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Government committed to safeguarding country’s natural resources

Wed, Jul 26th 2023, 09:58 AM
Environment Politics

Environment and Natural Resources Minister the Hon. Vaughn Miller underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding and management of the nation’s natural resources.

Said Minister Miller, “Small Islands Developing States are united in their effort toward climate action, sustainability and natural resource management and, although these states vary in geography, topography, weathering and landscape, some factors remain the same such as unique, lush environments, diverse nutrient rich ecosystems and bountiful oceans.

“The Government of The Bahamas, through my Ministry and having BAIC as a strategic partner, is tasked with safeguarding and management of the valuable natural resources within the country, including promoting the indigenous crafts trade and the usage of non-timber forestry products such as silver top palm and or cascarilla bark and its oil. 

Natural resource management in The Bahamas is eclectic in nature and requires a multi-faceted approach. We know this important work cannot be done in isolation and we remain committed to achieving our Sustainable Development Goals by empowering local communities to act.”

He affirmed the Government’s commitment saying, “We are committed to doing our part. Each and every one of you has a key role to play in this collective, to find ways to sustain not only our livelihoods for today, but, for livelihoods in Small Islands Developing States for many years to come.”

Minister Miller welcomed delegates from St. Lucia to The Sustainable Livelihood Technical Exchange initiative Monday, July 24, 2023 at Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation Training Centre.

“Today, we welcome 11 persons from St. Lucia to participate in the exchange -- Bahamian-Style. You will also participate in classroom and in-field training. However, we will introduce you to the world of straw plaiting, weaving and tie dying. You will explore with us the unchartered territory of wine making from the seeds of the Silver Top Palm and other value added processes.”

The opening ceremony was attended by the Hon. Clay Sweeting Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs; Dr. Rhianna Neely, Director, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, board members and staff of BAIC, John Calixe, St. Lucia representative and various stakeholders.

In an overview of the project, Minister Miller noted that an eight-member delegation from The Bahamas travelled to St. Lucia in March for a week to participate in field training, classroom studies and breakout session. He said the delegation learned the importance of making use of every portion of the resource, as there is value to be found and benefits to be received from all of it.

He explained that a Bahamas Pine Islands Project was developed and crafted to assist The Bahamas in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 13 - Climate Action, and Sustainable Development Goal 15 - Life on Land, while meeting the needs of the Convention on Biological Diversity and supporting local communities. 

The goals are also shared and interwoven with local project partners and with regional partners, the St. Lucia delegation. 

The Pine Islands project is focused on forest integration and innovation within the country.  One hundred acres of land in Hard Hill and another five acres in Spring Point, Acklins were aquired for the Pine Islands Project, which focuses on “Sustainable Livelihoods” for Cascarilla bark cultivation and processing of Cascarilla oil in Acklins and Crooked Islands.

Minister Miller noted that to aid in the management of natural resources, the Government has put forth several laws. They include:

-The Access to Benefit Sharing, Traditional Knowledge Act 2021, to protect its precious biological, genetic and traditional knowledge resources;

- The Amendments to the Protected Trees Order, 2021, speaks to the country’s commitment to protect and preserve endemic and endangered or significant plant species in The Bahamas;

- The Climate Change and Carbon Markets Initiatives Act, 2022  designed to tap into the lucrative Carbon Market, while protecting critical ecosystems from the impact of development.

Minister Miller thanked the Forestry Unit, BAIC, Food and Agriculture Organization (Bahamas) and other project partners for their efforts to date. “We realize that integration and innovation do not occur in a vacuum. We need strong partnerships to complete our work. As we learn more, experiment more, succeed more, we will share our knowledge and experience, to build the collective.”

He also acknowledged the Small Business Development Center, the Bahamas Development Bank and the United Nations Environmental Programme for their support. 

Environment and Natural Resources Minister the Hon. Vaughn Miller underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding and management of the nation’s natural resources.
Said Minister Miller, “Small Islands Developing States are united in their effort toward climate action, sustainability and natural resource management and, although these states vary in geography, topography, weathering and landscape, some factors remain the same such as unique, lush environments, diverse nutrient rich ecosystems and bountiful oceans.
“The Government of The Bahamas, through my Ministry and having BAIC as a strategic partner, is tasked with safeguarding and management of the valuable natural resources within the country, including promoting the indigenous crafts trade and the usage of non-timber forestry products such as silver top palm and or cascarilla bark and its oil. 
Natural resource management in The Bahamas is eclectic in nature and requires a multi-faceted approach. We know this important work cannot be done in isolation and we remain committed to achieving our Sustainable Development Goals by empowering local communities to act.”
He affirmed the Government’s commitment saying, “We are committed to doing our part. Each and every one of you has a key role to play in this collective, to find ways to sustain not only our livelihoods for today, but, for livelihoods in Small Islands Developing States for many years to come.”
Minister Miller welcomed delegates from St. Lucia to The Sustainable Livelihood Technical Exchange initiative Monday, July 24, 2023 at Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation Training Centre.
 
“Today, we welcome 11 persons from St. Lucia to participate in the exchange -- Bahamian-Style. You will also participate in classroom and in-field training. However, we will introduce you to the world of straw plaiting, weaving and tie dying. You will explore with us the unchartered territory of wine making from the seeds of the Silver Top Palm and other value added processes.”
The opening ceremony was attended by the Hon. Clay Sweeting Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs; Dr. Rhianna Neely, Director, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, board members and staff of BAIC, John Calixe, St. Lucia representative and various stakeholders.
 
In an overview of the project, Minister Miller noted that an eight-member delegation from The Bahamas travelled to St. Lucia in March for a week to participate in field training, classroom studies and breakout session. He said the delegation learned the importance of making use of every portion of the resource, as there is value to be found and benefits to be received from all of it.
 
He explained that a Bahamas Pine Islands Project was developed and crafted to assist The Bahamas in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 13 - Climate Action, and Sustainable Development Goal 15 - Life on Land, while meeting the needs of the Convention on Biological Diversity and supporting local communities. 
The goals are also shared and interwoven with local project partners and with regional partners, the St. Lucia delegation. 
The Pine Islands project is focused on forest integration and innovation within the country.  One hundred acres of land in Hard Hill and another five acres in Spring Point, Acklins were aquired for the Pine Islands Project, which focuses on “Sustainable Livelihoods” for Cascarilla bark cultivation and processing of Cascarilla oil in Acklins and Crooked Islands.
 
Minister Miller noted that to aid in the management of natural resources, the Government has put forth several laws. They include:
-The Access to Benefit Sharing, Traditional Knowledge Act 2021, to protect its precious biological, genetic and traditional knowledge resources;
- The Amendments to the Protected Trees Order, 2021, speaks to the country’s commitment to protect and preserve endemic and endangered or significant plant species in The Bahamas;
- The Climate Change and Carbon Markets Initiatives Act, 2022  designed to tap into the lucrative Carbon Market, while protecting critical ecosystems from the impact of development.
Minister Miller thanked the Forestry Unit, BAIC, Food and Agriculture Organization (Bahamas) and other project partners for their efforts to date. “We realize that integration and innovation do not occur in a vacuum. We need strong partnerships to complete our work. As we learn more, experiment more, succeed more, we will share our knowledge and experience, to build the collective.”
He also acknowledged the Small Business Development Center, the Bahamas Development Bank and the United Nations Environmental Programme for their support. 
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