Forestry Awareness Week (F.A.W)

Forestry Awareness Week is a week of activities held to commemorate World Forestry Day/ International Day of Forests, which is celebrated annually on 21st March. The observance of this day is meant to celebrate and promote the significant benefits provided by trees. It is also intended to educate the public and build awareness on matters affecting forests.
 

Resources:

Memorandum of Understanding between Forestry Unit and the BNT

Realizing the shortage of forestry officers, the Forestry Unit formulated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between themselves and The Bahamas National Trust (BNT), the lead NGO in the Bahamas.  A Funding Agreement between the Forestry Unit and BNT was also drafted which states that the Government of the Bahamas will pay BNT an additional $100,000.00 in its annual subvention, to allow BNT Park Wardens to function as authorized officers under the Forestry Act 2010. This was for the 2012-2014 fiscal period.  The funding agreement has now ended but the MOU is still in effect.
 

As part of the Funding Agreement, The BNT was required to keep full and accurate accounts. Records on the conduct of forestry related activities by its Park Wardens (including a progress report on activities conducted, the receipt and use of funds) were also made available to the Forestry Unit for its record keeping.  The BNT provided quarterly reports to the Forestry Unit on forestry related activities carried out by Park Wardens in any forest estate area under their charge. 

Lindar Industries Ltd. - Issuance of five (5) year renewable Timber Harvesting Licence

The Ministry of the Environment (Forestry Unit) made the necessary administrative and financial arrangements to commence a forest management programme for the Bahamas, and has awarded a five (5) year renewable timber harvesting Licence to Lindar Industries Ltd on 24^th November 2011 to systematically thin out two areas of Crown Land pine forest in Abaco to produce high end finished timber products for sale to the local markets. Despite several challenges, Lindar Industries is now actively engaged in its timber harvesting operations.

Technical Co-operation Programme (TCP) in Forestry with the Food and Agriculture Organization

A Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) for forestry was sought from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to assist in implementing the forest management programme. In February 2012, FAO granted approval to fund $US 440,000.00 for a two (2) year TCP forestry project, titled “Forest Management Pilot and Training in Abaco” (TCP/BHA/3401). As part of the project, a FAO consultant was retained to train Bahamians in forest management practices.  The first training workshop was held on New Providence followed by the second one which was held on Abaco from 30^th January – 1^st February 2013.  The specific objectives were to train Bahamians in basic forest management (including forest inventory techniques, establishing permanent sample plots, monitoring of logging operations, use of GIS and GPS technologies to produce base maps, preparation of basic forest management plans), and to address visibility and stakeholder awareness of the project and timber harvesting licence activities on Abaco Island by Lindar Industries.

Fifteen participants from the Bahamas National Trust (8), Department of Environmental Health Services (2), The Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (2), Friends of the Environment (1) and 2 private citizens, were taken to the Treasure Cay, Abaco area on the first day and the Spring City area on the two other days.  On each day, field activities were scheduled with the results and outcomes intended to mirror real life case studies and situations.  The training workshops were highlighted on several occasions on TV on Bahamas At Sunrise.  The newspapers, The Punch (11-02-2013) published articles about the forestry project.  A town meeting was also held in Marsh Harbour, Abaco during the training spearheaded by the Forestry Unit which highlighted not only the training but also forestry in The Bahamas and the economic potential for this industry in Abaco.

The project ended in December 2014 and a decision was made to grant the FAO Consultant an additional three year contract with the Forestry Unit.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Full-Sized Project Proposal Related to the Land Degradation Focal Area Strategy Entitled: Pine Islands –Forest/Mangrove Innovation and Integration (Grand Bahama, New Providence, Abaco and Andros)

This project is consistent with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) V: Strategy for Sustainable Forest Management and Focal Area Strategies for Land Degradation and Biodiversity.  It will adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and further contribute to the linkages between ecosystems and human well being.  It has been identified as the highest of priorities by the GEF Secretariat and the Government of The Bahamas.

The key deliverables under the project are:

1. Enhanced enabling environment in support of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) with integration of Biodiversity into land use planning;
2. Increased targeted public awareness of the importance and benefits of sustainably managing forest & mangrove biodiversity, ecosystems services and sustainable land management;
3. Improved management effectiveness of existing and new forest reserves;
4. Strengthened livelihoods of people dependent on the use of forest resources - increased use of sustainable land, agro-forestry and forestry management practices among  coastal communities.

