Topic: National Conservation Council
'Magic' act a class act: Time to take a bow
We'll take this opportunity to give a pat on the back to the Magic Reef Restoration Project and its volunteers.
Cruise berthing: Calming Cayman's roiled waters
Before the debate over George Town cruise berthing goes too far off the deep end, let us attempt to steer the conversation back toward calmer waters.
Run was a glowing success
The second annual Glow Run 5K attracted 635 registered runners on Saturday, more than double the number that signed up for the inaugural event in 2014.
Marine Park expansion plan revived
A proposal to dramatically expand no-fishing zones in Cayman’s waters has been revived as the National Conservation Council seeks to introduce a new system of marine parks.
Protected species legislation comes into force this week
Substantial parts of the National Conservation Law, including the sections for designating protected land and protected species, will come into force on Earth Day later this month, Environment Minister Wayne Panton has confirmed.
Damaged coral: Volunteers step up, Carnival pitches in
Money talks. And Carnival's $100,000 donation is a declaration of the company's regard for the Cayman Islands' marine environment.
Conservation law inches towards full implementation
Environment Minister Wayne Panton expects to be able to bring around 80 percent of the National Conservation Law into force within the next few months.
Environmental fund has $46M
The Environmental Protection Fund has more than $46 million collected from taxes on tourists since 1997, but the fund has not been used since 2005.
Wide variety of developments up for EIA screening
Developers will be required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment before proceeding with a project if the new National Conservation Council deems it necessary.
Conservation council divided over extent of role and powers
All government agencies will be required to consult with environment officials on any decision or application that could impact natural resources under guidelines approved Wednesday for the implementation of the National Conservation Law.
Conservation council to hold first meeting
The newly appointed National Conservation Council will hold its first meeting, in public, Wednesday as the process of implementing the historic and controversial legislation steps up a gear.
It's finally time for Cayman to meet 'The Council'
Nearly one year ago, Cayman Islands legislators passed a law creating the National Conservation Council, one of the most powerful extensions of government. Its first meeting is today.
Funding for reef restoration explored
Environmental officials say that the coral restoration project under way off Don Foster’s Dive site might be an ideal candidate for funding from the Environmental Protection Fund, but acknowledged that access to these funds was unlikely to happen any time soon.
Conservation council unveiled
The director of the Blue Iguana recovery program, the author of a Cayman bird-watching guide and an orchid researcher are among the members of the island’s first National Conservation Council.
National Conservation Law makes headway
The initial stages of Cayman’s long awaited National Conservation Law may come into effect within weeks, according to Wayne Panton, minister of environment.
Conservation law moves a step closer
The long-awaited National Conservation Law has taken another small step forward.
Government to reconsider ban on importing spear guns
Lawmakers will review a ban on the importation of spear guns and their replacement parts in the coming months.
Eco-Council: Its work is waiting
A plethora of pressing issues will put the new National Conservation Law to the test, perhaps sooner than contemplated.
Still no sign of final conservation law
More than six weeks after it was passed by legislators and nearly two weeks after it was signed by the governor, the public still cannot see a copy of the final version of the National Conservation Bill.
Green fund still dormant
Cash from the Environmental Protection Fund is unlikely to be available until after the next government budget – and even then only for ‘big ticket’ projects like land purchases or one-off surveys of endemic species.
The poisoning of North Sound
The single greatest threat to Cayman's natural environment isn't development. It's the dump.
Boards pressed to hold open meetings
Public boards and committees, which regulate everything from planning applications to the running of the islands’ airports, are facing new pressure to hold their meetings in public.
2013 Cayman news roundup
As 2014 draws to a close, the Compass reviews some of the key events and news stories of the Cayman Islands over the past 12 months.
Brac hotelier submits marina plan
The first phase of an ambitious multi-million dollar plan for a marina in Cayman Brac has been submitted to Cabinet for approval.
Amended conservation bill passes with unanimous support
After 10 years of discussion under four separate governments, the National Conservation Bill finally passed into law on Friday, with unanimous support from politicians on all sides.
Minister Panton: ‘Pointless’ to delay conservation bill
Environment Minister Wayne Panton and the Progressives-led government pushed ahead with environmental protection legislation Wednesday, over the objections of some local business organizations and opposition lawmakers.
Architects: Investors will welcome conservation law
The National Conservation Bill will come as a relief to investors who want clear guidelines rather than ad-hoc policies on environmental restrictions on development, according to a statement from the Cayman Society of Architects, Surveyors and Engineers on the eve of the debate.
Chamber calls for three-month delay of conservation bill
Cayman's largest business organization wants to wait just a bit longer on environmental conservation.
Proposed National Conservation Law: A disaster in the making
Writer says Cayman needs to go back to the drawing board to create a workable law to protect the environment.
Panton: No more time on conservation bill
Conservation minister Wayne Panton politely refused a request to give people more time to study the proposed National Conservation Law.
C4C: Support conservation, not National Conservation Bill
Political group Coalition for Cayman says environmental protection must be designed together with a national development and infrastructure plan.
North Side MLA Ezzard Miller Intentions are binding
Mr. Miller asks, if the National Conservation Bill is intended not to infringe on private property rights, then why isn't that in text of the bill?
Powers of conservation council exaggerated
Environmental group says conservation council's powers not as far-reaching as Compass fears.
‘Get off of my land’
Land trumps politics. And may it always be so in these Cayman Islands.
MLA Ezzard Miller: Keep private land private
The National Conservation Bill received close attention in North Side on Wednesday night, with specific amendments suggested.
Conservation bill riles Bodden Towners
Department of Environment Gina Petrie_Ebanks and Environment Minster Wayne Panton explain the National Conservation Bill to Bodden Town residents at a meeting Tuesday Dec. 4.
Lawyer: Conservation bill could trigger land grabs
Developers' concerns about the National Conservation Bill are expressed during a West Bay meeting.
Conservation Bill: Concerns emerge from the fine print
The environmental legislation threatens every Cayman Islands landowner.
Conservation Bill: A turkey filled with stuffing
The contents of the legislation should give most people indigestion.
New law frees up $50M for conservation
Nearly $50 million collected from tourists in environmental taxes will finally be available for conservation projects under provisions in the new National Conservation Bill.
Conservation Bill: A 6 percent solution?
Supporters say the National Conservation Bill only affects Crown land. If this is true, what are the implications?
Conservation Law covers only 6 percent of land
Provisions to protect land from development in the National Conservation Law won't affect private landowners.
‘Eco-Council’ and property rights
Despite public relations efforts aimed at reassuring the Caymanian people that the overseer of the proposed National Conservation Law is a toothless advisory body, the facts speak otherwise.
Ministry, green groups support conservation bill
Environmental groups support the National Conservation Bill, saying the decade-old legislation balances development and conservation priorities.
National Conservation Bill tabled in assembly
Ten years in the making, the National Conservation Bill, providing protection to Cayman’s endemic species and mandating consideration of the environment in development decisions, has finally been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Funding conservation efforts
The proposed National Conservation Bill includes a provision for the establishment of a fund to purchase or manage lands for conservation purposes.
The ins and outs of the National Conservation Law
The age old argument of progress versus conservation has played out again and again in the decade-long efforts to establish national conservation legislation to Cayman.
Proposed National Conservation Law Not this, not now
Writer says more needs to be to convservation law in the Cayman Islands.
