Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park continues to struggle with invasive cattails, as a result the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) has been working with a number of corporate and volunteer organizations over the past two years to clear the invasive cattails at Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park. Recently, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity in Nassau have come forward with a long -term commitment to help with the removal of these invasive wetland plants.

Members of the fraternity have volunteered at the Nassau national park previously and have agreed to carry out quarterly cattail removal at the park as a part of their community outreach. Last weekend was one of their first such clean ups and they were supported by Bahamas Waste who donated dumpsters free of charge for the cattails to be discarded in.

“Cattails, although native to The Bahamas, can cause destruction to our wetlands if they are overgrown,” said Eric Carey, BNT Executive Director.

“Unfortunately, at the Harold and Wilson Ponds, the cattails have become a dominant force in the wetland, and are now destroying the expensive boardwalks and other infrastructure at the park. The BNT has been working with several agencies to manage the cattails at the park, and the Sigmas’ decision to volunteer will go a long way in helping to keep them under control.”

Harold and Wilson Ponds National Park, which is located in the central part of Southern New Providence, off of Sir Milo Butler Highway and Fire Trail Road, was established in 2002. This national park is an important area for birds and other wildlife that rely on wetlands to survive.

Since the establishment of this national park, the BNT has added interpretive signage, boardwalks and covered viewing decks at the park.

This park in particular is very popular for field trips to teach students about the importance of freshwater wetlands, and because of this, it is imperative that this park is effectively managed and kept in good condition. The BNT is grateful to all of the organizations and volunteer groups who have assisted with ongoing efforts to control the cattails at the park, especially the Nassau Sigmas and longtime corporate sponsor, Bahamas Waste.

The Bahamas National Trust was created by an Act of Parliament in 1959 to build and manage the national park system of the Bahamas. Possibly the only non-governmental organization in the world charged with such a responsibility the TRUST, as it is commonly known works daily to conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas, through stewardship and education for present and future generations. There are currently 27 National Parks managed by the TRUST with more than 2 million acres of marine and terrestrial areas protected.

Website: http://www.bnt.bs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bahamas-National-Trust/25034035861?ref=hl