Download Chapter 13 - Cayman Islands Government

The Natural Environment
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The Natural Environment
13
PRESERVATION & CONSERVATION
OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Impressive research projects, involving aspects of the Islands’ marine environment from ocean currents to barrel
sponges, were the focus of efforts by the Department of the Environment in its continuing watch on Cayman’s
terrestrial and marine resources. During 2001, data continued to be gathered on resources and needs with respect
to grouper, conch, lobster, turtle, barrel sponges, seagrass, mangroves and the impact of development on beaches.
While not yet statistically confirmed, data suggest the generally accepted theory that the Islands’ coral reefs,
in tune with regional and global positions, are facing serious ecological threats. Other studies show evidence
of capacity for replenishment — though stocks continue to decline in the face of continued overfishing and other
man-made acts of degradation.
Meanwhile, the National Trust continued its vigil as guardian of nature reserves and places of historic
significance. Adding 63 acres to Little Cayman’s Booby Pond Nature Reserve, the Trust brought into full
conservation ownership the Islands’ only breeding colony of Red-footed Boobies. Remaining diligent in its
various other projects and programmes, from the captive-bred blue iguanas to its catalogue of 1,303 native plants,
the Trust continued its efforts at sensitizing the population and developing and broadening its scope.
Department of Environment
Fisheries
The Department of Environment (DoE) is the government
agency charged with facilitating responsible management
and sustainable use of the natural environment and
resources of the Cayman Islands. This goal is achieved
through various environmental protection and
conservation programmes and strategies.
The rediscovery of the Nassau grouper spawning
aggregation in Little Cayman thrust this emotive issue
into the news headlines when over 2,000 spawning grouper
were captured in December 2000 and January 2001. The
DoE Nassau Grouper Monitoring Programme has
documented the decline of this fishery to date, with fewer
and smaller grouper being landed. However, the
rediscovery of the Little Cayman aggregation provides
firm evidence of its ability to replenish itself if fishing
pressure is regulated.
Despite the establishment of the Marine Parks System
in 1986, the local queen conch population
has also
continued to decline, as documented in the DoE’s annual
Queen Conch Monitoring Programme. Analysis of
samples collected in the 1998 Queen Conch Larval
Recruitment Study continued, identifying larval stages I,
II and III. To date, findings demonstrate that areas in the
North Sound are important sources of conch larvae, but
there is currently no clear evidence to suggest that these
serve recruitment in the North Sound.
Coral Reefs
The DoE continues to monitor the health of the coral reefs
around Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands through its
long-term Coral Reef Monitoring Programme, now in its
fifth year. The photographic methodology (involving
randomly selected small areas) employed in the study
has, to date, detected some significant year-to-year changes
in the hard coral cover at many sites around the Islands.
Although statistical tests have not yet been applied to the
data, the overall trend appears to be that of declining coral
cover. Preliminary findings support the generally accepted
theory that coral reefs, both regionally and globally, are
facing serious ecological threats.
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Preservation and Conservation of the Natural Environment
The DoE’s work with the North Sound Lobster
Programme continued with the completion of the Lobster
Larval Recruitment Study. The North Sound fringing reef
was also surveyed during 2001, with approximately 350
lobsters tagged, sexed and assessed for reproductive
activity. A preliminary Enhanced Recruitment Study was
designed and a trial implementation phase conducted
during 2001, while a comprehensive study was planned
for 2002 in conjunction with light traps and artificial habitat
creation.
Barrel Sponge Monitoring
Marine Turtles
North Sound Seagrass Study
The Marine Turtle Monitoring Programme recorded a
very poor nesting season during 2001. This resulted from
low nesting numbers along with several nest losses due
to inundation, poaching, artificial light pollution and
vehicles being driven on beaches. The DoE continued its
assistance with analysis of Little Cayman’s Hawksbill
Turtle Genetic Study, which collects tissue and blood
samples to determine the regional distribution of
Hawksbill turtles. During 2001, the DoE also developed
and produced a comprehensive handbook for managing
nesting beaches to minimize development impact. The
handbook has been produced for distribution to owners
and developers of beachfront property.
The DoE conducted a large scale-project to revisit the
seagrass work carried out during the 1975/76 Natural
Resources Study in the North Sound. The 2001 DoE study
utilized the same methodology and survey sites as the
earlier study. Considerable changes were documented,
with completion of analysis and report scheduled for
early 2002.
