BZS & Parks Department Continue Partnership
The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] and the Department of Parks spent time clearing invasives on Trunk Island recently in an effort to share knowledge and continue the partnership that has been evolving since the BZS Micro Forest Project began in 2021.
“On June 26, members of the Parks team from Tulo Valley and Government House joined the BZS team on Trunk Island to clear invasives and create strategic berms to protect future plantings of endemics on a new site on the island,” a spokesperson said.
Trevor Rawson, the BZS Trunk Island Project Coordinator, said that working alongside the Parks crew was “incredibly valuable,” as the BZS team continue to test out new styles of conservation efforts.
“The work the Parks Department provided was a huge help,” he said. “They lent us their expertise and it was sharing knowledge and a learning experience on both sides.”
The spokesperson said, “The BZS Micro Forest Project, a method of densely planting trees together with the aim of increasing biodiversity and restoring Bermuda’s natural ecosystem, was first piloted on Trunk Island before moving to the mainland where plots were identified and cleared of invasive species then densely planted with native and endemic plants.
“There are currently just over 20 micro forest plots across Bermuda with many of them on Parks land. Most notably, the BZS Micro Forest team and Parks collaborated on a micro forest for the King’s Coronation Garden in the Botanical Gardens to mark the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023. In June 2024, the team were honoured with a Coronation Medal for their efforts.”
“The Micro Forest Project came out of experimenting with the planting method on Trunk Island and the idea then moved into its own mainland project where the Parks Department has been very supportive allowing us to try these methods on their land,” Mr Rawson said.
The spokesperson said, “While on Trunk Island, the Parks crew worked on the site providing their expert knowledge on how they deal with invasives but also got to see first-hand how the BZS team removes the unwanted plant species. It was also a time for the teams to share knowledge on new planting styles and the BZS team were keen to seek the Parks team’s opinion on the methods with further hope for them to come back and continue with the project.”
Terry Lynn Thompson, Director of the Department of Parks, said: “The collaboration between the Department of Parks and BZS on Trunk Island exemplifies the power of teamwork in conservation. By sharing our expertise and learning from each other, we are enhancing Trunk Island’s ecosystem and creating a sustainable future for all of Bermuda.”
“They educated us and got to learn about what we do, which is the essence of Trunk Island as our Living Classroom,” added Mr Rawson. “They only see us on their land, so they got to come out and see that we’re trying all the time to create new methods. We’re experimenting and seeing what works and what doesn’t and then applying that elsewhere to eventually help the whole community.”
Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. David Burch, said: “This partnership highlights the importance of unity in our conservation efforts. The work being done on Trunk Island is a testament to what we can achieve when government and community organisations come together with a shared vision for preserving Bermuda’s natural beauty and biodiversity.”
The spokesperson said, “The BZS Micro Forest Project is generously sponsored by lead partner HSBC, founding partner RenaissanceRe our Corporate Stewards who continue to make this important project possible.”
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Category: All, Environment
