The protection of The Bahamas' endangered natural resources is "absolutely critical" to the sustained success of ecotourism in the country, according to a Bahamas National Trust (BNT) official.
BNT Executive Director Eric Carey spoke in response to a recent report on the smuggling of Bahamian rock iguanas, stressing that the indigenous animals "hold incredible potential as an attraction to enhance our nature-based tourism product".
"When a country or region thinks about developing ecotourism, it tries to use the natural assets of an area, especially those that are unique and different. For The Bahamas...we are going to have to promote something that can be found nowhere else," said Carey.
While Carey could not provide a figure for revenue generated through ecotourism, he noted that the industry was growing, particularly in the Family Islands.
"We know that The Bahamas, especially the Family Islands, is going to be able to develop a different brand of tourism... The economic impact is going to be significant.
"Protecting these resources is absolutely critical and the payout in the future is going to be significant because of the ecological and economic services that these protected areas are going to provide," stated Carey.
BNT manages some two million acres of land and sea parks in The Bahamas.
The report, penned by Maurice Isaacs, a veterinary officer within the Department of Agriculture, highlighted the economic impact of animal smuggling on Bahamian ecotourism and called for renewed enforcement efforts.
"The Bahamas views the smuggling of its endemic species a threat not only to the viability of wild populations
of these species, but also to the economic, cultural and conservation viability of rural communities.
"Rural communities may suffer direct economic impacts, as their sustainable livelihoods, partly based on revenues from ecotourism, can be negatively impacted. This is particularly troubling for communities which are already struggling through the global economic recession."
In addition to addressing the country's enforcement challenges, the report insisted that the, "demand-driven market in consumer countries must be better addressed. Failure to do so will only exacerbate and further entrench the problem."
Customs officials stationed at London's Heathrow Airport seized 13 iguanas in February after discovering them wrapped in socks in the baggage of two Romanian women en-route to Dusseldorf, Germany.
The women were arrested and convicted of smuggling the iguanas and are currently facing a 12-month sentence in the United Kingdom.
The report additionally revealed that specimens of Bahamian iguanas had previously been discovered in a Dusseldorf zoo.
Although 12 of the iguanas were repatriated to The Bahamas on July 9, three were found dead on San Salvador the following day.
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