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Posted: Thursday 27 August, 2015 at 12:14 PM

Government launches National Environment Projects

The Hon. Eugene Hamilton
By: Amanda Payne, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Department of Physical Planning and Environment yesterday (Aug. 26) launched two National Environment Projects – ‘Conserving biodiversity and reducing habitat degradation in protected areas and their areas of influence’ and ‘Climate change adaptation and sustainable land management in the OECS’.

     

    The launch was held at the Ocean Terrace Inn’s Conference Room and, in his opening remarks, Director of the Department of Physical Planning and Environment Randolph Edmeade gave an overview of the projects.

    “Currently there are four legally established protected areas, namely the Central Forest Reserve, Royal Basseterre Valley National Park, Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park and the Frigate Bay Recreational Park. US$3.67M dollars was sponsored by Global Environmental Facilities to kick start the project.”

    Edmeade went on to say: “These projects that we are launching focus on two critical environmental assets, biodiversity and soil, which are very important for our survival. They represent the largest funded environmental project financially undertaken in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

    Details on the aim of the projects were provided by Henry Mangal, a representative of the Barbados-based United Nations Development Programme.

    “We aim to strengthen policy and institutional regulations for protected areas (PA) and establish five new Pas; three marine and two terrestrial,” said Mangal.

    He declared that the two projects are at a cost of US$ 20.5M.

    The Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Minister with responsibility for Agriculture and Fisheries, was the keynote speaker and he made mention of the habitats that are compromised in lieu of development.

    “When we speak of biodiversity we speak of ecological complexes and complexities. Public claim is made of development which is ruining our ecosystems. We can easily get carried away and lose sight of the sustenance of our land.”

    Hamilton spoke to the value of land from the standpoint of residents as oppose to that of government.

    “On my campaign towards the 2015 Election, I made it clear that it is okay for individuals to view land as an asset that can be disposed of at any time of financial distress. Government must not view land in the same way! Government must not view land as an economic asset for their disposal, but as an economic resource for the future generation.”

    Touching on the climate change project, Hamilton pointed out that since 1992 the rise in sea level has tripled compared to that of 1900-1992.

    He informed that St. Kitts and Nevis would be represented at the United Nations Summit next month under the theme “Transforming our world the 2030 agenda for sustainable development”.

    The Biodiversity Project is slated to conclude in August 2019 while the Climate Project will conclude in November 2018. The Department of Physical Planning and Environment expects that by that time 17 percent of terrestrial habitats and 20 percent of marine habitats would become protected areas.
     
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