From left: Pericles Maillis, conservationist, Robert McPhee, Project Manager, Environmental Response Concepts Ltd, discuss with workers the day’s clearing procedures.

Nassau, The Bahamas – The rehabilitation of a small lake situated near the area where Hobby Horse Hall Racetrack once stood recently became the focus of the environmental protection programme of Baha Mar Ltd, demonstrating just how far the developers intend to go in lessening the impact of the resort’s construction on the land and in protecting what they consider irreplaceable natural treasures.

The developers awarded the contract for cleaning up the verges of the lake and surrounding woodlands to Environmental Response Concepts, Ltd (ERC), a company which had the requisite experience in work of this nature. Committed to protecting what they see as a beauty spot and an unspoiled national treasure, they also brought in a longtime and highly respected Bahamian environmental advocate to instruct the land clearance team on how to identify and protect the natural wonders encapsulated in the delicate and beautiful biosphere that the lake and its environs represent.

Pericles Maillis, a former Bahamas National Trust President, first explained to workers what makes the area special and their vital role in protecting it.

“This is much more than a job that you all are engaged on. You are doing something which is going to be one of the most looked at and famous projects in the whole history of the Bahamas. Everybody is going to go up and down this road all the time, Bahamians and visitors, and this is going to be one of the prettiest drives in our whole country and is going to be famous, because it’s going to shock the public when they come through here,” Mr Maillis said.

The conservationist continued: “On one hand is the job creating infrastructure, and on this side is going to be quite a lot of nature and beauty and wildlife and you have the privilege to be the very first ones to put your hands on this. So when you do this job, besides doing the job for yourselves, for your employer, for your company, you’re also doing it for  our country…It will bring all of you in turn, your employer and yourselves, further and more employment.”

Additionally, Mr Maillis gave tips on which trees should be taken out and which should be left to flourish. He explained that foreign species such as the Brazilian pepper tree ( Schinus terebinthifolius)should be removed because they are invasive and even slightly poisonous. Having the ability to cover millions of acres in a short space of time, this tree, though pretty with its clusters of red berries,is ultimately destructive to the ecosystem and should be removed. On the other hand, it was important to preserve native flora such as black mangrove ( Avicennia germinanus), which contributes to the quality of wetlands.

To complement face-to-face instruction, Baha Mar has provided laminated pamphlets with pictures and information about protected species for workers in the field to help them recognize what needs to be protected.

Pericles Maillis demonstrates proper tree pruning

The ERC removal team was also given extensive pointers on how to prune branches from a tree without damaging the healthy portion, leaving it vulnerable to disease.

“When you go to cut a big branch…you run a notch underneath first then you cut on top,” Maillis informed. “If you don’t, when you get three quarters of the way through, it is going to split and the split is going to go back to the trunk. If you notch it underneath it will fall off clean. And also if it is a big, heavy branch that you’re cutting, living or dead, don’t do the first cut to be the last cut. Cut further out first and get rid of the main weight, and then come back and cut clean. The thing we need you to remember with big branches is—and with little ones when you get further down—if you go to do any under wooding, don’t cut the tree, don’t cut the branch right flush with the trunk. Every branch, if you look at it carefully, has a little hollow of bark and comes out where it’s a little wide where the branch comes out of the trunk. They call that the collar. Always go out a little bit; it’s not quite as pretty because you don’t have a smooth trunk.But, if you leave that collar the bark will grow back over the wound and not allow disease and insects and so forth to get in.”

James McPhee, Senior Technician/Project Manager, ERC explained why it was necessary to carry out lake job by hand.

“We are doing all of this work here manually. There will be no mechanical equipment such as bulldozers, tractors and that type of stuff. This is an eco-sensitive area and this is also an historical lake to The Bahamas. Right across the street was the Hobby Horse Racetrack and there are a lot of sentimental moments that took place in this vicinity. We were asked by our client to do it as eco-sensitive as possible…,” Mr McPhee said.

