The Tribune

Ethical Traveler, a non-profit organisation that compiles an annual list of countries to visit around the world, has named the Bahamas in its World’s Ten Best Ethical Destinations for 2014.

“We’re pleased to welcome the Bahamas back to our list this year. Efforts to establish new Marine Protected Areas and the massive expansion of the number of protected acres in Andros West Side National Park are important steps towards conservation and sustainability,” said the article published on the Ethical Traveler website, which was released earlier this month.

“This is wonderful news for the BNT,” said Eric Carey, its executive director. “This is good news for the Bahamas, and it validates the work that we are doing. This also gives great justification for our efforts to convince the Government to create even more national parks in 2014.”

In addition to mentioning the work the BNT is doing with national parks, the report also noted the environmental education programmes.

“Education programmes for Bahamian youth were established more than 30 years ago. Today, thousands of Bahamian school children have experienced nature through organised visits to national parks and award-winning presentations,” said Ethical Traveler.

Portia Sweeting, BNT’s director of education, added: “Increasing environmental stewardship in the Bahamas is a standing strategic objective of the BNT. We are really proud to have connected so many Bahamians to our national parks through our education programmes.

“We strive to provide extraordinary hands-on national park encounters to engage school children, community and social youth groups, as well as a large cadre of volunteers”.

Another important area that helped the Bahamas to make the list was its strength in protecting endangered animals. The article noted that the Bahamas has the world’s largest colony of flamingoes, the Bahama Parrot and Andros Iguana. Its protection of nature preserves, diving, coral reefs, sharks and the Andros Barrier reef were also noted.