Environmental policy and administrative management

The project will focus on a South Andros Island site which is approximately 25,200 square feet (300 ft. by 84 ft.) and is boarded by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and a restricted/impacted wetland on the east. The area is located south of the old dock at Munnings Point. The project site is encapsulated in a larger area, estimated at 20 hectares. The land is presently under lease by Nature s Hope for Southern Andros and as this project s objective of coastal restoration is in keeping with NHSA objectives for the area there is synergy between the two regarding the proposed use of the land. The SACR-CP project will remove approximately 40 casuarinas between 1 to 4 feet in diameter, along with other shrub type invasive in the project site. a. Once the invasive species are removed from the coastline (300feet) the area will be replanted with native coastal vegetation (provided through funding by BNT) to help stabilize the coastline and aid in abating the erosion. b. The upper portion of the land will be replanted with coconuts provided by Ministry of Agriculture and sourced from various areas throughout the community. The project site was once an historic coconut grove and there still exist stands of palms along the coast and a few trees on the site. The objective would be to reestablish the coconut grove stands and manage the stands through community training workshops provided by Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) who will provide an Agronomist for the project. The settlement s High school will also utilize the area with its students participating in the management and care of the trees and the native coastal plants through an outdoor classroom experience. OP5 - Objectives 10:2 & 3 Enhance and strengthen capacities of CSO to engage in consultative processes, apply knowledge management to ensure information flows, implement convention guidelines and monitor and evaluate environmental impacts and trends 2. The project will start out with 50-100 additional coconuts being planted on the site and would require that these trees be tended and cared for regularly to prevent the lethal yellowing disease from taking hold. The Ministry of Agriculture will provided training to the students and community members (SAHMA and its partners) in the proper care of the palms. The community will provide a water source to the area to ensure that the trees are able to take hold. The 50-100 additional trees will yield their first crop of fruits in 4-6 years with each tree yielding 40-100 nuts per year. a. The involvement of the school, local Famers Association, and SAHMA members will ensure that the coconut trees and the native coastal plants are managed beyond the life of the project. The students will implement school projects to monitor the results of the invasive species removal and reintroduction of the natives at the site and their effects on the erosion rate in comparison to other areas outside the project site. b. Training workshops in the care, treatment and sustainable harvesting of coconut trees by MOA will provide additional knowledge to the general community and the Farmers Association, particular those who are presently starting or already have small groves planted throughout the community. The participants will be given information relative to the preservation of the pine forestry, replanting of coconut groves and the issues with invasive alien species. c. The agro-processing workshop will provide information to the entire community and SAHMA members in the processing of coconut material. The Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation (BAIC) will also conduct training workshop in small business management. BAIC is a co-sponsor and has agreed to in-kind services that will cover all printed materials, advertising and use of a room for the training workshops. These efforts will allow the members of South Andros to establish and strengthen cottage industries based on use of the coconut and other materials. The use of the coconut trees as a main business resource will ensure that the trees would be sustained and looked after for many years. d. The removal of the casuarinas trees will also be used in the production of coal. The process for the conversion of the casuarinas wood to coal will be taught and lead by the School. Other uses for the wood will be the construction of stalls/booths for the community park. Where possible the wood will also be used in the manufacture of furniture like benches and small crafts. e. Additional workshops will also result from this project. These workshops will focus on training the females in the community in the art of coconut crafts (straw and shell). Fifty (50) young people who attend SAHMA Heritage Summer Youth Camp annually and twenty (20) who are members of SAHMA Youth Club will be benefactors of this workshop along with the women in the community. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will assist with the purchase of equipment and a Trainer for the Agro processing and coconut shell craft manufacturing.

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