A special case monitoring project was initiated during
2001 after the DoE received several reports of large barrel
sponges (and, to a lesser extent, of other sponge species)
being impacted by a rapid wasting disease. Monitoring
stations were established and a programme initiated,
with bacteriological assistance from Newcastle University
(UK). Monitoring was scheduled to continue into 2002 as
necessary.
CUC Mangrove Restoration Project
A unique opportunity gave rise to an unscheduled project
in October - December 2001. The DoE assisted Caribbean
Utilities Company in its efforts to restore the nearly one
acre of mangroves that had been cleared at the Rum Point
landing of the North Sound power cable. The DoE
collected and planted on the site 5,500 red mangrove
propagules. Monitoring of the restoration efforts
continues.
Seven Mile Beach Monitoring
During October and November 2001, the DOE, in conjunction
with the Lands & Survey Department, conducted two
periods of beach survey work at the 26 monitoring stations
established along Seven Mile Beach. The November survey
followed considerable change in Seven Mile Beach as a
result of Hurricane Michelle. The twice-yearly monitoring
programme will be continued to help provide valuable
management information for effective and safe planning
decisions along the Seven Mile Beach area.
Environmental Assessment and Reviews
In addition to monitoring sites already in progress for
adherence to licence conditions, the department reviewed
and made recommendations on the environmental impact
of coastal development applications. By the end of 2001,
the department had submitted 11 detailed environmental
assessment reports to its ministry, 30 to the Planning
Department and had conducted numerous additional
meetings to assist developers with environmental matters.
Beginning with the convening of an Interdepartmental
Review Committee for all quarry and excavation
applications, the department began implementation of
recommendations arising from the government study on
the provision of aggregate and fill material.
Near-shore Current Study
During 2001, the DoE successfully deployed the Acoustic
Doppler Profiling (ADP) current meter on the North Wall
of Grand Cayman. This led to the collection of important
data with respect to the complex and poorly understood
ocean currents that flow along the Islands’ coastal shelves.
Accurate current information will assist in determining
important larval sources and transport mechanisms for
commercially valuable marine species, including the
Nassau grouper.
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Preservation and Conservation of the Natural Environment
Day REEFWATCH programme, a coastal cleanup in
September, various CITN television DayBreak (morning
show) appearances and numerous field trips and talks to
local schools.
The department also provided
environmental education components to several local
summer camps, including the Texaco-sponsored Sea Camp
run by the Central Caribbean Marine Institute.
Marine Parks Maintenance
Since the establishment of the Marine Parks in 1986, the DoE
has installed and maintains approximately 300 public
moorings around the three islands. The moorings help to
minimize damage to coral reefs by anchorage of dive boats
and recreational vessels. The department provided ten
additional yacht moorings in George Town and Spotts to
assist visiting yachts not familiar with the strict conservation
laws that protect Cayman’s delicate marine life.
Processing of Licences and Permits
Applications for licences for spearguns, seine nets and
turtle fishing are all processed at the Department of
Environment offices in the Marco Giglioli Building, North
Sound Road, during working hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m.). Approximately 295 licences were processed in 2001.
The DoE also processes applications for permits
issued under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Twenty-two CITES import, export and re-export permits
were issued in 2001.
Enforcement
At the end of 2001 the Department of Environment’s
Marine Enforcement Section had a staff complement of
six, with five stationed on Grand Cayman and one on
Little Cayman. The DoE’s marine enforcement section can
be reached on marine VHF channel 17 at any time, or by
calling the DoE’s office during working hours.
Oil-spill Response
In 2001, DoE staff responded to approximately 15 marine
oil pollution reports, ranging from local fuel facility spills
to beach tar balls emanating from passing tankers’ discharge.
National Trust for the Cayman Islands
The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is a statutory,
non-profit, membership-based organization whose
mission is to preserve natural environments and places of
historic significance for present and future generations. A
council representing a cross-section of the community
directs the work of the Trust.
In accordance with its mission, the Trust conducts
programmes and undertakes projects in the areas of
environmental conservation and historic preservation,
both of which incorporate public education. The
organization has the power to hold property in trust
forever for the people of the Cayman Islands. At the end
of 2001, the Trust was protecting a total of 2,043 acres across
the three islands.
