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STATUS REPORT FOR MAY 2007
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Introduction
On April 1st 2007, the
Environmental Stewardship Project started as part of the
Carlisle Bay Pilot Project.
This one-year pilot project
intends to establish a surveillance system to detect
environmental violations and report them to the relevant
agencies (any other violations to the law will be also
reported), increase public awareness in environmental issues and
implement strategies for the protection of the marine ecosystem
at Carlisle Bay. In order to achieve these goals, we need
stakeholder’s participation. They have to work together
with us to achieve effective stewardship. The idea is to create
a role model that can be implemented on the other beaches around
the island.
We propose to involve the
stakeholders in an environmental education program, for them to
fully understand what are the environmental challenges we are
facing, how to approach them and see how everyone can contribute
to solve them. Since we depend on the beach and its surrounding
marine environment, it is critical that all of us get together
in a united effort to protect it.
Environmental Education Stewardship Project
Prior to starting, the Stewards
were trained in the areas of: Marine pollution sources and how
to detect them, first aid, coral reef ecosystems, legislation
protecting the Marine Environment and boat training. They
were also briefed on the data collection methods proposed to
start the project.
In order to put a data collection
and monitoring program in place, the beach was divided into five
sections:
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from the Coast Guard to Bay
Shore
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from Bay Shore to Underwater
Barbados
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from Underwater Barbados to
the CZMU
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from the CZMU to the Police
Boys and Girls Club
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from the Police Boys and Girls
Club to the Grand Barbados Jetty and
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from the Grand Barbados Jetty
to the Hilton Groyne
All the construction and features
along the beach were identified and recorded.
Data Collection
The preliminary data collection
program for the project records:
(1) On land
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Beach use and type of users
per section.
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Outfall flow, garbage amount
and type in the outfall.
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Garbage amount and type at the
different locations of the beach.
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Violations of environmental
laws.
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Level of environmental
education of beach users.
(2) On water
- Use and
type of users
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Conditions of the buoys
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Amount
and type of garbage floating in the water
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Water
conditions and
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Violations
Communication to the general
public
Communication continues on the
beach between the stewards and the general public. Members of
the general public are taught about the "do’s and dont’s" of using
the marine environment. As stated in the paragraphs above,
steward training continues and the stewards become more
knowledgeable of their environment daily.
The Marine Police have offered to
deliver three modules on the areas of violations, observation
techniques and approaching people.
Additionally, the Drainage
Unit is willing to work with the EES to put in place an
intensive drain monitoring program. This will include a workshop
on drainage topography, characteristics and management,
understanding of storm-water flow, the Flow Control Act and
monitoring techniques.
The Barbados Sea Turtle Project is
willing to provide a Sea Turtle lecture including a field trip
to an area with turtle activity when the turtle season is at
its peak.
The Future Centre has agreed to
give a lecture on Biodiesel. This could also include a field
trip to the Centre.
Environmental education materials
are in preparation to assist the EES with their environmental
education campaign. Environmental Education Sections started
since last week to enhance the knowledge of the Stewards on
environmental issues in general.
A manual on
environmental education needs to be prepared as reference
material for the Stewards and for future training of Stewards
who
join the project. |
