Where does food come from?

Press

A second great opinion piece by our junior member was published in the Royal Gazette on April 23rd and can be found at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20130423/COMMENT/704239969

BEST responds to suggested establishment of Marine Protected Reserve

Press

Government Ministers met with representatives of the Pew Environment Groups' Ocean Legacy Fund to discuss a proposal to establish a Marine Protected Area within Bermuda's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Report at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20130515/NEWS/705159938

The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) is pleased to endorse the establishment of protected marine area within Bermuda's EEZ. The Pew Environment Group and Bermuda's Government Ministers are to be congratulated for moving in this direction. This step presents a wonderful opportunity that would be good for Bermuda — putting us on the map internationally as a leader in ocean conservation with what could be the third largest marine park in the world. There is the potential such a Marine area would be attractive to tourists and scientists who could take †3-5 day boating excursions for diving, bird watching, marine research and so on, accompanied by local experts. This could open up new business opportunities† for Bermudians that would tie in with the Blue Economy concept as well as be sustainable.

The protected marine area should be beneficial to local fishing industry by protecting spawning† and juvenile development areas. It should also offer increased collaboration with international bodies and other jurisdictions.†

We would have liked for the Minister of the Environment to have emphasised the intrinsic value of the physical environment as the basis for any sustainability in the social and economic environments — both of which have other Ministers to promote them. Far too often Bermuda's unique physical environment† is taken for granted.

Bermuda's ability to grow the economy and increase jobs is dependent on maintaining a healthy environment, both on land and in our oceans.

We are grateful that the Pew Charitable Trust has Bermuda in its sights. There is much good they can do here. We at BEST look forward engaging in the public consultation process.

Note: more about PEW can be found at http://www.pewenvironment.org/

April 2013 Bulletin

Monthly Bulletin

BEST (Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce) 

March 2013 Bulletin

Monthly Bulletin

BEST (Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce)

 

 

Charity Reg. # 858

 

BULLETIN - March 2013

 

Spice Hill Farm: BEST initiated a successful Judicial Review to which government offered no defense.  This was a major - and costly - undertaking and one that underlines the need to reform the Planning Appeal process. (Available in detail at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20130401/NEWS/704019968/judicial-review-rejects-spice-hill-orphanage&utm_source=newsletter20130401&utm_medium=email&utm_content=toparticle_morelink&utm_campaign=newsletter)

 

 

Heritage Wharf: Thanks to the in-depth research and consultation with a qualified scientist, we were able to influence the extent and quality of the Conditions of Approval, primarily in respect of the establishment of a monitoring protocol for the site.

 

 

Planning: BEST is actively working to have certain aspects of the planning application process reviewed in an effort to make it clearer and more accessible to all.

 

For example BEST would like:

 

(i) the application documentation to be more easily accessible;

(ii) there to be greater transparency around the advertising of proposed development applications so that neighbours likely to be affected will have a greater chance of having their views considered;

(iii) both the Applicant and the location of any proposed development to be clearly stated in the Official Gazette (so that someone can be contactable and so that the site of any proposed development can be visited and assessed).

 

 

Our congratulations go out to:

 

(i) Stuart Hayward recipient of the Caver Cedar Chair awarded by the English Speaking Union to a philanthropist who has yet to be recognised for their community work in Bermuda.

(ii) our Junior Member, Megan Sutcliffe for her first published newspaper article, “Does the Environment have a place in Politics? http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20130319/COMMENT/703199973/does-the-environment-have-a-place-in-politics&utm_source=newsletter20130319&utm_medium=email&utm_content=toparticle_morelink&utm_campaign=newsletter

(iii) Greenrock for their most successful Earth Hour event yet, as Bermuda joined with millions around the world to bring awareness to the need to protect our one and only home, Earth.

 

 

Visiting Researchers: Michelle and Justin of 70 Degrees West will be on island April 9-22 with an interesting and important project that “focuses on the uniqueness of sargassum and the garbage patch, or plastic soup patch, that inhabits the Sargasso Sea. We are hopeful to explore the island where plastic build-up may be prevalent, spend as much as possible out at sea, and attempt to capture this complicated and important topic. Our shoot list includes Humpback whales, sargassum fish, plastic beaches, interviews, sargassum and it's various inhabitants, pelagic fish, and pretty much anything else that comes up.” More about their work can be found at www.70degreeswest.com The Bermuda Marine Debris Taskforce, (https://www.facebook.com/bermudataskforce?fref=ts) with which BEST is affiliated, is assisting with various aspects of their visit.

 

The Department of Conservation Services has some useful and interesting documents available on their website including “Economic Value of Bermuda’s Coral Reefs”, “Whale Watching Guidelines” and a plant finder guide.

 

 

As always, we would like to thank all our friends and supporters for their encouragement and varied contributions. Donations to BEST can be made online through the BEST website www.best.org.bm or by direct deposit to our Bank of Butterfield account, number 20-006-060-625713-100.

 

Jennifer Flood

Communications Coordinator

 

www.best.org.bm

https://www.facebook.com/BEST.Bda

https://twitter.com/BESTBermuda

 

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