Cayman’s first designated national park is to be in woodland on Cayman Brac after Cabinet approved a plan for the 194-acre Hemmington Forest National Park.
Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, the minister responsible for the environment, said it was “a defining moment” for the protection of Cayman’s natural resources.
“This park represents a lasting commitment to safeguarding the landscapes, wildlife and quiet beauty that make Cayman Brac so special,” she said. “It will stand as a source of pride and a clear expression of our responsibility to protect and preserve the natural heritage of these islands for generations to come.”
Hemmington Forest, Crown land and a diverse habitat of dry forest and shrubland in west-central Brac, is home to the Sister Islands rock iguana, the red-legged thrush, Cayman Brac parrot and the yellow mastic tree.
Government said a key objective for the new national park was to improve public access, while ensuring the area remained pristine and sustainable.
It is expected that the existing Hemmington Road trail will be upgraded and that a new network of walking routes is created, taking in areas of outstanding beauty and interest across the park.
Extra signs explaining the sights will also be installed and a new canopy-level observation tower is planned to give a bird’s-eye view of the tall yellow mastic trees that are characteristic of the area.
Ian Kirkham, the National Conservation Council’s chairman, said, “Cayman Brac is home to so many incredible species of animals and plants that do not exist anywhere else in the world, but it can be difficult to experience them with rugged terrain.
“The management plan for Hemmington Forest will bring people and nature together in the way a national park should, using low-impact infrastructure to make the experience accessible without disturbing the true nature of the environment.”
He added that the council looked forward to the next steps in the forest’s development and the creation of a new experience for residents and visitors.
Cayman Brac has the lowest proportion of protected land among Cayman’s three islands and the government said the national park was a “meaningful expansion”, which included a sizeable part of the island’s forest and shrublands.
Acting Chief Officer for Health, Environment and Sustainability Bobeth O’Garro said management of the park would involve control of invasive species and the restoration of parrot nesting habitats.
Areas already altered would be regenerated, “strengthening the resilience of this important landscape over time”, she said.
The Department of Environment will oversee the new management plan with the Department of District Administration, supported by interested parties on the Brac.
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Great move by government. We need more of them.