DoE promotes need for science in managing environment
(CNS): The three Cayman Islands have the largest remaining active Nassau grouper spawning aggregation site in the region. They also have an increasing nesting population of wild sea turtles and have brought the iconic blue iguana back from the brink of extinction. All of this and more has been achieved because of science-based decisions.
But even with these successes, the increasing environmental and socio-economic pressures from development, tourism and climate change continue to challenge Cayman’s ecological resources.
In a recent statement, the Department of Environment explained that, in the face of these challenges, continuing to make decisions based on scientific data and evidence will be critically important to protecting Cayman’s environment.
But with the recent failed attempt by the UPM Cabinet to gut the National Conservation Act, followed by the removal of the NCC technical experts and scientists, there are concerns that efforts to protect the environment are under attack because of the pressure from developers and the construction sector.
While the outgoing UPM administration has consistently complained about a need for balance regarding development and conservation, in reality the balance between the two has been skewed for years towards the former.
There are real concerns now that the unchecked development will continue to take priority even though many Caymanians no longer feel any benefit from continued construction that undermines the islands’ dwindling natural resources without advancing their quality of life.
The NCA, steered through parliament in 2013 by Wayne Panton, the environment minister at the time, after years of consultation, was drafted to identify the unique species and habitats of the Cayman Islands. The legislation provides tools and mechanisms to safeguard them, but it was attacked from a strong development lobby almost immediately, which has continued to this day.
Since the Cabinet coup in which Panton was ousted as Premier in 2023, he has repeatedly stated that the undue influence on several members of the PACT coalition government by the development lobby led to the significant disagreements among his colleagues and played a key part in his departure.
The NCA provides for protected areas, conservation plans, environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and mandatory consultations to help ensure transparency around major decisions that adversely affect Cayman’s natural environment and resources.
Reflecting on the importance of science to make those assessments, the DoE experts explained how science tells us that some of our most threatened habitats, such as coral reefs, coastal mangrove wetlands and dry inland forests, sustain an array of species and functions critical to maintaining human wellbeing as well as the islands’ ecological balance.
The department said research led to the creation of our marine parks almost 40 years ago, which have proved to be invaluable in preserving the marine habitat. However, in contrast, when reasearch in the early 1980s showed that allowing seaside development would likely cause beach erosion, that science was ignored in favour of tourism and the economic benefits of coastal development.
This has led to the current situation as coastal erosion impacts much of the sandy coastlines, most starkly on Cayman’s most famous attraction, Seven Mile Beach.
“As recently as last year, a Nor’wester caused extensive damage to coastal properties ranging from Prospect all the way to West Bay… but many of the affected properties were formally advised by DoE’s sustainability experts to observe minimum if not extended setbacks specifically to mitigate coastal inundation from storm surge,” the DoE said, stressing the importance of heeding scientific advise.
The National Conservation Council was formed to carry out the functions of the National Conservation Act, under which the DoE also operates. Of its 13 voting members, eight of whom are appointed by Cabinet, four of those are required to have scientific or relevant technical experience.
“Scientific credentials are particularly important for the council to effectively participate in the preparation of advice and guidance to other government entities,” the DoE said.
The department’s team of marine and terrestrial biologists and environmental scientists are supported by enforcement, engineering and geographical experts who conduct research and assessments. These are provided to the NCC alongside advice or recommendations on how human activities can prosper while minimising impacts on unique native species and habitats.
Under the law, the DoE also provides advice to around 47% of all planning applications to ensure that government agencies and private developers are aware of the specific ways in which the adverse effects of their individual projects might be mitigated.
However, this advice is not legally binding in over 97% of cases and is provided to help, not hinder. On only very rare occasions, the NCC may, based on DoE advice, require an EIA to enhance the science-based advice about how best to lessen impacts to the environment.
“This not only enables data-driven decision-making for large-scale projects such as ports, highways or airports, it gives private developers a one-stop shop for identifying and addressing all of the relevant issues… making development more efficient,” the DoE said.
The department noted that this also provides an opportunity for the public’s concerns to be addressed before irreversible impacts to the environment and communities are permitted.
The principles of sustainability require that environmental, social and economic concerns are given equal weight in all decision-making. The NCA, the NCC and the DoE represent the interests of the environment and provide government entities with sound, data-driven advice to inform their decisions and help achieve the “balance” between development and conservation.
It is not the role of the DoE to stop anything unless someone is breaking the law; they merely advise. The legal requirement for consultation with the NCC, as enshrined in the law, is the only legal avenue to ensure that environmental concerns are given the same level of consideration as economic, human, and social issues when decisions are made.
Neither the DoE nor the NCC are required to “balance” their advice. It is their job to relay the facts, based on research, data, evidence and science, to the decision makers, whether that is Cabinet or the planning and roads authorities, who should then take that advice into account.
