Protected Species Act Amendments

The commencement notice for the Protected Species Amendment Act 2011 appeared in the official gazette (the Bermuda Sun) on Friday January 20th. This means that the act is now in force. The amended Protected Species Order 2012 also appeared. The Order provides the list of species to which the Act applies. Both notices can be read below. For more information on the species, please read our Protected Species Page.

BERMUDA

PROTECTED SPECIES AMENDMENT ACT 2011 COMMENCEMENT DAY

NOTICE 2012

BR 6/ 2012

The Minister responsible for conservation services, in exercise of the power conferred by section 9 of the Protected Species Amendment Act 2011, gives the following Notice:

Citation

1 This Notice may be cited as the Protected Species Amendment Act 2011 Commencement Day Notice 2012.

Commencement

2 The Protected Species Amendment Act 2011 shall come into operation on 20 January 2012.

Made this 17th day of January 2012

Minister of Public Works

BERMUDA

PROTECTED SPECIES ORDER 2012

BR 7/ 2012

The Minister responsible for conservation services, in exercise of the power conferred by sections 5 and 5A of the Protected Species Act 2003, makes the following Order:

Citation

1 This Order may be cited as the Protected Species Order 2012.

Protected species

2 The species of plants and animals set out in the Schedule to this Order are classified as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable in accordance with the criteria set out in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) and are declared to be protected species.

Level of protection

3 The species of plants and animals set out in the Schedule to this Order are classified as level 1, level 2 or level 3 in accordance with the criteria set out in section 5A of, and the Schedule to, the Protected Species Act 2003.

Revocation

4 The Protected Species Order 2007 and the Protected Species Notice of Intention 2011 are revoked.

SCHEDULE

(paragraph 2 and 3)

LEVEL 1

Birds

Bermuda Petrel or Cahow (Pterodroma cahow) (E) EN (D)

White-tailed Tropic Bird (Phaethon lepturus catesbyi) (N) VU (D1 + 2)

White-eyed Vireo or Chick-of-the-Village (Vireo griseus

bermudianus) (E) VU (D1 + 2)

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) (N) VU

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) (N) VU

Cave Amphipods

Idunella sketi (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Cocoharpinia iliffei (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Pseudoniphargus grandimanus (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Bermudagidiella bermudensis (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Ingolfiella longipes (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Cave Copepods

Antriscopia prehensilis (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Erebonectes nesioticus (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Paracyclopia naessi (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Speleophria bivexilla (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Speleophriopsis scottodicarloi (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Nanocopia minuta (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Speleoithona bermudensis (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Cave Isopods

Atlantasellus cavernicolus (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Currassanthura bermudensis (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Arubolana aruboides (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Cave Mysids

Platyops sterreri (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Cave Ostracods

Spelaeoecia bermudensis (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Cave Mictaceans

Mictocaris halope (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Segmented Worms

Phallodriloides macmasterae (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Cave Shrimps

Typhlatya iliffei (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Procaris chacei (E) CR (B1 + 2C)

Barbouria cubensis (N) CR (B1 + 2C)

Parhippolyte sterreri (N) CR (B1 + 2C)

Ferns

Governor Laffan’s Fern (Diplazium laffanianum) (E) CR (D)

Bermuda Shield Fern (Goniopteris bermudiana) (E) CR (B2)

Bermuda Cave Fern (Ctenitis sloanei) (N) CR (B1)

Long Spleenwort (Asplenium heterochroum) (N) EN (C2a)

Toothed Spleenwort (Asplenium dentatum) (N) EN (B1a, b)

Ten-day or Leatherleaf Fern (Rumohra adiantiformis) (N) CR (D)

Finfish

Longsnout Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) (N) VU (D)

Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) (N) VU (A4c, d)

Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) (N) VU (A1b, d + 2d)

Tiger Grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) (N) EN (A1d)

Mutton Hamlet (Alphestes afer) (N) CR (A1d)

Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) (N) EN (A2a, d)

Snowy Grouper (Epinephelus niveatus) (N) VU (A1d + 2d, B1 + 2e)

Freshwater Molluscs

Ancylus bermudensis (E) CR (D)

Pisidium volutabundum (E) CR (D)

Land Crabs

Land Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus) (N) VU

Giant Land Crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) (N) VU

Marine Mammals

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) (N) VU

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) (N) VU (A1d)

Marine Molluscs

Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) (N) EN (B2a, biii)

Moss

Bermuda Campylopus (Campylopus bermudianus) (E) CR (C)

Rays and Skates

Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) (N) VU (A2d)

Reptiles

Bermuda Skink (Eumeces longirostris) (E) CR (B1, B2b, c, d, e)

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) (N) EN (A1b, d)

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) (N) CR (A1b, d)

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) (N) EN (A1a, b, d)

Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) (N) CR (A1a, b, d)

Sharks

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) (N) VU (A1b, d + 2d)

Terrestrial Snail

Poecilozonites circumfirmatus (E) CR (A2, B2a)

LEVEL 2

Finfish

Bermuda Killifish (Fundulus bermudae) (E) EN

Killifish (Fundulus relictus) (E) EN

American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) (N) VU

European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) (N) CR (A2bd + 4bd)

