Source: best, 2005a
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Since The Bahamas has signed on to the CBD it has accelerated aspects of biodiversity conservation in the country. This acceleration is evident from the progress made on goals one and two. This has primarily been done through the expansion of protected areas and the proposed establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism for protection of these areas. Moreover, The Bahamas initiated the Caribbean Challenge and committed to preserving 10% of the terrestrial resources by 2010 and 20% of the marine resources by 2020. In order to improve progress towards the other goals, significant work and resources are required. Therefore, overall progress towards the 2010 targets has been sluggish. The future priorities for improving the implementation of the Convention are as follows (Section 4.4):
Actions to be taken at the regional and global levels to further enhance implementation of the Convention at the national level
Chapter 1: Biodiversity Status, Trends and Threat This chapter presents the status, trends and threats to biodiversity in The Bahamas along with the important species found in each of the various ecosystems. In a general sense the conservation of wildlife brings a broad spectrum of biological researchers to The Bahamas. In order for research to be of any value to the country, it has to be related to the needs of the country as a whole; therefore few of the major taxonomic groups of the Bahamian fauna and flora have been sufficiently studied to draw reliable conclusions, as to the total biodiversity of The Bahamas. The trends data presented are based on existing resources in one section or on one island in The Bahamas. Out of all the threats identified for affecting biodiversity in The Bahamas, climate change is considered to have the greatest effect as 80% of The Bahamas’ landmass is within 1.5 meters (5 ft) of sea level rise and 90% of The Bahamas’ freshwater lenses are within 1.5 meters (5 ft) of the land surface making the groundwater resource fragile and highly vulnerable to contamination. According to Dr. Kouwenhoven (Tribune, 2010), a climate change expert, The Bahamas could see a 20% reduction in rainfall and incremental increases in temperature within the next 40 years. Some of the potential impacts due to temperature increases are loss of biodiversity, compromised groundwater tables, saline soils, and increases in incidences of flooding and impaired fishery resources. Therefore, the threat of climate change encapsulates all of the ecosystems of The Bahamas. According to the 2007 World Bank study), The Bahamas is in danger of facing losses in coastal population, coastal Gross Domestic Product and coast urban areas, due to storm surge intensification, and was ranked number one of 10 countries in each of those categories. The Bahamas appears as one of the top three countries most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change such as coral bleaching, increasingly powerful tropical hurricanes and rising sea level. It is a threat not only to the valuable marine resources but of the very existence of the islands of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The persistent challenge of climate change with its dire prognosis for The Bahamas is of paramount concern.
The islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (The Bahamas) (latitude 20°.50’N and 27°.30’N and longitude 72°.35’W and 80°.30’W) constitute one of the most extensive archipelagos of the world, comprising a chain of more than 700 islands, cays, and rocks, spread over approximately 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean (see Figure 1.1). The Bahamas lays East of Florida (U.S.A.) and extends southeast about 750 miles to within 50 miles of Cuba and Haiti. The total land area has been computed at 5,382 square miles by the Department of Lands and Surveys. The total population of The Bahamas is approximately 353,658 (Department of Statistics, 2010). Andros Island is the largest land mass at 5,986 km² (2300 mi²) but one of the least populated of The Bahamas, while New Providence is 207 km² (80 mi²) and is the most densely populated. The Bahamas is part of the Caribbean Islands hotspot, which consists of three large groups of islands between North and South America: The Bahamas, the Lesser Antilles, and the Greater Antilles (Conservation International, 2008). The Bahamas is home to many marine and terrestrial species, making it an area significantly