Science & Nature
Invasive, poisonous tree found in Newlands
(CNS): A cluster of Brazilian peppertrees (Schinus terebinthifolia), a poisonous and highly invasive South American plant, has been found in Newlands. Also known as the Brazilian pepper, aroeira, rose pepper, Christmas berry or Florida holly, it is a member of the poison oak and ivy family that found its way to the Cayman Islands in […]
Future ‘grim’ for brown booby, DoE warns
(CNS): Survey results of the 2022 nesting season for Cayman Brac’s brown booby colony are grim, the Department of Environment has warned after finding a staggering 70% of the eggs laid by the nesting pairs last year were lost. Of the 42 eggs identified during the season, only 13 fledged successfully. Many of the eggs […]
National Energy Policy under review by ministry
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government is consulting with energy experts, private sector stakeholders, civil society and the public at large on the most effective strategies to deploy renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions as part of a five-year review of the National Energy Policy. People are being asked to take a short online survey, which […]
7MB pressure grows as hotel buses guests north
(CNS): Seven Mile Beach is coming under even more pressure as the impact of erosion and the lack of access begins to bite. This holiday season the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort has been transporting guests by minibus to a stretch of the beach owned by the Dart Group, north of the Kimpton Seafire Resort, […]
Little Cayman deep reefs help in adaption study
(CNS): Researchers at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute are involved in an important study about how coral can adapt to climate change. A team of scientists is seeking answers by studying the corals living down to 50m on the reef walls of Little Cayman. CCMI is partnering with the University of Haifa, Israel, where researchers […]
Consultation shows surge in public support for conservation
(CNS): The recent nomination process for protected areas represented “a whole new level of public interest” in the conservation of Cayman’s natural habitat, according to Fred Burton, manager of the Department of Environment (DoE) Terrestrial Resources Unit. He said that there were 89 nominations to protect dozens of locations on all three islands, which is […]
New rules rolled out to control alien species
(CNS): New regulations have been approved by Cabinet to protect native and endemic plants and animals under the National Conservation Act. The National Conservation (Alien Species) Regulations introduce a prohibited species list, outline the distinctions between domestic and feral animals and define permitted procedures and actions to control feral animals and other alien species, reducing […]
Quarry posing threat to wildlife pond will need EIA
(CNS): The National Conservation Council has confirmed that an environmental impact assessment will be required for a quarry application made by Krock Limited because it poses a threat to the protected area of Meagre Bay Pond in Bodden Town. Department of Environment (DoE) Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie said that a much better understanding of the terrestrial […]
Turtle nests in Cayman reach decade high
(CNS): The Department of Environment recorded more turtle nests in 2022 than any single year over the last decade. A total of 858 nest were counted, 169 more than the previous high in 2017, when there were 689 nests. The increase resulted from a steep rise in the number of green turtle nests, which topped […]
Hurricane season ends and lobster season begins
(CNS): The first day of December is not only the start of the Christmas season, it is also the end of the six-month hurricane season and the beginning of the short lobster season. But the Department of Environment is reminding people as they look forward to the popular shellfish feast there are still limits on […]
Dart advised to ‘retreat’ as it cleans up Royal Palms
(CNS): There was great consternation within the community last week after people saw boulders dropped into the ocean at the Royal Palms site, as well as the appearance of screens and heavy equipment on the beach. But although Dart, which owns the site, had failed to make any public announcement of the intended clean-up operation […]