Flowering Plants

Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) (N) VU

Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) (N) VU

Yellow Wood Tree (Zanthoxylum flavum) (N) CR

Marine Molluscs

Bermuda Sand Scallop (Euvola ziczac) (N) EN

Calico Scallop (Argopecten gibbus) (N) EN

Marine Plants

Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinum) (N) VU

Manatee Grass (Syringodium filiforme) (N) VU

Shoal Grass (Halodule sp.) (N) VU

Shoal Grass (Halodule bermudensis) (E) CR

Paddle Grass (Halophila decipiens) (N) VU

Reptiles

Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) (N) VU

LEVEL 3

Flowering Plants

Bermuda Sedge (Carex bermudiana) (E) CR

Wild Bermuda Pepper (Peperomia septentrionalis) (E) CR

Wild Bermuda Bean (Phaseolus lignosus) (E) CR

Darrell’s Fleabane (Erigeron darrelliannus) (E) VU

Bermuda Bedstraw (Galium bermudense) (N) EN

St. Andrew’s Cross (Hypericum hypericoides) (N) CR

Bermuda Snowberry (Chiococca alba) (N) VU

Bermuda Cedar (Juniperus bermudiana) (E) VU

Bermuda Palmetto (Sabal bermudana) (E) VU

Bermuda Olivewood (Cassine laneana) (E) VU

Abbreviations:

CR= Critically Endangered

EN= Endangered

VU= Vulnerable

(E)= Endemic, only found in Bermuda

(N)= Native, indigenous to Bermuda and other places

Made this 17th day of January 2012

Minister of Public Works

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan United Kingdom Award 2012

On behalf of the Ministry of Education, we would like to make potential scholars aware of an opportunity to study in the UK through the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan 2012. Details of the award and how to apply can be found here. Online appliactions are due on December 1st 2011. The Ministry of Education can be contacted at 278-3343 for further information.

Bermuda Audubon Society opens restored Seymour's Pond Nature Reserve

Congratulations to the Bermuda Audubon Societyon the restoration of the brackish pond habitat at Seymour's Pond Nature Reserve on Barnes Corner, Southampton. Members of the Society and contractor Bell's Skyline Excavating dug out parts of the pond which had become filled and removed garbage from the pond.

Audubon Society volunteers also culled invasive plants which were filling in the edges of the pond and replaced them native and endemic species. The Ministry of Public Works has replaced the adjacent road drain on Middle Road as part of the habitat restoration and it is hoped this will improve the water quality in Seymour's Pond for birds and the resident population of endemic Killifish which were introduced this year.

This habitat restoration fulfills many BSAP activities, including invasive species removal, native planting, habitat restoration, protected area improvement, protected species management and government/NGO collaboration.

The Governor planted an Olivewood at the reserve during the opening on October 22nd

Bermuda Sun news article

Opportunities to study at the University of Reading: Biology and Conservation

An aim of the UKOTs and CDs Training and Research Programme is to develop opportunities for students from the UKOTs (including Bermuda) and CDs to study at the University of Reading. As such, it is essential to raise UKOT/CD student awareness of the biological science courses available at the University of Reading in the next academic year (2012/13).  Students in the UK begin to make choices about what university courses they would like to apply for early in their last academic year at school (i.e. from now onwards), so it would be useful for UKOT/CD students to be made aware of UK courses at this time also.

It must be clarified that students wishing to study in the UK must be self-funded, as there is no scholarship funding currently available.

 A document outlining the courses can be found here. Enquires should be directed to the University of Reading.

The summer of Sargassum!

In recent weeks Sargassum seaweed has been washing up in unprecedented amounts on shorelines in the Caribbean and West Africa. The volume of seaweed that can be seen in photos taken by colleagues around the Caribbean really is impressive.

Sargassum on John Smith's Bay Bermuda

Huge mats of floating Sargassum have been reported from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Antigua, St. Kitts, Barbados, Trinidad and the African coast in Sierra Leone.

We have begun gathering photos of this amazing algal phenomenon from anyone who would like to submit them. Please fill out the 'Contact Us' email form and we will get in touch with you regarding where to send your photos (the form will not let you send an attachment).

Sargassum Sightings Photo Gallery

Below are some offsite links to photos that others have gathered:

• http://arlohemphill.com/2011/08/change-is-in-the-air-seaweed-seaweed-everywhere/
• http://stormcarib.com/reports/current/jpgGtAQdgYHdM.jpg
  
  

Scholarship for MSc in Climate Change and Development at University of Sussex/Institute for Development Studies, UK

Full scholarship for MSc in Climate Change and Development at University of Sussex/Institute for Development Studies, UK

Deadline for application 1 May 2011

Please note this applies to nationals of the following UK overseas territories Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Turks and Caicos.

A full scholarship (fees plus maintenance and travel) funded through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme is available for applicants to the MSc in Climate Change and Development programme for entry October 2011.

Note: Potential applicants must undertake the following process in the order stated.