Clearing the site

“It brings less risk to the client and it also shows their love and concern for the environment based on fact that the methodology we use is manual,” McPhee commented. He explained that heavy-duty, mechanical equipment was not being used to avoid accidents that could contaminate the lake and its surroundings. A particular concern was the potential for the rupture of a hydraulic line of an earthmover.

“So, doing it manually is the best way to do it,” McPhee said. “The client ought to be commended for undertaking it this way.” The project manager informed that Environmental Response Concepts, Ltd was founded about five years ago. He said the company has on staff two senior geologists, environmental technicians and general laborers. The lake cleanup was their third project for Baha Mar. They were also responsible for cleaning up the golf course and maintenance facility.

Robert Sands, Senior Vice President, Government & External Affairs, commented on the clearing methodology and the extensive orientation that the Baha Mar underwrote for the benefit of the clearing team.

“The kind of care we are taking to ensure the protection of the ecosystem that the lake represents is an indication of the lengths to which we mean to go to protect this beautiful acreage on which Baha Mar resort is being fashioned. We at Baha Mar see ourselves as stewards of a great treasure. Harnessing the right expertise, we have put together an extensive and well-reflected preservation, conservation and protection plan to ensure that such pristine treasures as the Hobby Horse lake that have been put in our care will remain so for future generations to enjoy,” Mr Sands said.

The Baha Mar super resort was conceived to outrun every other regional mixed-use tourism development in terms of depth of investment, size and variety of amenities. Keeping close watch during the approvals process, local environmentalists expressed concern that the resort would cover thousands of acres encompassing several distinct biospheres. These comprise a sensitive sea coast, wetlands and forest. All provide a home to unique varieties of animal and plant life, the latter featuring such protected tree species as Brasiletto, Caribbean Pine, Horseflesh, Lignum Vitae, Mahogany, Silk Cotton, and Black Ebony.

Hobby Horse Hall Lake

Many fears were allayed when Baha Mar Ltd invited the consultation of the Bahamas National Trust and other local nature advocates, hired a team of conservation experts to inform the development of a comprehensive environmental protection and enhancement plan and to guide its realization and tackle issues before they become unmanageable. Supervising the group is Gary Larson, Baha Mar’s new Director of Environmental Affairs, former executive director of the Bahamas National Trust.

An examination of the Baha Mar environmental plan shows that it has kept to the pattern that developers established from day one—it is bigger and better than anything that has gone before it. Securing the integrity of the Hobby Horse Hall lakeis just one part of the sculpting of a 71.4 acre wildlife and wetland sanctuary that will support the area’s valuable flora and fauna. The latter includes one the richest preserves of bird life on New Providence. Baha Mar has earmarked $1 million to fund the infrastructure and enhancement of an interpreted wetland sanctuary, complete with boardwalks and signs that will allow Bahamians and visitors to enjoy the beauties of the area in a sustainable way. An additional $1 million will be placed in a trust to support the ongoing maintenance and management of the area.

Robert Sands noted, “Exercising corporate responsibility is not optional for Baha Mar. It is essential to the success of the kind of resort and visitor experience we aim to deliver. It is essential to the protection of an important part of the national patrimony of The Bahamas.”

Sands continued, “Baha Mar wants to lead the way in conscientious resort development that sees the people, the society and country as stakeholders and partners, and results in benefit for all—that’s the true meaning of sustainable. Baha Mar is not just about the creation of a resort, it is about the revitalisation of the Cable Beach area that will stimulate business and create opportunities for Bahamians, as much as for our visiting guests.”

The Baha Mar development will include almost 3,500 rooms and a variety of residential options, the largest casino in the Caribbean, the largest convention centre in The Bahamas, a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, three spas, a 20-acre eco-water park, multiple restaurants, high-end retail and entertainment venues. The project will be situated along a half-mile of uninterrupted pristine beachfront and will be further distinguished by its nature sanctuary. It is estimated that the Baha Mar resort will have cost some $3.4 billion at completion.Chairman and CEO of Baha Mar is Mr. Sarkis Izmirlian.