The technical advisory committee for integrated coastal zone management in the country hosted a one day workshop at the Balmoral Club for stakeholders in the fight to mitigate coastal erosion due to climate change.
The Minister of Public Works and Utilities, the Hon. Alfred Sears opened the workshop and brought remarks. He said, “it goes without saying that the entire Bahamas is a coastal country. In fact, our coastal zone encompasses our inland resources, beaches, mangrove forests, coral reefs and extends across our deepest waters to the outer boundaries of our exclusive economic zone, according to the definition proposed by Horsely and Witten in 2002. Therefore we need to adapt now.”
With the threat of significant sea level rise increasing, Minister Sears says that this heightens the need for the integrated coastal zone management in The Bahamas. He went further stating, “our coastal resources also provides us with a myriad of benefits such as food, medicine, storm protection, tourism, transportation and cultural and spiritual inspiration. However, this precious and invaluable resource is under threat by pollution, coastal erosion, illegal and under regulated activities.”
The program in headed by the Ministry of Public Works and Utilities. Four contractors including the Bahamas National Trust, Mott McDonald Ltd. and Smith Warner International.
