It’s been four years since Global Response began campaigning to protect the mangroves and marine ecosystem of Bimini Island in the Bahamas – and now we can celebrate a victory!
The Bahamian government has officially established a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in North Bimini – as we urged them to do in several rounds of Global Response letters.
Now the government will have to apply the strict environmental standards required for human activity within its MPAs to the proposed expansion of the Bimini Bay Resort. In its proposed Phase 2 construction, the Resort wants to build a golf course in an area which now lies within the MPA borders. Since the golf course would destroy mangroves and pollute Bimini’s marine environment, it should not be approved within an established Marine Protected Area.
We will continue to collaborate with the very dedicated Bahamian environmental organizations EARTHCARE and ReEARTH, and with the Bimini Bay Research Station and Sharklab to defend Bimini’s remarkably rich and diverse marine ecosystem. We appreciate the very active collaboration of other international organizations, especially Mangrove Action Project, the Shark Trust, and Tourism Concern.
Now here’s the “thank you” we’ve received from EARTHCARE’s Gail Woon. Congratulations on contributing to another victory for environmental protection!
Dear Global Response members and administration:
EARTHCARE would like to extend its heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all of your hard work and dedication for supporting the people of Bimini to protect and defend the tiny island from the megadevelopment, Bimini Bay.. Thanks to your efforts and your many letters over the years, the Government of The Bahamas has listened and in December, 2008 designated the Northern part of North Bimini a Marine Protected Area, finally! We are hoping that this designation will help to protect the wetlands from the construction of the proposed golf course. Please know that this could not have happened without your valuable assistance. We are indebted to Global Response and its members. Thank you!
Ecologically yours,
Gail Woon
EARTHCARE
P. O. Box F 40064
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
The Bahamas
earthcare.bahamas@yahoo..com
