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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
A top specialist from the Office of International Affairs of the US
National Park Service recently toured protected areas and other sites on
Andros as a guest of the Bahamas National Trust during a personal visit
with his family. Jonathan Putnam is the World Heritage Programme
Officer and Western Hemisphere specialist for the Park Service. He works
to build networks of national parks to help protect migratory species,
and to further conserve natural and cultural heritage.
“We stand to gain
by engaging with international colleagues on the issues of large land
(and sea) scapes and connectivity conservation,” Putnam said during a
photo opportunity. The BNT has enjoyed a longstanding co-operative
relationship with the US National Park Service - since a memorandum of
understanding was signed in 1995. Putnam’s Andros tour included visits
to Blue Hole National Park, Cousteau’s Blue Hole, the Forfar Field
Station near Blanket Sound, and Westside National Park. Talks were held
with local BNT officials about bird guide training, community support
for national parks, and school programmes like the Discovery Club.
Pictured from left (standing) are: BNT Warden Steve Smith, North Andros
High School Principal Edward Rolle, bird guides Edith Darrell, Velinda
and Ronnie Rolle, the Putnam family - Eli, Wendy, Jonathan and Ethan,
and BNT education officer Liz Brace. From left kneeling: Liz Richardson
and Tyler Stubbly of the Forfar Field Station.
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