Forests and the forestry sector
Resources The forest resources of the Bahamas have been classified into three distinct types, namely pine forests (~200 000 ha), coppice forests (= secondary hardwood forests, ~200 000 ha) and mangrove forest (~400 000 ha). These figures are rather rough estimates since there are no inventory data available for coppice and mangrove forests. Approximately 80 percent of the forest resources are on State lands (Crown land), with the remaining 20 percent in private holdings. The pine forests (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis) are considered the most productive and commercially viable forest resources, found on four of the most northerly islands. The commercial utilization of the pine forests started in 1906 and continued unabated until the early 1970s, when the resource was completely exploited and all licenses and concessions were relinquished to the government. The current stock, last inventoried in 1986, is the result of natural regeneration after the exploitation. The coppice hardwood forests are found predominantly in the central and southern Bahamas and have never been inventoried. They comprise various hardwood species harvested in the past for sawlogs. Some noted valuable species include buttonwood, mahogany, gum elemi, ratwood, black ebony and red cedar.The mangrove forest ecosystems occur predominantly on the lee shores of most Bahamian Islands. Most mangrove forest is under 5 m in height and would have to be classified as other wooded land and not as closed forest. There has been no attempt to quantify the extent of coastal deforestation or changes in forest cover.Until the 1970s the forest sector in the Bahamas relied primarily on the exploitation of natural forest resources for wood products, such as timber for construction, boat building, furniture and fuel and pulpwood to produce paper. The activity contributed significantly to the national economy in terms of employment and the development of infrastructure in the Family Island communities. Many of the more valuable hardwoods were exported, depleting the forests to such a degree that mature specimens are now extremely rare. Since the late 1980s the focus of the forestry sector has shifted from one of forest exploitation to that of the multipurpose functions of the Bahamian forests. Forest management is not actively practised in the Bahamas and it is accepted that the main value of the forests lies in the conservation and protection of freshwater resources, maintenance of the hydrological cycle, soil conservation, conservation of biological diversity and climate and microclimate regulation. This is particularly significant on the larger northern islands where groundwater beneath the natural pine forests is the major source of freshwater. Additional functions of these forests include recreation and ecotourism, aesthetics and natural scenery, opportunities for agricultural and agroforestry development, and the establishment of national park and protected areas. There are currently no formal primary forest industries in the Bahamas since forest exploitation ceased in the late 1970s. Consequently the Bahamas relies heavily on imports of forest products to sustain the demand for goods and services. The sector contributes little to GDP. Nevertheless, the naturally regenerating pine forests on State lands promise a renewed asset for sustainable forest utilization for small local industries. Economic and environmental contribution The local production of woodfuel and the use of wood for energy has not been quantified. There is a small but significant number of illegal charcoal operations in the country. Due to the relative high standard of living in the Bahamas the demand for fuelwood and charcoal is rather low. There has been no effort to quantify the extent of trees outside forests in the urban centres. The passage of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 severely damaged and destroyed native and introduced trees in the urban areas of New Providence Island. To address the destruction the government embarked on an island-wide plant beautification programme with the importation of 10 000 exotic trees (coconut palms, royal palms, etc.) to be planted in rural, urban and coastal areas, complemented by trees purchased from local growers. The attempt to salvage the wind blown trees in the pine forests never materialized. The forest resources offer some opportunities for game hunting of wild animals (quail, wild hogs and pigeons) by tourists and locals alike. There is also a potential of the local forest to provide non-wood forest products. The indigenous forest resource offers opportunities for agriculture and agroforestry development. The best arable lands for agroforestry are those under natural pine forests, particularly in the northern Bahamas. Large areas of this arable land are currently under citrus cultivation and other cash crops for domestic and export markets. Small farmers are encouraged to cultivate cash crops intermixed with forest trees and to adopt other agroforestry systems. The natural forest which fringes these agricultural developments provide much needed shelter from strong winds and assists in reducing the effects of catastrophic storms and hurricanes that the country may experience during the summer months. In addition, the unique features of the Bahamian forests, including the multiform vegetation, flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, rich and varied bird life (including the rare and endangered Bahama parrot, endemic only to the Bahamas) and plentiful wildlife, offer potential with respect to the conservation of biodiversity and ecotourism. Selected areas of forest have been designated as conservation forest to achieve this purpose. The Ministry of tourism has formulated a National Ecotourism Strategy for the Bahamas.