In March 2013, the GEF Council approved grant funding for the project at $2.8 million.  The Bahamas’ contribution is $5.6 million (from private and public sectors) and this will take the form of Grant and In-kind contributions.  The Government of The Bahamas authorized the Minister of the Environment and Housing to engage stakeholder agencies in order to facilitate the Government’s indicative In-Kind contributions and Grant funding.  The Executing Partners are the Forestry Unit and the BEST Commission.  Other partners include: the Department of Physical Planning, the Department of Lands and Surveys, The Bahamas National GIS Centre, The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, Bahamas Straw Market Authority, Lindar Industries, The Grand Bahama Port Authority, The Bahamas National Trust, Friends of the Environment and The Andros Conservancy and Trust.  The duration of the project is projected to be 48 months. 

Each stakeholder agency is asked to assist the Government in meeting its financial obligations under this project. In some cases financial targets have been set for some agencies.  Other agencies that do not have targets set are asked to provide appropriate funding based on their size and budgets.  Generous financial allocations will ensure that this very important project comes to fruition.

Economic Analysis of Invasive Species Management in the Caribbean-Proposed Case Study- Casuarina Control on Eleuthera Island, The Bahamas

The Bahamas is implementing the regional project entitled “Mitigating the Threats of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular Caribbean” (MTIASIC) in tandem with four (4) countries in the region, namely, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. The purpose of the project is for the prevention, eradication or management of specific invasive alien species of precedence, through local demonstration projects in perspective countries.
 

The MTIASIC project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and regionally executed by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), and implemented through CAB International Caribbean and Latin America. The Department of Marine Resources is the National Executing Agency for the project and has partnered with the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology (BEST) Commission, Bahamas National Trust (BNT), the Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF) to fulfill its objectives.
 

An integral component of the project was an Economic Valuation workshop in March 2013 in Trinidad. Cabinet approved the participation of the Forestry Unit in the workshop.  Subsequent to the workshop, the Forestry Unit and The Bahamas National Trust partnered to work on a project targeting one botanical terrestrial invasive species, namely Casuarina (Australian Pine).  Research is being done by both agencies to conduct a case study where a cost benefit analysis regarding management options for Casuarina are investigated.  Four proposed management options are:

1. Do Nothing
2. Public Private Partnership of control (removal and replacement with native trees, followed by annual monitoring)
3. Public Education Programme (Town meetings, radio, television, newspaper, brochures, pamphlets)
4. Integrated Approach of control involving removal, replacement with native trees and public awareness campaign

As part of the project, two surveys were designed by the Forestry Unit to garner the views of Eleutherans on which management option they would be most willing to support.  The surveys were given to wide cross section of Eleutherans for completion.
 

The project study site is a portion of the Governor’s Harbour Airport which is dominated by Casuarina.  Field measurements of trees in certain areas were taken to serve as sample points to ascertain the stand density and diameter classes.

Proposed Projects

Production of the National Forest Plan for the National Forest Estate

The process will commence for the preparation of a National Forest Plan and Forest Management Plans for the National Forest Estate once the estate is declared. Appropriate guidelines will be set to effectively and efficiently manage Bahamian forests.

Town meetings and media appearances

It is the intention of the Forestry Unit to conduct additional town meetings to disseminate information on the Forestry Act, the benefits of forests and the economic potential and opportunities that can be derived from sustainable timber harvesting and production.  Television appearances have already been made on Bahamas at Sunrise and several interviews with forestry personnel have been aired on the television (ZNS and Cable 12).  A presentation on the Economic potential of forestry for small and medium sized businesses was given at both the Grand Bahama and Abaco Business Outlook Seminars on 14^th March 2013 and 25^th September 2013 respectively.

As part of Forestry Awareness Week 2015, the Forestry Unit appeared on Love 97, Island FM, Peace FM and Bahamas at Sunrise during the month of March to disseminate information to the public on the significant benefits provided by forests.

A proclamation from Prime Minister Christie also appeared in both The Nassau Guardian and Tribune declaring 16th-21st March 2015 as Forestry Awareness Week.