Newsletter of the Bahamas National Trust Volume 8 Number 1 June 2002 Unprecedented Expansion of National Park System In an extraordinary announcement at the protected areas “significant for many reasons” 43rd annual general meeting of the Bahamas Mr Ingraham noted that the new parks “are National Trust in April, former Prime Minister diverse in their features and values … and Hubert Ingraham confirmed the creation of 10 they expand the degree of ecological represen- new protected areas— doubling the size of the tation within our national park system. Great country’s national park system at a stroke, an expanses of wetlands, barrier reefs, forested unprecedented event in world conservation areas, critical breeding and nesting sites, sites history. important to science and recreation, are now In a videotaped designated as national park presentation to Trust areas and will be protected in members, Mr Ingraham perpetuity.” recalled the obligation He also highlighted the of signatories to the “the viability of non-con- United Nations Con- sumptive use of marine vention on Biological resources to the economy.” Diversity to “step up Prime Minister protection of Ingraham made special biodiversity within their mention of the work of the own country.” In Bahamas National Trust, particular, he noted that referring to the organization the Biodiversity Con- as “a model of success, of vention calls on coun- innovative conservation at tries to protect natural work, around the globe.” resources and ecosys- The Trust, he said, had tems where they occur. worked diligently for more “This ‘in situ’ than 40 years to protect the conservation,” he said, country’s natural resources “is recognized as the for the benefit of all Bahami- President pinnacle, the highest ans: “It has led and shaped Macgregor and most important the conservation movement Robertson step a country can take in The Bahamas in an to protect its biological exemplary manner. It has similarly built and managed Executive diversity, its natural resources, its plant and our national park system.” Director animal and marine life.” “A point in case”, he Gary Larson Calling the new said, “ is the Trust’s work Currents, June 2002 1 several million conch per year to areas And in several of the newly designated outside the park available to be har- parks the boundaries extend seaward to vested by fishermen. Additionally, 100 fathoms, moving the country tagged grouper from the Exuma Park closer to this goal. The Bahamas is a have been caught off north and south 124,000-square-mile archipelago Long Island, indicating that the park is between Cuba and Florida. Only replenishing grouper stocks in areas as 5,300 square miles of the country is far as 150 miles away. Tagged crawfish land, the remainder is marine territory. from the Exuma Park are found By his actions, the prime minis- replenishing the marine environs of ter doubled Bahamian national park holdings from approximately 320,000 acres to over 650,000 acres, and foreshadowed other areas to be con- veyed to the Trust. The new parks include: extensive land and sea areas of Central Andros; Harrold, Wilson & Bonefish Ponds and the Primeval Forest on New Providence; the entire island and coastal area of Little Inagua; Moriah Harbour Cay and its marine environs at Great Exuma; Pasture and O’Brien Cays in the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, and the Walker’s Cay marine area off Abaco. with the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. A dozen or so years ago the Trust recognized unsustainable pressures on our national fisheries resources. Under provisions of the Bahamas National Tr ust Act, by-slaws for the Exuma Park were rewritten in 1986, making the entire 176 square mile park a no-take fisheries replenishment area, the first of its kind in the Wider Caribbean. Years later, the scientific community coined the term “marine fisheries reserve” for Cat Island, which is 70 miles away. such areas and now, based largely on “These extraordinary benefits to the success of the Exuma Park, pro- fisheries are coupled with a benefit to motes the establishment of such ecotourism. With marine and terres- reserves as the best way to sustain trial life in abundance, the park is a fishery resources.” popular mecca for tourists and an Scientific evidence supports Mr. invaluable outdoor classroom for our Ingraham’s statement. The concentra- youth,” Mr Ingraham said. tion of conch inside the Exuma Cays The success of fishery resource Land & Sea Park is now 31 times replenishment in the Exuma Park led greater than outside the park. It is the government to announce a policy conservatively estimated that the conch decision in 2000 to protect 20 per cent concentration in the park provides of the Bahamian marine environment. 