“History and science both show us that the decisions made today will determine the environmental, social and economic realities of tomorrow,” the DoE said. “By embracing evidence-based decision-making as an advantage to government, private sector, communities and the various stakeholders and industries relying on the resiliency of our resources, we can more confidently anticipate a transparent and sustainable future while also conserving the unique biodiversity of our islands.”
See the full DoE statement.
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Category: Land Habitat, Marine Environment, Science & Nature
It’s not “science” to prioritize mangroves and iguanas over human well being.
Right! It’s awful to protect native plants, trees and wildlife and preserve natural habitats for future generations rather than destroy it for concrete buildings for humans.
Mangrove swamp didn’t stop the storm surge during hurricane Ivan. Once the winds grew strong the leaves blew off the trees. How could a couple branches be even considered to block water. Over a hundred miles per hour? Nope, concrete! If you built a wall or had your residence on higher ground no problem. Mariners cove was built out of wood, gone in a few waves. No one believed it was coming. Yet the two story concrete building that Rex Rankin is still standing today. It was to the east 2 doors away. How can anyone still believe we need mangrove swampland in the middle of the island? If it’s not on the coast it’s useless.
I’m not saying I don’t want trees and grass. I love green not swampland. it’s very low ground and is not a barrier to the sea level rise if that should ever show up. We gave 200 feet, then 2000 feet then the environmentalists wanted 10,000 acres in the middle of widest part of the Eastern districts?
Do we understand its this agenda that caused traffic to come to a crawl from Mostyns gas station to Spotts Newlands? Jim and Haig Bodden our heroes were stopped from building a 4 lane highway through swampland. But West Bay was drastically improved by building their highway! The Eastern districts IS the largest population density in this island. But we have been blocked for 55 years? What a load of nonsense.
Again we have the same environmentalists nonsense trying to block a cruise ship facility. Fake science that has been proven by EIA that the piers can be built like it has been built all over the WORLD and there is no environmental issues. In fact the reef which has been destroyed since 1937 would start to recover. When is this nonsense going to stop?
There is nothing on the Brac for tourism unless you dive or fish. But it could help young people to have a career or profession if they would put in some modern infrastructure. They are bored, the devil finds work for idle hands. It’s only a matter of time. Eggs have now reached CI$14.95 a dozen? Why is there no chickens producing eggs there? I know there are older people who have some? But no new stock coming in? Can we not get freight sooner than 2-4 days by barge being pulled by a tug boat? We have a big jet flying there in 20 mins. But have to fly to Grand Cayman to buy our own food?
What passes as science is dubious nowadays because most times the scientific results are found to benefit their donors and sponsors.
By your logic the science from the DOE would benefit their ‘donors or sponsors’ which are the caymanians, so I guess your right. So by your own logic the DOE has the best interests of caymanians at heart.
you see that on youtube???
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Scientific tyranny is real. Ever heard of covid mask wearing requirements, social distancing or coercionary shots?
Despite congratulating yourself for being scientific, you advocate for censorship that is antithetical to true science.
True science requires proof which requires truth and you are afraid of truth because your worldview paradigm just might be proven inaccurate and you’d be forced to confront your false and illogical belief system.
Stay in the mud like a sow or rise up and let the truth cleanse you and set you free.
I’ll be waiting with a clean set of clothes for you once you pick ykurself up out of the mud. Be bold. Be brave. You can do it.
science….how many of our ignorant backward mla’s believe in that????
you ever heard jon-jon and ju-ju open their mouths???(yes, well done ppm, you muppetts!….zzzzzz)
I cannot shed any tears for either the DoE for the woes heaped upon them, nor for Panton for getting the boot.
Wayne was a champion for the environment for true; gotta give the man credit where credit is due. But if he had not been such an asshat in almost every other area over which he and his Panton-PACTless Clown Car rode, he might have stayed in office as Primo.
And as for the DoE: if their leader and the DoE did not try so hard to be the environmental Gestapo, they might have a far wider base of support. While I laud Gina’s passion for the environment, if you read some of the absurdly restrictive directives, suggestions, and opinions the DoE has rendered in respect of planning permissions for just ordinary residential planning applications to the CPA and DCB, you would certainly get the idea that she and the DoE would be quite happy with zero development.
Gina, Gina, Gina, as I have told you before when we have discussed certain key issues, there has to be a balance. There has to be a clear appearance of reasonableness in what you and the DoE say and do.
You and the DoE rightly deserve the criticism. You are too much your father’s child. Mr. Benson (RIP) loved a good fight. However, he chose his battles–most of the time anyway. But from the time you secured a job with the DoE and put in a position of responsibility in the public eye, you came out swinging against development and developers, traditional fishermen, and others who could have been your allies had you taken a more moderate stance. It would have been far better if you had first gotten more people in your corner and more fans and allies. As it is, your “do not touch even one blade of grass!” approach have been the prime cause of the baby being thrown out with the bath water.
