The Nature Conservancy - Environmental Conservation Organizations, Land Conservation Trust

About Us: The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.


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Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

Swimming criniod resting on onctocoral in Bahamian reef.

Exuma Cays was the first land and sea park in the world. The Bahamas National Trust, a Conservancy partner, established this park in 1959.

Location
This park is about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southeast of Nassau, the Bahamian capital.

Animals
Though this park is mostly water, the land is a vital refuge for a small mammal called the hutia, several rare and endangered iguana species and marine birds such as terns and the long-tailed tropicbird that nest high in the bluffs.

The waters of Exuma Cays have been managed as a no-take marine fishery reserve since 1986. This has allowed populations of commercially important species such as queen conch, Nassau grouper and spiny lobster to thrive. Sea turtles swim throughout the coral reefs that teem with marine life.

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

Why the Conservancy Works Here
Private development of vacation homes and a booming tourism trade are two of the prevailing threats to the park. If not properly managed, these activities destroy native vegetation and lead to increased private and commercial boat traffic. Boats and divers can cause irreparable damage to coral reefs.

Other threats include offshore channeling and dredging, water pollution and overharvesting of fish and other marine species.

What the Conservancy is Doing
The Conservancy began working with local partner, the Bahamas National Trust, in 2000. The Conservancy supports the park's full-time staff and volunteers in their efforts to build nature trails, fund research, conduct wildlife inventories and establish fees for boaters who use anchors or permanent mooring buoys. The goal is to make the park financially self-sufficient.

Also, the Conservancy works with the Bahamas National Trust to:

Encourage stewardship and natural resource preservation by linking government and community efforts focussed on training, education and technical assistance.
Map all vegetation, land and water of Exuma Cays to use as a starting point for a park management plan.