Shorebirds forage in coastal areas in many of our national parks. The BNT is working on shorebird educational initiatives with National Audubon on Andros. 32 The Nassau grouper—threatened throughout its regional range. We generate our own environment. We get exactly what we deserve. Who’s to blame, who’s to credit, but us?” —Bruce Dawes Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 33 PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRACTICES ronmental awareness is important to effect the sustainability. Our natural resources are under pressure, with many ecosystems already degraded and likely to be seriously impacted by climate change in the improves the quality of life of current generations, while leaving future generations with at least the same capacity and options for development. Key threats to environmental sustainability in tion of natural habitats and ecosystem services, and the failure to integrate development with conservation. gered species, local ecosystems, fisheries and other key themes for primary and secondary students. Wondrous Wetlands, the Bahamian Pine Forest, and Treasures in the Sea are the result of wide The BNT also develops educational programmes source protection and other priorities. There are workshops for teachers and field trips to national advocacy initiatives help form public opinion on conservation issues. quiry, and outdoor experiences to young people throughout the region. BirdSleuth supports students through the entire practicing scientists. the use of styrofoam food containers at all BNT events. Birdwatching in the islands. 34 Bahamas National Natural History Conference A tortoise T1 in bottom sediment in Sawmill Sink, Abaco Long-term studies on sea turtles, conch, flamingos and other regional species have been taking place in the Bahamas for years, but the information has not been widely known. The effective management of national parks and the biodiversity they protect requires baseline data to compare with current data, and communication with the scientists conducting research in The Bahamas. Beyond the needs of the BNT are the national needs of understanding our complex and important ecosystems in the contest of making sustainable development decisions for the country. In an effort to bring the scientific, academic, governmental and general public together, the BNT collaborated with the College of The Bahamas, Fairchild Tropical Garden and Florida International University to hold the first Bahamas National Natural History Conference (BNNHC) in Nassau, on in March 2013. Under the theme was “Highlighting the Importance of Research, Conservation, and Environmental Stewardship”, the conference attracted local and international researchers, educators, natu ral resource managers, students and naturalists. With over 100 abstracts received, the conference created a forum to encourage interdisciplinary research and marked the beginning of a more direct dialogue between the scientific community and national decision-makers. Plans are to host a similar conference in 2014 and then move to a two- to three-year cycle, with the goal of expanding the in volvement of COB students and creating opportunities for more research in national parks and protected areas. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 35 And reusable water bottles are provided at all summer camps as a lesson to students on ways to reduce landfill waste. Staff are trained to recognise and remove invasive gramme to mitigate the spread of alien species. nificant impact in controlling this destructive fish in our national parks. and was one of the first activities undertaken at Banding turtles at Union Creek, Inagua. 6HDUFKLQJ�IRU�ÁDPLQJRHV�DW�,QDJXD� Mulched casuarinas make a comfortable trail at Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. These invasive and destructive trees were removed and mulched to provide wood chips for nature trails agement priority at all national parks in The Bahamas. 36 BirdLife International Partnership The BNT shares values and objectives with BirdLife International, a global network of more than 100 national conservation groups that focuses on birds and wider biodi versity on every continent. As a BirdLife partner we work through an international alliance to improve bird and bi odiversity conservation within our region. Specific conser vation efforts have focused on the West indian Whistling Duck, the Kirtland’s Warbler, the Bahama Parrot and the White-crowned pigeon. Locally, the project has identified 43 Important Bird Areas, or biodiversity hotspots, that are pri orities for protection. The partnership has also supported the management of Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park, a wetland home to more than 100 bird species in central New Providence. Training for support groups at several national parks has also taken place through this partnership, and we are working with the Ministry of Tourism to develop a fully accredited birding tour-guide course, in recognition of the growing importance of eco-tourism to the economy. Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 37 BALANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT We live in a world of expanding populations, evolving resources and delicate ecosystems. To create sustainable solutions, we must partner with government, private sector, nongovernmental, and community stakeholders. Sustainable solutions are those that promote livelihoods, protect precious freshwater supplies, conserve natural environments and biodiversity, and reduce our vulnerability to climate change. conservation professionals to come together to formulate a realistic national development plan that areas are important, but our most vital task lies in creating an understanding of sustainable development at all levels. Our governing legislation mandates the BNT to advise the Bahamian public and private sectors on development issues and policies. This requires us to effectively articulate the environmental issues that pose the greatest threat to sustainable development in our islands. The BNT must be in a position to provide information on environmental best practices and the latest scientific research in order to create a dialogue that with conservation of the environment. development issues throughout our archipelago, and is therefore of great interest to the BNT. The law consolidates all aspects of town planning and subdivision development, expands public participation in the approval process, and mandates land use plans for every island, based on a national land development policy that is yet to be promulgated. All approved land use plan for each island. The law is being implemented in phases, beginning the development pressures are greatest. A preliminary allow the law to take effect. The main goal is to prevent the indiscriminate division and development of land while protecting the will be required to meet minimum standards, install infrastructure, provide access to utilities, preserve wetlands and the project on the environment. For significant developments, special approval is now needed for excavation or landfilling, quarrying or mining, or for the harvesting of protected trees. There are also provisions for the preservation of existing mature vegetation and tree cover, as well as for public access to the sea. The new law should bring clarity to the development process and have a positive impact on our communities. Our fragile islands are facing an enormous onslaught from development that will only quality of life, we must avoid thoughtless destruction of the natural environment which underlies that quality of life. A restored wetland at Cable Beach. 38 The Retreat Gardens on Village Road, Nassau. Bahamas National Trust STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2017 39 PHOTO CREDITS Nancy Albury Walker Golder Adrian Gray Matt Jefferey CONTACT US Nassau, Bahamas F www.bnt.bs F F Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas F Melissa Maura Neil McKinney Neil Sealey Krista Sherman Designed and edited by Media Enterprises Ltd | www.bahamasmedia.com Printed on 30% post-consumer waste product