BBP in Brief, Issue 4, April 2005

Parks Partnership Project: Creating a Model for Developing Management Plans for Bahamian National Parks
Shenique Albury (Bahamas National Trust)

The Parks Partnership Project, led by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), seeks to increase and improve the capacity of the BNT to manage the national park system of The Bahamas. This partnership has been made possible by the generous financial support of The Bacardi Family Foundation, which has a longstanding interest in the natural environment of The Bahamas, and by the technical and financial support of The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

For one part of the project, the Partnership is working to create a model process for developing management plans for national parks in The Bahamas. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP) and the Central Andros National Parks System are the focal parks for this effort. The management planning team, comprised of BNT staff, park planning experts, and other stakeholders, completed the draft management plan for the ECLSP this past March. On March 31, a copy of the draft management plan was officially presented to Manuel Cutillias and Mr. Robert O'Brien (Bacardi Family Foundation), Eleanor Phillips (Director, Bahamas Country Program, TNC), and Colin Lightbourn (President, BNT).

Currently the plan is being circulated for public review and comment in hard copy and electronic formats. A public meeting was held in Nassau in late April and other meetings will be held in two Exuma Cays communities and George Town in May. During these meetings, stakeholders can talk with the planning team and submit written and oral comments. The specific dates and locations of public meetings will be announced through the BNT website and community announcements. Following review by stakeholders, the management planning team will make final revisions.

If you would like an electronic copy of the plan, visit http://www.bahamasnationaltrust.com and download a PDF version. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to Eric Carey, ecarey@batelnet.bs, mailed to P.O. Box N-4105, Nassau, The Bahamas or faxed to 242-393- 4978. The Bahamas National Trust must receive comments by May 31, 2005 to consider incorporating your suggestions into a final copy.