UNESCO SIV Continues Work on "Man and the Biosphere Project"
~~Adz:Left~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 04, 2008 (SKNIS): As one of the more active territories of UNESCO Small Islands Voice St. Kitts and Nevis is laying the groundwork to take part in the “Man and the Biosphere Project.”
This project enables participating country-members of UNESCO to improve the relationship of people with their environment globally. It targets the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of biodiversity loss and the reduction of this loss. Chief among the programme’s activities is the development of a World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Chairperson of the SIV Environment Sub-Committee Mr. Austin Farier explained that his committee is investigating an area along the coastline stretching from Keys to Cayon on St. Kitts as a prospective biosphere reserve. He said that the project is in the data collection phase and thus far it was found that certain species of turtles and two species of birds nest on the beach and in the vegetation of the selected area.
Members of the general SIV committee expressed that the selected area was the perfect venue for a reserve. The challenges of sand mining and fill mining were also queried and it was noted that they are being dealt with along with the need to determine exact boundaries. Mr. Farrier had been able to attend a portion of the Man and the Biosphere Meeting held in Jamaica from September 16 to 19, 2008.
Representatives of the other sub-committees also gave their reports. Among other things the Education Sub-committee informed that three SIV Conch Shells of the Back Chat Student Group were in the Cook Islands of the Pacific taking part in a UNESCO Pacific-Caribbean Youth Cultural Exchange which ran from October 20 to November 01. Makeila Armstrong, Markysa O’Loughlin and Jherez Taylor had been chosen because of their active participation in the SIV youth programme.
The Public Relations and Display Board Sub-Committee reported that the main activity had been coordinating the placement of the Display Board at various functions including the National Agricultural Exhibition which was held September 11 to 13. It was noted that several of the volunteers, who explained the board to visitors and handed out brochures, included Back Chat students who worked in two-hour shifts.
The upcoming SIV meeting will be scheduled for late November.
