The Tribune

FIVE Bahamas National Trust staff members recently left to pursue their environmental studies at universities overseas.

Shelley Cant worked in the Education Department as well as managing the website for the trust and was the lead officer in the BNT’s Rare Pride Campaign for wetlands and the Shark Campaign, which resulted in the Bahamas receiving status as a shark sanctuary, the first in the Caribbean.

She is headed to the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus in the United Kingdom, where she will be working towards a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies.

Alannah Vellacott, who also worked tirelessly in the Education Department, is returning to South Dakota State University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science.

“We will miss both Shelley and Alannah,” said Portia Sweeting, BNT’s Director of Education. “They have contributed in major ways to the BNT’s strong environmental education programmes and we know that they will do well in the pursuit of their educational goals.”

Mark Daniels was the Leon Levy National Park Preserve Manager since it opened in 2011. His enthusiasm for nature has led him to take up a Master’s Degree in Botany at Miami University in Ohio.

Lindy Knowles joined the BNT as a Science Officer in 2009 and has become a skilled diver, participating in a number of rapid ecological assessments for new national parks as well as leading several mangrove restoration projects. He plans to return to the BNT after he completes his Master’s degree in environmental science at the University of the West Indies in Barbados.

Lastly, the BNT will bid farewell to Krista Sherman, who came to the BNT as a project manager of a Global Environment Facility Marine Protected Areas project. She successfully co-ordinated and completed monitoring protocols for the Exuma Land and Sea Park and a sustainable tourism model for the Exuma Cays.

She will be pursuing her Doctorate at Exeter University focusing on the Nassau Grouper Spawning Aggregation and Population Abundance. The Trust hopes her studies will be a helpful key to advancing conservation efforts to establish best management practices for the grouper and sustaining this species.

“It is amazing to watch these aspiring young Bahamian scientists progress through initial curious interest, then engaging with local and international scientists and now finally aspiring to further their environmental careers to help address some of the important environmental challenges that face our country,” said Vanessa Haley-Benjamin, BNT’s Director of Science and Policy.

“We encourage our staff to improve themselves and to pursue higher educational degrees,” said Eric Carey, Executive Director of the BNT. “This is all part of nation building, whether they return to work for the BNT or pursue other opportunities in the environment arena, they will continue to be friends and supporters of the Trust. We wish them all the best and our only regret is that we have not been able to provide more financial support for their educational goals.”