rich in biological resources. It boast of beautiful coastlines with white and pink sandy beaches; and clear, shallow and sheltered waters, and the largest body of coral reefs; and other marine organisms in the Atlantic/Caribbean region (BEST, 2002), constituting the main focus of the country’s tourism industry. It is generally believed that Islands of The Bahamas were formed less than 200 million years ago (Sealey, 1994), with the islands being the exposed portion of plateaus of oolitic limestone, called banks. The Islands are low-lying, and are surrounded by coral reefs and sand banks. The highest land elevation is Mt. Alvernia, 206 ft above sea level, on Cat Island. The islands are formed from various types of porous limestone and coral rocks which allow rain water to move downward underground causing sink holes and blue holes to form. Some blue holes demonstrate whirlpool conditions, as seen on the surface. This occurs because these holes are subterraneously connected to the sea and are therefore influenced by the tides. Although blue holes are found in other parts of the world, tidal blue holes are more abundant and unique to The Bahamas (BEST, 2005a). There are no rivers, but several of the larger islands have large brackish lakes (notably Andros and Grand Bahama) which are sources of potable freshwater. Rainfall is the sole source of fresh water in The Bahamas. Figure 1.1: Map of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the BNT Protected Areas 
The climate of The Bahamas is sub-tropical, moderated by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, with two distinct seasons: a hot and wet summer season (May to October) and a warm drier winter season (November to April). The hurricane season spans from June to November. The average annual rainfall is 60” (BEST, 2002). The Lucayan Caverns on Grand Bahama, reputably one of the largest submarine cavern systems in the world, are known to possess a number of endemic species, including Gambusia hubbsi, a species of mosquitofish found only in The Bahamas. These caverns formed in the last Ice Age are found on all the major islands. They represent the largest unexplored and uncatalogued ecosystem in The Bahamas, uniquely linked to the confluence of the fresh, brackish and saline waters. The lakes of San Salvador contain four species of sympatric pupfish (Cyprinodon), a situation known to exist in only one other place in the world (BEST, 2009). Pine and Coppice forests account for 15% of the total area of The Bahamas (BEST, 1995). The vegetation consists of Caribbean pine in four northern islands and broadleaf hardwood forest and coppice vegetation elsewhere. Each island group has its own particular mix of flora and fauna that are well adapted to the terrestrial ecosystem of their islands. The soils are sandy, stony and alkaline. Wetlands are extensive in The Bahamas and are generally found in locations protected from wind and waves on leeward coasts (BEST, 2002). Today approximately 70% or 1.1 million hectares (2.7 million acres) of land area comprising The Bahamas represents Crown Land, and 15% is leased for different uses, such as agricultural development and conservation (Department of Lands and Surveys, 1998). Pine forest comprises 23% of the terrestrial ecosystems and Andros contains 55% of the country’s pine forest (TNC, 2004). The Bahamas has approximately 1% of its total national territory under some form of protection (Conservation International, 2008). There are 58 protected areas throughout The Bahamas for conservation, sustainable use and management. The 26 national parks under the management of BNT account for 283 300 ha (700 000 acres) of Crown land (BEST, 2005a) see Table 3.2: Protected Areas. According to The Bahamas Ecological Gap Assessment the only biodiversity targets in The Bahamas to exceed the CBD 10% minimum were mangroves, tidal creeks and seabirds but conservation efforts still failed to meet the higher target specific conservation goals. In addition, it was found that terrestrial and freshwater targets received better protection than marine targets, and most biodiversity targets did not meet the minimum CBD 10% protection goals. The existing marine protected areas in The Bahamas comprise approximately 154,011 hectares spread over 10 national parks and three marine reserves (BEST, 2009). There are 425,870 hectares of saline wetlands that contain mangroves at 20 sites throughout The Bahamas. At least 12 of the protected areas of The Bahamas contain mangroves.