As global economies battled to recover from the 2001
slowdown, the National Trust suffered the inevitable
trickle-down effect. Anticipating the organizations’
growing needs, the board instituted a business plan to
guide the Trust for the next five years. One important
component was the establishment of an Endowment
Fund, with the goal of ensuring adequate funding to
support the Trust’s operational expenses and mission.
The fund’s financial goal was to raise $3,000,000 by 2006.
In the process of raising funds, however, the Trust
Conferences, Seminars and Training
In 2001, DoE scientific staff attended a number of workshops
and conferences.
These included:
•
the first CITES Regional Hawksbill Dialogue Meeting,
in Mexico City;
• the meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the
Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)
Protocol and of the Scientific and Technical
Advisory Committee to SPAW, both in Havana,
Cuba;
• the second International Queen Conch Conference,
in Santo Domingo
The Director of Environment accompanied the
Minister of Environment to London for two days of
meetings with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on
a variety of environmental issues.
Environmental Awareness and Public
Education
Education and publicity activities undertaken by the
Department of Environment in 2001 included the Earth
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Preservation Awards, the Historic Building and Site
Inventory, the Site Acquisition Programme, the Historic
Plaque Programme, and the Historic Education Programme.
aims to evolve into a self-funded, independent charity.
Not owned or funded by any governmental agencies, the
National Trust relies on community support through
membership, sponsorship, gifts and property admission
as well as the voluntary assistance of its members.
The Historic Preservation Awards
This was conceived to honour excellence in the restoration
or preservation of Cayman’s built heritage. The 1999
Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony was held at
Pedro St. James in June 2000, its 140 guests applauding nine
award-winning structures and their respective owners.
The Bank of Bermuda continued its support and
sponsorship and the next awards ceremony will be held
in May 2002.
Environmental Conservation
In the area of environmental conservation, the Land
Reserve Programme secures and protects critical natural
areas in Cayman.
The Trust currently owns and manages five major
nature reserves. Three are located on Grand Cayman – the
623-acre Salina Reserve, the 400-acre Mastic Reserve, and
592 acres within the Central Mangrove Wetlands. The
Sister Islands’ holdings include the 197-acre Cayman Brac
Parrot Reserve and the Little Cayman Booby Pond Nature
Reserve, which increased from 135 to 198 acres in 2001.
Habitat to two-thirds of the Islands’ only breeding colony
of Red-footed Boobies, the 63-acre purchase has brought
the entire breeding colony into conservation ownership.
The Trust’s cataloguing of the diversity of life in the
Cayman Islands is an ongoing project. The organization
maintains the Islands’ only permanent reference collection
of native plants in its herbarium, which currently contains
1,303 specimens. The insectarium, established in late 1993,
holds reference collections of local insects of all kinds.
The Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Programme
continues to be extremely successful, with reproduction
confirmed in captive-bred iguanas released in the Queen
Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Other work with endangered
species includes conservation research into the breeding
success of the Cayman Brac Parrot, and a successful bat
conservation programme that provides environmentally
beneficial options to affected homeowners.
Commenced in 1998 with funding from the UK
Government via the World Wildlife Fund – UK, a major
project to describe and map all of the Islands’ remaining
natural forests continued through 2000. The Trust has
been combining recent satellite imagery of the three
islands with detailed ground surveys, and aims to produce
maps in 2002 which will serve as a basis for conservation
planning well into the future.
The Historic Building and Site Inventory
This programme seeks to compile an extensive repository
of Cayman’s built heritage. It serves to broaden the
experience of Cayman’s history by way of graphic,
photographic, and written records that explain and
illustrate significant characteristics of Cayman’s heritage.
This programme provides the most comprehensive
connection to Cayman’s built heritage and is a powerful
research tool. There were more than 360 listings in the
inventory by the end of 2000, and new listings were being
continually added.
The Site Acquisition Programme
This programme aims, through outright ownership and/
or management, to protect places of particular historic
significance from further deterioration or demolition.
This programme enables the Trust to preserve, restore,
enhance, and interpret historically significant places for
visitor enjoyment and for posterity. At years’ end, the
Trust owned and/or managed nine historic properties in
Grand Cayman.
