🌴 Activists urge Cayman Islands government to focus on conservation in land purchases

The Cayman Islands Government has been buying up beachfront lots to ensure access to the islands' coastline for locals and tourists as development increasingly blocks off popular oceanfront areas. However, local activists are calling for public consultation on how this beachfront property should be developed, arguing that adding facilities like parking and toilet blocks won't increase the land held for conservation. They suggest that the government's use of the Environmental Protection Fund to acquire these beachfront properties is misguided, as the fund is intended for purchasing critical habitat or expanding the current 11% of protected land across the Cayman Islands to a goal of at least 30%. 🏝️

Sustainable Cayman, a local environmental activist group, has expressed concern over the balance between tourism development and land protection. The group argues that the government's acquisition of an estimated 48 pieces of land could lead to the loss of important ecosystem services, such as mangroves and endemic foliage, to development. They have also criticized development plans for Pease Bay Beach Park, which they say are more about creating a commercial hub for tourists than providing beach access for locals. The group is calling for the government to use the acquired space to plant endemic and indigenous plants and fruit-bearing trees. 🌳

The activists have called for public engagement to ensure transparency and clarity in the government's intentions for the acquired beach property. They emphasize the need for the land and ecosystems to remain as spaces for the people of Cayman today and future generations. 🌍