CHARLESTOWN,Nevis, Friday, February 12, 2016 -- Participants at the public consultation on the "Conserving Biodiversity and Reducing Habitat Degradation in Protected Areas and their Areas of Influence" project held on Thursday at the Red Cross Building gave an input into the amendments required to ensure that relevant legislation is put in place.
The public consultation was facilitated by Ms Shemica Maloney, Legal Consultant who updated the participants on the National Conservation and Environment Management Act NCEMA. Mrs Claudia Drew, National Project Coordinator and Ms. Phynora Ible, Project Administrative Assistant coordinated the consultation.
Participants were drawn from all sectors. They included lawyers , legal assistants, teachers, and representatives from departments of Fisheries, Marine Resources, Agriculture, Physical Planning and Environment. The Private sector, Developers, NGOs and media were represented.
One of the major outcomes of the project is a Protected Areas Agency that will operate as an independent statutory body. “It is expected that by the end of this project, these areas will be designated protected areas,” Mrs Drew said.
In Thursday’s consultation, the legal consultant led the participants to give their input to amendments on the National Conservation and Environment Management Act(National Conservation and Environment Management Act(ENCEMA). This Act when gazetted will repeal the National Conservation Environment Protection Act(ENCEPA). The Act will govern everything to do with environment.
“It is expected that by the end of this project, these areas will be designated as Protected Areas. In today’s consultation, the legal consultant is looking at ENCEMA National Conservation and Environment Management Act. This Act when it is gazetted will repeal ENCEPA which is the National Conservation Environment Protection Act. The Act will govern everything to do with environment,” the Project Coordinator said.
Ms Maloney explained that the legislation is part of a bigger project funded by the United Nations Development Program(UNDP) and GEF. “The primary purpose is to update our laws. We do have a legislation called the National Conservation and Preservation Act. It is hoped that the new Act, ENCEMA, will replace that Act with updated provisions. Also we are hoping to see the revival of the Conservation Commission and actually have it function properly in the new Act and also the establishment of the Protection Agency to protect the existing ones and the designated protected areas in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
She further said: “This update is in keeping with our national desire to see our environment properly managed and also keep our obligations on our international environmental treaties. It is a good initiative and it should be supported by all the relevant stakeholders and the public,” the project’s legal consultant said.
Developers present felt strongly that the envisaged legislation might interfere with existing construction projects and proposed projects. They recommended that Planning Department liaise with the developers before they halt building projects as abrupt interference led to loss of jobs.
The areas already protected are the Central Forest Reserve National Park and the Royal Basseterre National Park. The proposed areas that need protection are The Narrows Management Area, Bobby Island Nature Reserve, Sandy Point Marine Park, Key Marine Park and Nevis Peak National Park and the Camps River Watershed Area.
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