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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Lucayan National Park Highlighted at Caribbean Biodiversity Meetings
During the 2nd Annual Caribbean Biodiversity Fund Meeting, the Grand Bahama Branch of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) hosted fifteen participants, including Board Chair, Jens Mackensen, to a tour of the Lucayan National Park. Park Warden Ellsworth Weir hosted the tour and gave guests fun facts on the park and its cave system. Participants in the tour congratulated the BNT on a job well done, as they noted that the tour was one of the high points of the meeting.
(Photo:BNT)
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Freeport, Bahamas – During the 2nd Annual Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF)
Meeting held last week, the Grand Bahama Branch of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) hosted fifteen participants, including Board Chair, Jens Mackensen, to a tour of the most visited national park in The Bahamas, the Lucayan National Park.
“We are appreciative for the opportunity to host the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund Meeting group at our Lucayan National Park,” said Lakeshia Anderson, Grand Bahama Parks Manager. “We hope the visit not only provided an insight on the history and unique features of Lucayan National Park, but also afforded the group with a view of the realistic needs of the park for which funding generated from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and Bahamas Protected Area Fund can support.”
GB Park Warden Ellsworth Weir hosted the tour and gave guests fun facts on the park and its intricate cave system which was once used as a ceremonial burial site by the Lucayan Indians. He also elaborated that the vegetation in the park is a good representation of the ecosystems found in The Bahamas, and showcased the ‘Remepedia’ – a rare cave dwelling crustacean previously thought to be extinct, which was discovered in Ben’s Cave, one of the entrances to the Lucayan Caverns, which was once the longest underwater cave system in the world.
The CBF team also toured the southern section of the park observing fish and birds within the tidal creek and mangroves, and enjoyed an excellent swim at one of the loveliest beaches in the Bahamas, Gold Rock Beach. This park was an important site for the team to visit as the BNT is currently pursuing the expansion of Lucayan National Park to increase protection to sensitive marine habitats, to include the offshore reefs, and the majority of Gold Rock Creek.
“I wanted to convey the heartfelt thanks and appreciation that the participants of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund meeting expressed during their visit to the Lucayan National Park on Friday,” said Jens Mackensen, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund Chair. “Many of the participants expressed their joy at seeing such beautiful and diverse ecosystems. Ellsworth was the best tour guide ever!”
The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund’s objective is to provide a sustainable flow of funds to support conservation and protection of biodiversity throughout the Caribbean. The BNT’s Director of Finance & Operations, Karen Panton, represented the Bahamas National Trust at the CBF meeting, and was accompanied by BNT Grand Bahama staff. Fieldtrip participants congratulated the BNT on a job well done, as they noted that the tour was one of the highlights of the meeting.
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