1.    Check their eligibility for the award (see eligibility criteria)

2.    Submit an application for the MSc in Climate Change and

Development using the online application facility at

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/2011/taught/3331/23691

3.    Only after applicants have received an offer of a place on the course should they request an application form for the scholarship, by contacting climate@sussex.ac.uk. The deadline for applications for the scholarship is 1st May 2011.

UKOTA Scholarship for Environmental MSc at the University of Reading

Are you interested in studying for a  1 year taught environmental MSc at the University of Reading, UK commencing October 2011?

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has made a contribution to a scholarship to enable a student from one of the Overseas Territories (OTs) to study an environmental Master of Science at the  University of Reading. The scholarship will be administered by the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) which was established in 1993 to promote the interests of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories and co-operation between them. Specifically UKOTA demonstrates the collective and individual partnerships between the territories and Her Majesty’s Government. This scholarship is part of the Overseas Territories Training and Research Programme which will contribute to capacity building within the OTs.

As part of the scholarship, the student’s tuition fees will be paid, travel to and from the Territory and monthly allowances to cover accommodation and living expenses. For more details on allowances  please see the UKOTA website www.ukota.org or contact Mrs Kedell Worboys, Chair of the UKOTA Environment Working Group via email: shgukrep@sthelenagov.com or Tel: +44 (0) 207 031 0314 Fax +44 (0) 207 031 0315

Why study an Environmental MSc?

Human activities have damaged the Earth’s ecosystems and caused significant biodiversity loss. This is a global problem, but is also very relevant to the UK Overseas Territories. The UKOTs are rich in biodiversity, but this biodiversity is under threat from a range of human activities. Reducing these losses and designing a more sustainable future requires skilled individuals who will develop evidence-based solutions. Studying an environmental MSc will give you the skills to develop a career that works toward sustainable development.

Who are we looking for?

We wish to award the scholarship to a dedicated student, who can show strong evidence of a commitment to, or is keen to develop, a career in nature conservation in the Overseas Territories.

To qualify for the scholarship applicants must be over the age of 20yrs, have Overseas Territories Citizenship, or the right to live and work in an Overseas Territory and satisfy the University’s course entry requirements.

Application from students with exceptional experience, including mature students with experience of working within the environmental/conservation sector in one of the Overseas Territories will be considered favourably.

The application process.

The scholarship is available to students wishing to take any of the courses from the list below.  Please check that satisfy course entry requirements before applying for the scholarship. Students should submit a letter of application outlining which course they are interested in, and why they think they should be awarded this scholarship (c. 500 words). This letter, and an accompanying CV (including the names of 2 referees) should be submitted to Kedell Worbys  by 15^th of April 2011.

Applications will be reviewed and the scholarship winner will be selected by the Scholarship board.

The successful applicant will then need apply to the University of Reading for a place on their chosen MSc course. The scholarship award will be dependent on the offer of a place from the University.

Closing date: 15^th April 2011

List of taught courses that Scholarship will fund (to be confirmed)

Atmosphere, ocean and climate.

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscatmosphereoceanclimate.aspx

Biometry

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscbiometry.aspx

Communication for innovation and development

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/msccommunication.aspx

Environment and Development

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscenvironment.aspx

Environmental Management

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscenvironmentalmanagement.aspx

Extension for Natural Resource based livelihoods

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/msclivelihoods.aspx

Horticulture

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mschorticulture.aspx

Plant Diversity

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscplant.aspx

Renewable energy

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscrenewable.aspx

Research (human geography)

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mschumangeography.aspx

Soils and environmental pollution

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscsoil.aspx

Wildlife management and Conservation

http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/courses/taught/mscwildman.aspx

Links for further information:

For further information on UKOTA and details of allowances go to: www.ukota.org

For further information on modules please follow the link:   http://www.rdg.ac.uk/biologicalsciences/ug/biosci-ugappliedecologyconservation.asp

For further information on the School of Biological Sciences go to www.reading.ac.uk/biologicalsciences

For further information on the University of Reading, including information on accommodation, student services, etc, go to: www.reading.ac.uk

 PRINTABLE PDF

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[1] http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=5130

More Species Recovery Plans Online

Item J2.1 of the Bermuda Biodiversity Action Plan calls for species management plans to be made available over the web. As of February 2011 five Species Recovery Plans are available on the web for 17 species of threatened animals and plants. The plans can be found in the 'Species Recovery Plans' folder of the Resources section of this website.

Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) Applications

Application forms for the next round of the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) are available online from the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) website at: http://www.ukotcf.org/otep/applications.htm  The deadline for submissions is Friday November 26th 2010.

2010/2011 Environmental Education Grant Awarded

The Department of Conservation Services and the Grant Selection Committee are pleased to congratulate Lashay Hollinsid the recipient of the Environmental Education Grant for the 2010/2011 academic year. Miss Hollinsid is pursuing a Masters degree in Biology at Alabama A&M University.  

The Environmental Education Grant is open to Bermudian students studying in the United States.  Application forms can be viewed in the Resources section of this site and are due on July 1^st in the year of application.

Related BAP Actions and Activities:

• Action C6: Raise awareness and promote training for career opportunities in environmentally related fields
• Action C7: Support ongoing career development and vocational training for environmentalists