Friends of the Environment

Abaco, Bahamas

Development Concerns For South Abaco

There are 20,500 acres in south Abaco that will remain untouched by development. This is the Abaco National Park. In Spite of this protection, it does not mean that the park will be free from the effects of man.

When areas surrounding the park are disturbed, effecting the natural order of things, it opens the door to the invasion of invasive plants. Currently, there are no incidences of invasive plants within the National park area itself but within 10 miles in any direction, there are large stands of Casuarina trees as well as continuous hedges of Hawaiian Seagrape (Scaevola taccada).

Casuarinas have invaded significant portions of Cross Harbour's shoreline that is less than five (5) mile away from the park and both Casuarinas and Hawaiian Seagrapes are present in the Crossing Rock settlement.

Due to the abundance and closeness of these invasive plants and trees and the ease in which they spread along the shoreline it is believed that without taking action to remove these Invasives, there will be Invasives growing within the Abaco National Park within ten (10) years.

There is also concern that with residential development moving out of Marsh Harbour into more rural areas, that developers and homeowners need to take responsibility in regard to what they plant and what they remove from the land. Plantings can effect water resources, bird habitats and translocation of seeds to areas undesirable.

Be Responsible for the Environment around you and take action against invasive plants and trees. Consider the effects you actions will have on the environment and be a FRIEND not a FOE to the environment

THIS IS THE ONLY ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE!!

The Bahamas National Trust

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