By Carol Winker, carol@cfp.ky
Thursday 6th April, 2006 Posted: 23:12 CIT (04:12 +1 GMT)

Of the 30 people who attended an environmental seminar on Tuesday night, most seemed surprised that a draft National Conservation Law has not become a reality.

The White Paper for the law was presented to the Legislative Assembly in early 2002, explained Mrs. Gina Petrie�??Ebanks, Director of the Department of Environment. The White Paper was then released for public discussion, receiving extensive coverage in the Caymanian Compass.

Now, in 2006, a National Conservation Law is still in draft form.

The subject came up during discussion of invasive plants and animals and the dangers they pose to Cayman�??s native species.

Invasives are introduced either deliberately or accidentally; they become established and then overcome the native ecosystem, guest speaker Dr. Karen Varnham explained.
At present, the only legislation covering conservation and protection of Cayman�??s native plants and animals are the Animals Law enacted in 1976 and the Marine Conservation Law of 1978.

Dr. Mat Cottam of the Department of Environment pointed out that so many issues have arisen since the 1970s. �??Cayman is a whole new world since then,�?� he commented.
One disturbing fact emphasised the need for updating legislation. Dr. Varnham referred to the alien green iguana that is now so common in the western part of Grand Cayman. It is rapidly moving east and could threaten the less aggressive and less numerous Cayman blue iguanas.

But the Animals Law protects green iguanas because it makes no distinction, she pointed out. The law reads: �??Iguanas and all non�??domestic game birds are protected animals.�?�
Draft law

Dr. Colin Clubbe, who spoke about invasive and endangered plants, urged residents to safeguard threatened species and important habitats by working on action plans supported by appropriate legislation. �??Get your draft National Conservation Law,�?� he urged.

When members of the audience questioned the effect of development on natural habitats, Mrs. Ebanks�??Petrie said Cayman does not have any legislation that mandates environmental impact assessments.

Planning decisions are left up to the Central Planning Authority, she pointed out. The Department of Environment can make recommendations, but if the CPA doesn�??t agree or doesn�??t follow through, �??it won�??t happen.�?�

Environmental assessments are not panaceas, either, she warned. But if they are done, there would at least be better understanding of consequences, she indicated.
Asked about a plan in Florida that requires developers to plant 14 trees for ever acre cleared, Mrs. Ebanks�??Petrie said the plants under the trees were important also, so the focus had to be on the whole habitat, not just clearing and then planting trees.
Dr. Clubbe remarked that many plants are imported for their ornamental value. It doesn�??t work to say people cannot import them; alternatives should be available, with commercial nurseries encouraged to provide native species.

The expense of higher labour costs here than in Florida, for example, might be offset by a tax on non�??native plants, he suggested.

Another important part of conservation is educating the public, Dr. Clubbe said. He showed a picture of an area in Barkers, West Bay, where the mangrove is bouncing back after Hurricane Ivan, while a line of casuarinas trees was blown over.

He said there was increasing evidence that invasive, non�??native species don�??t perform well in hurricanes. Now, however, there are stretches of beach where casuarina thickets are taking over.

There are several problems with casuarinas, he and Mrs. Ebanks�??Petrie explained. Although people like to look at them, they are shallow�??rooted, which is why they toppled in the storm. The thick layers of needles they drop smother other plant life.
Both he and Dr. Varnham emphasised public awareness and involvement. People should know what is native and what is not, she said. Promote pride in native species, she urged, adding that this is best achieved with children by the age 10.

The seminar was held at the Brasserie Conference Room. The Department of Environment hosted it as part of the Darwin Initiative Project, a UK government grant scheme that promotes protection of endangered and endemic species.