|
|
News |
|
|
|
Opinion |
|
|
|
SKN Observer |
|
|
|
Advertising |
|
|
|
Resources |
|
|
|
| The Nature Conservancy Holds Marine Workshop in Nevis |
| By Patrice Pemberton |
|
|
 |
Workshop attendees |
| |
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a U.S. environmental conservation group based in Arlington, VA, held a two-day workshop on Thursday and Friday, June 10 & 11, at the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union Conference Room in Charlestown.
The workshop, focused on supplying a marine zoning plan, was one of many that have been aimed at helping local fisheries and fishers. The information provided was targeted at locating the best places in the surrounding waters to fish.
Speaking exclusively to The Observer on Thursday morning, Christiansted, USVI-based Ruth Blyther, TNC’s Eastern Caribbean Programme Director, said that the organization had a global reach.
“We work with a country to help them meet the commitments made under certain conventions,” she said.
“So what we are focusing on is the future -- what is St. Kitts and Nevis going to be like? What do the people here want it to be like? Do you want your children and grandchildren to be able to enjoy the same things that you enjoyed in your lifetime, such as fish, beaches, and clean drinking water?”
Blyther said that she is aware of the fact that small island states have very limited resources. However, in such states the positive changes are evident, and development has come a long way.
Though tourism is great, one should never hesitate to exercise caution in planning and managing scarce resources, according to Blyther.
“We will work with your fisheries, fishers, planners, and anybody who lives here who is willing to give their input to the project. It is coming up with a plan for your sea,” said the visiting TNC representative.
So far, local fishers have been cooperative despite being repeatedly interviewed by consulting firms and other interested parties. Specially invited persons from St. Kitts have also reportedly attended some consultations.
Blyther, who hails from Northern California, noted that she has been working with TNC for four years, which has encompassed projects involving fisheries.
She informed that many of the issues small islands face are of concern in Northern California as well, but there are also important differences.
“Small islands states have very unique problems, and Northern California being a large, rich area, we are able to make more mistakes and ignore that we made them, whereas here in a small island, it really shows up,” she said.
“There is only so much space, water, fish etc. We need to be good stewards of what we have been given.”
According to the Director of Fisheries on Nevis, Lemuel Pemberton, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is sponsoring the consultations, of which there are more to come.
The final marine zoning plan has to be completed and presented to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis by November of this year. Once the plan has been presented, it will be up to the government to implement it.
TNC’s mission is to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. For more information on TNC, visit www.nature.org. |
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