Do not get me wrong, I am an avid environmentalist and agree with you that greedy developers and thoughtless, runaway development are anathema to Cayman’s precious environment. Hell, if I could wave a magic wand, the Cayman Islands would be a Garden of Eden where we all walk around happy and naked and carefree and live off a land of lush abundance. But this is the real world. Unless we the people in general–and not just the cadre of rabid tree huggers–are on board with you and the DoE, the greedy developers will continue to win, biggly.
Get with the program, girl! There is still time. But even if you do not change your aspirations, you sorely need to change your approach.
Excellent post 11:23 am
Actually, it isn’t. Referring to Gina and the DOE as the gestapo is absurd.
The DOE plays a pivotal role in conservation and reasonable and environmentally safe development.
I’m quite certain you missed the entire point of the article. The point is that the recommendations are based on what the science and best practices point to for mitigating impacts to the environment. That’s the actual job of the DoE – to consider how human actions impact the environment and how best to mitigate them. It is not the job of the DoE to provide advice that ignores research and international best practices. What would be the point of that?
The CPA is unfortunately welcome to ignore the advice – which they do in the majority of cases.
Asphalt doesn’t stop storm waves. Simple science.
Mangroves don’t either.
Mangroves offer a protective buffer during tropical storms and provide habitats for many species of native animals and aquatic life.
@10:09:
According to simple science, what does stop storm waves?
Sea walls
As much as I love it cayman is just becoming yet another over built Caribbean island, it’s loosing what made it special and with prices the way they are all it will take is a global economic wobble and tourism will flock to cheaper destinations. Then all we will be left with is empty hotels and memories of natural beauty that once drew people to our islands
what’s worse is we are not only loosing our unique natural beauty but trading it for crime riddled poverty.
Im not the biggest fan of Wayne and Andre but at this point they are the only group even paying lip service to Caymans environment, where ass PPM and the independents are actively campaigning for its destruction. Dan Scotts group is a bit of a homunculus with no real stated stance on the issue but i cant help but feel that electing a developer group wont exactly give the result im looking for.
nonsense on many levels.
if you think people are put off by ‘development’…cayman brac would be a tourist hot-spot…its not, it’s an economic wasteland.
there are already many many cheaper tourist destination in caribbean….we never have and never will compete with those destinations.
think harder…and avoid the cliches.
The brac with no beach….sorry but the islands vacation potential is limited to divers, people don’t want to vacation in the Caribbean with no beaches unless they’re diving. I genuinely hope I’m wrong but I can see a future of resort hotels where the money spent largely stays in the hotel and goes back to corporate in the USA. I’ve personally spoken to many tourists that have been coming since the 70’s and all say development is making them look elsewhere. Like I say I genuinely love cayman and wish to see it and caymanians prosper but I do not see overdevelopment as the road to prosperity.
Sister Islands are far from an “economic wasteland”; they are a haven for those who wish simplicity. If that isn’t the case, why do so many from Grand Cayman spend their vacation days here? To get away from the crush, that’s why.
You seem cut from the same cloth as the PPM and current government — you think government needs to grow to survive and that “progress” equals ongoing construction until all the little, safe, green spots are filled. I think you should move to a city on the ocean, say… Miami, where you will be more fulfilled instead of trying to change these islands into that urban sprawl that seems to give you joy.
In other words, here’s a cliche for you: piss off.
potty mouth don’t understand economics either…..hahaha….
That is stupid, we don’t need no environment stuff as we need all the construction jobs. Just you wait till Honorable Seymour and Madam Premier get back in, they will throw this environment out. Lets build more. PPM to save us all.
LMAO! ‘….they will throw this environment out…’ Who is stupid LOL
Deliciously evil sarcasm, thanks.
And why do tourists come? You think people will keep on coming when cayman is a concrete car park, there’s plenty of other way cheaper places. Sorry pal cayman isn’t that special and it’ll be even less so if you keep building, plus I don’t see that many caymanians on building sites, I see Jamaicans, I see Filipinos so your argument dosnt stand
I hope 2:06, you are just trolling and being sarcastic with your honorable Seymour claptrap. Otherwise, if there are even just a dozen more like you Cayman really is good and proper effed.
“… they will throw this environment out.”
Well done!
Now THAT is a most creative choice of words.
Thank you for a good reason to smile in an otherwise stressful Friday.
Honorable Jon Jon you is the best, we love you.
Good luck with science when we don’t even teach kids about evolution.
We have taught evolutionary science for several decades. Did you know that if you do your own research, you often end up with informed opinions that are contrary to the disgruntled street scuttlebutt? Try it. I warn you though… being informed can become habit forming.
Who is we? you checked out the official govt curriculum here lately?
Yes. Much more thoroughly than you, apparently.
Like these politicians give a damn, they have encouraged and allowed the destruction of these Islands and will do more if they ignorantly build their wreckage of a pier. Their pockets dripping while they grinning.