2 Currents, June 2002 to many scientific journals and In Memorium and reference works, including the Encyclopedia Britannica. Oris Russell, OBE, a founding Mr Russell will be remem- member of the Bahamas Na- bered by the Trust for his great tional Trust, a former president, interest in gardening with spe- and a life-long member of Coun- cial emphasis on the flora of the cil died May 14 at his Woodland Bahamas. He was a member of Road Home in Nassau. the scientific expedition that sur- Mr Russell retired in 1983 af- veyed the Exuma Cays in 1958 ter a 42-year career in the civil to recommend that a national service. He was one of the first park be established under the Bahamians to go abroad on a authority of a proposed national government scholarship when in trust. 1947 he attended the University He was recognized by the of Florida in Gainesville, com- Society of Caribbean Ornithol- pleting a bachelor of science de- ogy in 1996 at their annual gen- gree with honours in agriculture eral meeting in Nassau for his in 1950 and a master’s degree in contributions to Bahamian orni- agriculture in 1951. Founding thology and conservation. His He returned to Nassau and scientific contributions were nu- in 1954 became agriculture di- Member merous but few people know rector. During his time as direc- that he coined the name of the tor he introduced more than 300 Oris Russell, BNT’s annual Arts and Crafts varieties of new and improved Festival saying one day that we plants, including fruit, vegetables should hold a “jollification” dur- and ornamental trees and OBE ing the pre-Christmas season. shrubs, and selected a better This annual event is now one of appointment was in 1973 as per- breed of sheep and swine for Ba- the Trust’s chief fundraisers. Mr manent secretary to the Ministry of hamian farmers. After the transi- Russell loved the Trust and sel- External Affairs. tion to ministerial government in dom missed an event or public He was official correspondent 1964, he was appointed perma- meeting. He will be missed by in the Bahamas to several scien- nent secretary to the Ministry of all of us. Agriculture and Fisheries. His last tific organizations and contributed Gala Ball Congratulations The BNT Gala Ball held at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort in April was a huge success. Over 250 ballgoers dined sumptuously and danced the night away to the tunes of the RBDF Jazz Band and Modern Vintage. The BNT recognizes with thanks the tremendous efforts of the Ball Committee: Colin Lightbourn, Susan Larson, Beth Bethell and Robin Symonette in making the evening such a success. Thanks are also extended to Sandals for their terrific support of the evening. Pictured are Colin Lightbourn (right), Ball Commitee Chairman presenting Liz Christiansen with one of the door prizes. Currents, June 2002 3 A LOOK at The New Parks CENTRAL ANDROS life on New Providence. An excep- values of this are enormous. Andros is a remarkable island that tional educational and ecotourism makes enormous contributions to site, a stone’s throw from the Ocean currents flow through the the collective natural resource nation’s capital and tourism hub, Bahamas from the southeast to the wealth of the Bahamas. these areas are an invaluable addi- northwest. As a result, Little Inagua tion to the country’s national park is upstream of the rest of the coun- It is guarded by one of the world’s system. try. Its surrounding waters contrib- longest and best-preserved bar- ute to the supply of fisheries rier reefs and houses the high- eggs, larvae, and sub-adults est known density of blue holes that are swept into other parts in the world. Its extensive wet- of Bahamian marine territory. lands are of national, regional Park designation increases the and international importance and percentage of marine ecosys- it boasts the “best bonefishing in tem under protection for fishery the world”. It provides critical replenishment purposes. habitat for endangered birds, crabs and iguanas. It is our Additionally, Little Inagua is a country’s largest reservoir of documented nesting location for fresh water. critically endangered sea turtle species. A naturally functioning giant eco- system, the component parts of WALKER’S CAY MARINE the island of Andros are as PARK breathtaking in their beauty as The northernmost island in the they are significant in their value. Bahamas, Walker’s Cay is This first phase of park designa- fringed by its own barrier reef. tion focuses on Central Andros The stunning coral formations —North Bight, Fresh Creek, and surrounding marine envi- Blanket Sound, Young Sound, rons host schools of pompano and Staniard Creek. These areas and amberjack, large marine contain pine forests, blue holes, predators, such as sharks and coral reefs, wetlands, and man- barracudas, multitudes of groves. Their designation paves colourful tropical fish, turtles and the way for additional protection eagle rays. Renowned for un- in the north and south of Andros.