S “Interestingly, the targets that are of greatest importance to the national economy, such as groundwater, beaches, wetlands, spawning aggregations and reefs, receive little to no protection. Important birds are the most well represented biodiversity target across The Bahamas.” (Thurlow et al, 2007). Correll and Correll (1982) reported that nearly 9% (121 taxa) of plant species found in The Bahamas are endemic. Over 1,350 species of flowering plants and ferns have been described, representing approximately 660 genera and 144 families and 21 varieties, subspecies and hybrids. There are 1,111 higher plants, 57 breeding birds, 53 reptiles, 5 amphibians and 248 fish has been identified in The Bahamas (Earthtrends, 2003). Additionally 24 species of marine mammals are known to occur in The Bahamas (BMMRO, 2010). There is one species (Geocapromys ingrahami) and 3 subspecies (Natalus micropus tumidfrons, Eptesicus fuscus bahamensis, Tadarida brasiliensis bahamensis) of endemic mammals (Buden, 1995). There are 46 species of native herpetofauna in The Bahamas consisting of 3 frogs (including 1 endemic), 25 lizards (13 endemic), 11 snakes (7 endemic), 2 freshwater turtles, and 5 sea turtles (Knapp et. al, 2010). Twelve species of bats live in The Bahamas with the Great Bahama bank supporting 9 species (Campbell, 1978). In San Salvador 5 species of bats have been reported (Anderson, 1994) and on New Providence 4 species of bats have been reported (Buden, 1995). The most common of the bat species in The Bahamas is the Waterhouse's Leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus waterhousii.) Others include: the Bahamian funnel-eared bat (Chilonatalus tumidifrons (endemic)), Big Brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), Buffy Flower bat (Erophylla sezekorni), Leach's single leaf bat (Monophyllus redmani), Gervais's funnel-eared bat (Nyctiellus Lepidus), Brasilian Free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) among others (Campbell, 1978). The Hutia (an endangered species protected under the Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968), along with bats, are the only land mammals native to The Bahamas. A historical predator to the hutia is the chickcharnie owl (Tyto pollens) which is now extinct. Cock (1998), indicated that Smith et al.,1994 found a total of 24 species of Hesperiidae in The Bahamas, of which 14 are likely to be found on New Providence. In San Salvador, 30 brown algae and 79 macro red algae species have been reported (NBS Report, 2005). In the warm waters of The Bahamas it is thought that Blue-green bacteria are abundant and form mats in the hypersaline lakes and blue holes. Presently, there are 56 species of plants and animals (see Table 1.1) listed in the IUCN Red List 2009 of Threatened Species for The Bahamas, ranging from extinct to least concern (BEST,2009).
Agriculture and fisheries industries make up 5% of the GDP and about 5% employment (Agriculture Plan, 2009). Approximately 90% of the available agricultural land is owned by the government and leased to farmers. Abaco contains 20,000 ha (49,421 acres), Andros 40,000 ha (98,842 acres) and Grand Bahama 12,000 ha (29,653 acres). Of the 95,000 ha (234,750 acres) of arable land in the country, only 7,650 ha (18,904 acres) is under cultivation, with two very distinct types of agricultural practices taking place: mechanized methods in the northern islands where they receive more rainfall and have large underground freshwater reserves; and shifting cultivation in the central and southern islands, geared for subsistence farming (Pinder, 1996). More than 5,000 acres of agricultural land in The Bahamas are used for citrus production. Major crops for export are grapefruit, limes, avocados, papaya, okras and pineapples. Popular fruits consumed locally are mangoes, guineps, guavas, sapodillas, sea grapes, sugar cane, bananas and sugar apples. The 1994 Census on Agriculture indicated that there are 1,800 farms in The Bahamas. Table 1.1: Endangered Species found in The Bahamas (CITES)
In the south, where there is less rainfall, low population, poorer soil and underdeveloped infrastructure, farmers benefit from more Government support, while farmers in the northern Bahamas have to market their own products. All commercial importers of fresh produce, ornamentals, meat, milk, eggs, and poultry must obtain permission from the Department of Agriculture prior to importation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
tromatolities can also be found in the hyper saline lakes of San Salvador (Elliott, 1994). It was believed that large modern stromatolites existed only in the hyper saline waters of Australia, but these structures have been discovered in The Bahamas with the first report by Dravis (1983) from the Schooner Cays off Eleuthera. Subsequent sightings were near Lee Stocking Island (Dill et al., 1986; Reid and Browne, 1991). More stromatolites have since been observed on Andros Island. Scientists sometimes describe stromatolites as the oldest fossils and consider them an important source of information on the early development of life on earth (Sealey, 1994).