The Historic Plaque Programme
The Historic Plaque Programme honours structures of
historic significance. Distinguished by permanent cast
metal plaques, the five such recognized buildings are
situated in central George Town: the Public Library, the
Post Office, Elmslie Memorial Church, the Town Hall and
the Old Courts Building (now occupied by the Museum).
There are plans to add informational plaques in 2002.
The Education Programme
The Education Programme seeks to raise awareness of,
and appreciation for, Cayman’s built heritage to ensure
that the people’s sense of the richness of their history is not
diminished by the homogenizing impact of modern
construction. In 2000, several new educational initiatives
Historic Preservation
The Trust has adopted five specific programmes to
promote awareness of, and appreciation for, Cayman’s
built heritage. These programmes include the Historic
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were introduced to bring children and their built heritage
closer together. These included guided walking tours of
historic George Town and Boggy Sand Road in West Bay
and living history experiences at the Savannah
Schoolhouse.
Increased numbers of schoolchildren benefited from
additional staff resources providing for increased numbers
of tours and presentations at all educational levels. Adult
education also experienced a moderate boost, with
presentations to a variety of groups and the development
of partnerships and collaborative initiatives with other
like-minded organizations.
Volunteers enhance the Trust’s visibility and capacity
to serve by contributing educational materials and
bringing additional media exposure to an increasing
number of subjects. One initiative that has benefited from
this type of volunteer involvement is that of bat awareness
and education, which continues to have significant impact.
resources into the new National Curriculum currently
being introduced in all government schools. In addition,
the Trust has worked to increase resource materials and
make school visits and field trips more easily accessible.
A new children’s story collection was published.
Entitled Fish Tea…a Collection of Caymanian Tales, it features
nine illustrated stories based on environmental and
historical themes. In addition to being available for sale
at retail outlets as a fundraiser, the book/CD collection
was donated to schools. The Trust continued the slide
show presentation of The Little Things to local service clubs
and other interested parties.
Another highlight of the year was the production of
a young person’s video counterpart to the Trust’s popular
pamphlet, Historical Walking Tour of George Town. This was
made possible through assistance of Government
Information Services (GIS) and students and faculty at the
St. Ignatius Catholic High School. The Trust’s executive
director has been making regular public appearances
with a dynamic PowerPoint presentation giving an
overview of the National Trust, its mission, projects and
advocacy. Attendees throughout the Islands have
welcomed these presentations.
Fundraisers included the annual gala, a cricket event
and the year-round sale of Trust products. In addition to
membership fees and grants, the National Trust is highly
dependent on private donations and community goodwill.
For further information, contact Trust House,
Tel: (345) 949-0121; Fax: (345) 949-7494;
E-mail [email protected], visit the website
www.caymannationaltrust.org, or write PO Box 31116
SMB, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
Mission House
The Mission House Restoration Project received an exciting
boost in 2001 when QSPV, a joint venture between Maples
and Calder and Queensgate Bank and Trust Co. Ltd.,
donated US $200,000. The Webster Foundation also
generously donated $5,000. These gifts, along with the
original $90,000 donation have provided adequate funds
to begin and complete the physical restoration.
Approximately $300,000 remains to be raised and a project
manager was expected to be recruited in 2002.
Miss Izzy’s Schoolhouse
Great strides were taken in 2001 to document this structure
through a series of photographs, measured drawings,
interviews and research, in an effort to ensure that the
Trust applies international restoration standards. A
comprehensive conservation plan, that includes longterm maintenance proposals for the schoolhouse, was
underway and a project manager was named.
The Savannah Schoolhouse
In partnership with the National Gallery and the National
Museum, the Trust has reopened the Old Savannah
Schoolhouse for one day a week to display and sell native
artwork. The Old Savannah Schoolhouse is open to the
public from Monday through Friday, by appointment only.
Public Education
Continuing its close relationship with the Department of
Education, the Trust was able to integrate a variety of
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The Natural Environment
Spiny lobster sheltering within
mangrove roots - Little Sound
Environmental Zone, Grand Cayman.
Cayman's efforts to replenish endangered wild Loggerhead
turtle numbers are widely acclaimed.
Mangrove restoration project - propagules being planted
at the DoE compound.
Red Mangrove rootrs fringing the North Sound
provide a unique sheltering environment for
many marine creatures.
A diminished cluster of spawning Nassau Grouper.
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