Little Cayman reefs on UK wishlist for UNESCO Status
(CNS): The United Kingdom has added Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas to its list of sites it is nominating to be given UNESCO World Heritage Status. About once per decade, the UK publishes its Tentative List of the sites believed to have the best chance of achieving this prestigious global status and joining such notable landmarks as the Galapagos Islands. Little Cayman, which joins six other sites on the UK list, was put forward for its exceptional importance to marine biodiversity and incredible natural beauty.
Peter Hillenbrand, co-founder and board member of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute and secretary of the Little Cayman District of the National Trust, who spearheaded the bid, said he was over the moon with excitement that the island’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are officially on the list.
“This will undoubtedly lead to even greater awareness and protection for this amazing little island,” he said. “The Cayman Islands Government and our island citizens are proud and protective of this uncommon environment, and making this next step to having it recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is absolutely thrilling for all parties involved.”
There is significant local support for the nomination and backing from Premier Wayne Panton, who recently told CNS that he endorsed the efforts by the private citizens who pushed for Little Cayman’s inclusion on the UK list. Britain will now work with those involved here to develop the bid.
Little Cayman’s marine environment is a unique geological and ecological phenomenon already recognised as a Mission Blue Hope Spot, and the UNESCO nomination will significantly help bolster its status.
A release from CCMI stated, “Most nations around the globe are struggling to meet the United Nation’s target for 30% protection for precious marine ecosystems, yet Little Cayman has 75% marine park protection, thanks to a long-term commitment from the Cayman Islands Government and Cayman Islands Department of Environment. This protection and foresight have been the basis for this UNESCO application.”
Despite its outstanding natural beauty and environmental significance, the island remains at risk from inappropriate development. A recent proposal to develop a resort at Kingston Bight on Little Cayman stirred up significant controversy when developers applied to build over-water bungalows in a protected Marine Reserve. Although an application for a coastal works licence was refused, the land element of the project was approved by the Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Development Control Board before being overturned following a successful appeal.
If the Marine Protected Areas were given UNESCO World Heritage Status, this would provide additional protection from this type of development as there are conditions that must be met after a site is ratified.
Once a site has been nominated and placed on a country’s list, it is independently evaluated by advisory bodies mandated by the World Heritage Convention. Little Cayman will be assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which provides the World Heritage Committee with evaluations of natural sites.
Little Cayman’s reef ecosystem benefits from low human impact and increased protection. The Marine Protected Areas there have been proven to be successful as CCMI and the DoE have been monitoring the reefs there for years and will play an important part in the next step of the bid to become a UNESCO site by collecting the necessary data and scientific information.
“Critical species, a key Nassau grouper spawning aggregation site, resilient coral reefs, a healthy abundance of apex predators and rebounding fish populations contribute to an area of outstanding natural beauty and value, to both the Cayman Islands and the UK,” the CCMI said. “Raising the profile of Little Cayman’s long-term commitment to MPAs as a case study on a world stage is a positive stance for how marine resources can be protected effectively.”
UNESCO sites are protected through a convention that sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage Sites situated on its territory but also to protect its national heritage.
“The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community,” UNESCO states on its website.
The convention also requires countries to report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation at heritage properties. “These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the conditions of the sites, decide on specific programme needs and resolve recurrent problems,” the UN states.
Sites on the list benefit from the implementation of comprehensive management plans that set out preservation measures and monitoring mechanisms.
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Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature
Anyone serious about the environment would never get on a plane and I don’t know of any sailing ferry services to LC or Grand Cayman for that matter. Talk all you want about the environment and sustainability but unless avoid aeroplanes it is hypocracy
Agreed. Those that should loudest about the environment often fly all over the place and sometimes in business class which for one flight has the same carbon footprint as a normal’s person entire life
Why– I din no dat!
It is essential that the developers are not allowed to take short cuts and damage the coral. Michael Ryan’s Fin Grand Cayman project dumped construction waste onto the Marine park. There was a petition with almost 1000 signatures but nobody was held responsible. What is to stop this happening again to a World Heritage site?
https://www.change.org/p/dale-crighton-protect-cayman-s-reefs-from-construction-development-damage
Answer: nothing. And he owns land over there.
It was also Dale Crighton’s development…lest we forget.
Fin didn’t even have planning permission for the artificial beach.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/10/fin-project-in-breach-of-planning-approval/
Does it have planning permission to replace the sand on it’s artificial beach?
That’s all good until you’re unable to build a house because it may upset the crabs and birds and lizards and turtles and rich neighbors already having a house there.
Well, if you appreciate paradise, why not protect it? If you don’t have a house there now – go build somewhere else. Very selfish attitude if you really have land there; which I actually doubt. Current landowners who care about the island would like to protect and preserve it – but I suspect you disagree… Just as all the Caymanians on GC who sold out for small profits and their children are crying at ‘the travesty’ that their forebears did and how unfair it is to them. Please reconsider your opinion that LC should not be preserved, but sold off and developed for small profits.
6.27 thank you.
It is because I have land in Little Cayman , that I am afraid of not being allowed to build there.
Other than that, I agree about the protect and preserve thing.
7:14 You are welcome; and you sound very reasonable. Best regards – 6:27.
Thank you again 10.55 for the courtesy of your response.
world class.
Oh that gonna suck for those Caymanian guys that were trying to build the offshore hotel.
Wanna bet?
Hopefully this will stop the ongoing unnecessary over development in Little Cayman.
Spoiler alert.
It won’t.
yet the government have allowed the billionaires to buy/own most of it…sad! i figure it will soon become a exclusivity island….thank god i still have several acres….as a native caymanian…i want my kids and grandkids to enjoy what i enjoyed growing up in little cayman!
UNESCO World heritage sites are a well known partner with the tourism industry. By protecting natural assets they help to ensure our critical tourism product, maintaining integrity and authenticity as well as the economies and communities that depend on tourism. Having a sustainable tourism plan with all stakeholders to ensure we have well managed facilities and visitor access that works in harmony with the environment to create iconic tourist destinations is a critical component of success.
Congratulations Peter. This is one of, if not the most, significant steps to protecting the Crown Jewel of the Cayman Islands and probably the wider Caribbean. Well done.
Enjoy the coral while it lasts before the developers arrive.
So please explain how does it benefit Cayman?
Exactly.
It means people will come to see them and spend money you inward looking fool.
… and where will all the people who “come and see them and spend money” stay and eat ..?
You don’t understand this do you poppet? Back under your rock or go shout at a cloud.
4:19, At Peter’s hotel. Lovely place.
Then doesn’t that defeat the purpose?
BE careful 4.31 or you may be called a fool by 10.35, for simply stating the obvious.
It doesn’t. It will retard development of Little Cayman. This will benefit the few people there, about 200 probably, that want LC to stay the same “forever”. The other 60,000 residents of Cayman will suffer economically because less foreign direct investment will occur. This is basically a bunch of rich people on LC screwing everyone else for their benefit.
Tell us you’re a developer or realtor without telling us you’re a developer or realtor why don’t you!
It helps the politicians see that conservation measures can bring the good kind of publicity, which Cayman sorely needs on an international stage. This in turn will mean they support conservation measures in the future rather than short-term profit.
You have such little self esteem you need the globalist UN to praise you so you feel good?
Utter nonsense and complete foolishness.
It will benefit the owners, developers and real estate agents with nice advertising to lure buyers.
They get money. Well……. the high rollers do. Don’t look for everyone to get rich.