Eric Carey and Glenn Bannister present the Prime Minister with a gift on the 50th Anniversary
Nassau, Bahamas, October 19, 2009 –– The Bahamas Government has announced that it is set to expand the Bahamas National Trust’s National Park System in Abaco, Andros and Conception Island The official announcement came from Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham as he brought special greetings to the attendees at the BNT’s recent 50th Anniversary Ball.
Through this action, The government will create a new land and sea park in Abaco, expand the the existing West Side National Park in Andros, as well as add the exquisite reef system to the Conception Island National Park.
The reaction of Ball attendees was one of excitement and celebration at the announcement made by the Prime Minister. It was evident that supporters of the Trust and conservation in The Bahamas continue to be ready to accept the responsibility and live up to the BNT’s mandate of managing national parks.
“The Bahamas National Trust is very excited about this and thanks the government of the Bahamas for these additions to our park system,” said Eric Carey, Executive Director, Bahamas National Trust. “this is a further indication of the confidence of the government in our management of the national parks of The Bahamas. We know that challenges will arise as we fulfil our goal, however, the expected challenges will be nothing in comparison to the end results”
In the barrier islands of Great Abaco, Fowl Cays Land Sea Park will be created between Scotland Cay and Man O’War Cay. And, in regards to the West Side National Park in Andros, the park will be expanded to areas north of the western most point of Andros including Williams’ Island and Billy Island, Turner Sound, identified creeks with significant mangroves extending into South Andros, a lake system at the west side, Cabbage Creek to Timber Creek and the area south of Lisbon Creek including Sandy Cay in the South Bight.
“The BNT has conducted extensive community outreach in Abaco in partnership with Friends of the Environment” said Lynn Gape, Deputy Director of BNT. “and the Abaco Community is very excited about the Fowl Cays National Park. “
The BNT further commented that although community consultation has taken place with regards to the expansion of the West Side National Park in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, Andros Conservancy and Trust and Nature’s Hope, there will need to be further consultation before the final boundaries are established for the Andros West Side Park.
“The West Side of Andros is tremendously important for fisheries resources and provides important habitat for Bonefish. Andros has become famous a premier bonefishing destination and the BNT and its partners will be seeking input from all stakeholders with regards to this park. We are grateful to the Kerzner Marine Foundation for its support of the Rapid Environmental Assessment and the stakeholder outreach that was undertaken so that proposal for expansion of the park could be presented to The Government of The Bahamas.” said Tamica Rahming, BNT Director of Parks and Science.
Conception Island National Park will be expanded and regularized under lease with a view to include important surrounding marine areas like Montastrea reef systems, bringing it into conformity with the other national parks managed by the Trust.
As The Bahamas is a part of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity which established targets for all state parties in regards to protection of marine and land ecosystems for 2010 and 2012. These new parks indicate that The government of The Bahamas, which supplies core funding to the Trust, is committed to meeting the established targets regarding the protection of marine and land ecosystems.
