The Bahamas Boasts
Bahamas listed among World’s Ten Best Ethical Destinations
By Barefoot Marketing / Bahamas National Trust
Dec 19, 2013 - 4:48:09 PM

Bahamas National Trust Photos

Nassau, Bahamas – Ethical Traveler, a non-profit organization that compiles an annual list of countries to visit around the world, has named The Bahamas in their World’s Ten Best Ethical Destinations for 2014. The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is proud that their initiatives were part of the major factors when compiling the list and they have helped return The Bahamas to the top ten.

“We’re pleased to welcome The Bahamas back to our list this year. Efforts to establish new Marine Protected Areas and the massive expansion of the number of protected acres in Andros West Side National Park are important steps towards conservation and sustainability,” stated the article published on the Ethical Traveler website which was released earlier this month.“

This is wonderful news for the BNT,” commented Eric Carey, Executive Director of the BNT. “This is good news for The Bahamas and it validates the work that we are doing. This also gives great justification for our efforts to convince the Government to create even more national parks. 2014.”In addition to mentioning the work the BNT is doing with national parks, the report also noted the environmental education programs in our islands. “Education programs for Bahamian youth were established more than 30 years ago.

Today, thousands of Bahamian school children have experienced nature through organized visits to national parks and award-winning presentations.”Portia Sweeting, BNT’s Director of Education commented “Increasing environmental stewardship in The Bahamas is a standing strategic objective of the BNT. We are really proud to have connected so many Bahamians to our national Parks through our education programmes. We strive to provide extraordinary hands-on national park encounters to engage school children, community and social youth groups as well as a large cadre of volunteers”.

Another important area that helped The Bahamas to make the list was its strength in protecting endangered animals. The article noted that The Bahamas has the world’s largest colony of flamingoes, the Bahama Parrot and Andros Iguana. Our protection of nature preserves, diving, coral reefs, sharks and the Andros Barrier reef were also noted.

The Bahamas made the list in 2012 and this positive return encourages the BNT to continue their work in preserving the Bahamian environment for years to come. Ethical Traveler describes themselves “an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, and a project of the Earth Island Institute. No money or donations of any kind are solicited or accepted from any nations, governments, travel bureaus or individuals in the creation of our annual list.”

The Bahamas National Trust was created by an Act of Parliament in 1959 to build and manage the national park system of the Bahamas. Possibly the only non-governmental organization in the world charged with such a responsibility the TRUST, as it is commonly known works daily to conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas, through stewardship and education for present and future generations. There are currently 27 National Parks managed by the TRUST with more than 1 million acres of marine and terrestrial areas protected.

Website: http://www.bnt.bs/

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