The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) in partnership with National Audubon Society and the Inter-American Development Bank group (IDB), and the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) recently recognised sixty-six (66) new bird guides in two graduation ceremonies, held in Matthew Town, Inagua and Fresh Creek, Andros.
The successful graduates completed ‘Basic Bird Level Guide Training’ to prepare them for bird guiding as a means of income generation in National Parks on their islands. Additionally, these aspiring guides completed BahamaHost training and First Aid certification. Attending the graduation in Inagua were Harrison Thompson, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism Maria Florencia Attedemo-Hirt, IDB Country Representative for The Bahamas, Matthew Jeffery, Deputy Director for the Caribbean International Alliances Program, National Audubon Society, Eric Carey, Executive Director, and Lynn Gape, Deputy Executive Director of the BNT.
Addressing the graduates Mr. Thompson said, “We see Audubon as key to improving marketing to drive more visitors to The Bahamas as a birding tourism destination. Inagua, with its flocks of flamingos, resident population of Bahama Parrots, great numbers of wetland bird species and Morton’s Solar Salt operation certainly has great potential in this niche tourism market.”
In speaking to the graduates Mrs. Attedemo-Hirt emphasized that the strength of this particular project was its innovative approach to building potential small businesses and the possible powerful model for conservation–minded community development.
Attending this graduation were H.E. Picewell Forbes, MP, Ambassador Commissioner to The Caribbean Community and Jacqueline Ramsey, Director, Sustainable Domestic Tourism & The Bahamas Family of Islands, Ministry of Tourism.
“The BNT is truly excited about this initiative and the economic possibilities that this can bring to the participants,” noted Eric Carey, Executive Director for the BNT “as well as the partnerships and benefits to those who will bring visitors to national parks on their islands.”
Speaking to the Andros graduates was Matthew Jeffery who noted that, “today marks the beginning – not the end. You now all have a sound base to build from. Your bird guiding and business knowledge and skills have all been enhanced. The emphasis is now on you personally to succeed. We will be working with the industry to connect hotels, guesthouses, tour operators, To bring you clients.”
This training is a component of the regional project titled ‘Strengthening Bird-based Tourism as a Conservation and Sustainable Development Tool’. It is hoped that it will now improve the structure and capacity for bird-based tourism in The Bahamas. A nice bonus to this program is it’s designed to support the conservation of national protected areas and important bird breeding grounds for priority migratory bird species like the Piping Plover; Bahama Oriole as well as other wildlife like the Bahamian Rock Iguana.
Building a foundation for Nature Tourism in The Bahamas- The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) in partnership with National Audubon Society and the Inter-American Development Bank group (IDB), and the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) recently recognised sixty-six (66) new bird guides in two graduation ceremonies, held in Matthew Town, Inagua and Fresh Creek, Andros. The successful graduates completed ‘Basic Bird Level Guide Training’ to prepare them for bird guiding as a means of income generation in National Parks on their islands. Pictured are the North Andros bird guides during their graduation ceremony.
Inagua graduates of the BNT's Bird Guide Training Program
Andros Birding Group during a field session.
Members of the National Audubon Society touring Inagua National Park. (Photos courtesy of BNT for Barefoot Marketing)
