Conservation law still up in the air

By: Basia McGuire Pioro
The Observer

The state of conservation in the Cayman Islands has been in flux in recent years, as government after government has made promises to enact a comprehensive conservation law that would protect Cayman’s natural areas.

In the most recent development, MLA Ellio Solomon announced on January 14 that the minister responsible for the Environment portfolio, Mark Scotland, hoped to revive the law and get it passed as soon as possible.

The Minister explained that he hopes to set in motion a process that will allow him to table a new version of the bill in the June session of the Legislative Assembly.

“Right now, we intend to start a public consultation process with key stakeholders like the tourism association, real estate association, and the National Trust, then move on to coordinating meetings with the general public.”

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How High Will Seas Rise? Get Ready for Seven Feet

by Rob Young and Orrin Pilkey
Yale 360

As governments, businesses, and homeowners plan for the future, they should assume that the world’s oceans will rise by at least two meters — roughly seven feet — this century. But far too few agencies or individuals are preparing for the inevitable increase in sea level that will take place as polar ice sheets melt. Read whole story here.

After Copenhagen - the Tactics and the Treaty

In the wake of the COP-15 summit in Copenhagen, the first Earthcast of 2010 is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27th (17:00 GMT, 12:00 EST, 9:00 PST). This live interactive web event will examine the treaty that emerged, the negotiating tactics behind it, and what the next steps are likely to be.

Experts Michael Grubb, David Satterthwaite and Richard Smith will be dissecting the agreement and asking whether future negotiations can establish a binding treaty that sets ambitious limits for the large emitters while supporting developing nations financially and technologically.

To register, go to the following link.

A law to preserve Cayman’s environment is a must

The Observer

If Fred Burton’s dire predictions are correct, we are leaving our children and grandchildren a barren land.

He has intensely analysed satellite imagery of the vegetation on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

What he found was that by the end of this century there will be no natural environment left because of over population, which will naturally lead to over development.

Some people don’t really care about the future of the Cayman Islands, but we at the Observer on Sunday certainly do.

That’s why we are imploring our lawmakers, once again, to enact a thorough conservation law...read full story.

Blazing the Green Trail

By Basia Pioro McGuire
The Observer

When an English graduate research assistant named Fred Burton, stepped off a plane in Grand Cayman in 1979 looking for a bit of adventure, neither he nor the Island could have had an inkling of the significance the event would have.

Today, the former mosquito researcher has managed to help bring back Grand Cayman’s Blue Iguanas from the brink of extinction, been awarded an MBE for services in conservation of endangered species, and become the inaugural recipient of the Blue Turtle Award for nature conservation in the Overseas Territories and Crown Territories...read full story.

Environment Break: DOE on Daybreak in December and January

In the weeks following the international climate conference in Copenhagen, Donna Bush of "Daybreak" spoke with Lisa-Ann Hurlstone-McKenzie of the Sustainable Development Unit in the Cayman Islands Department of Environment about climate change and issues facing the Cayman Islands:
http://www.cayman27.com.ky./news/item/3745
http://www.cayman27.com.ky./news/item/3875