Resources The forest resources of the Bahamas have been classified into three distinct types, namely pine forests (~200 000 ha), coppice forests (= secondary hardwood forests, ~200 000 ha) and mangrove forest (~400 000 ha). These figures are rather rough estimates since there are no inventory data available for coppice and mangrove forests. Approximately 80 percent of the forest resources are on State lands (Crown land), with the remaining 20 percent in private holdings. The pine forests (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis) are considered the most productive and commercially viable forest resources, found on four of the most northerly islands. The commercial utilization of the pine forests started in 1906 and continued unabated until the early 1970s, when the resource was completely exploited and all licenses and concessions were relinquished to the government. The current stock, last inventoried in 1986, is the result of natural regeneration after the exploitation. The coppice hardwood forests are found predominantly in the central and southern Bahamas and have never been inventoried. They comprise various hardwood species harvested in the past for sawlogs. Some noted valuable species include buttonwood, mahogany, gum elemi, ratwood, black ebony and red cedar.The mangrove forest ecosystems occur predominantly on the lee shores of most Bahamian Islands. Most mangrove forest is under 5 m in height and would have to be classified as other wooded land and not as closed forest. There has been no attempt to quantify the extent of coastal deforestation or changes in forest cover.Until the 1970s the forest sector in the Bahamas relied primarily on the exploitation of natural forest resources for wood products, such as timber for construction, boat building, furniture and fuel and pulpwood to produce paper. The activity contributed significantly to the national economy in terms of employment and the development of infrastructure in the Family Island communities. Many of the more valuable hardwoods were exported, depleting the forests to such a degree that mature specimens are now extremely rare. Since the late 1980s the focus of the forestry sector has shifted from one of forest exploitation to that of the multipurpose functions of the Bahamian forests. Forest management is not actively practised in the Bahamas and it is accepted that the main value of the forests lies in the conservation and protection of freshwater resources, maintenance of the hydrological cycle, soil conservation, conservation of biological diversity and climate and microclimate regulation. This is particularly significant on the larger northern islands where groundwater beneath the natural pine forests is the major source of freshwater. Additional functions of these forests include recreation and ecotourism, aesthetics and natural scenery, opportunities for agricultural and agroforestry development, and the establishment of national park and protected areas. There are currently no formal primary forest industries in the Bahamas since forest exploitation ceased in the late 1970s. Consequently the Bahamas relies heavily on imports of forest products to sustain the demand for goods and services. The sector contributes little to GDP. Nevertheless, the naturally regenerating pine forests on State lands promise a renewed asset for sustainable forest utilization for small local industries. Economic and environmental contribution The local production of woodfuel and the use of wood for energy has not been quantified. There is a small but significant number of illegal charcoal operations in the country. Due to the relative high standard of living in the Bahamas the demand for fuelwood and charcoal is rather low. There has been no effort to quantify the extent of trees outside forests in the urban centres. The passage of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 severely damaged and destroyed native and introduced trees in the urban areas of New Providence Island. To address the destruction the government embarked on an island-wide plant beautification programme with the importation of 10 000 exotic trees (coconut palms, royal palms, etc.) to be planted in rural, urban and coastal areas, complemented by trees purchased from local growers. The attempt to salvage the wind blown trees in the pine forests never materialized. The forest resources offer some opportunities for game hunting of wild animals (quail, wild hogs and pigeons) by tourists and locals alike. There is also a potential of the local forest to provide non-wood forest products. The indigenous forest resource offers opportunities for agriculture and agroforestry development. The best arable lands for agroforestry are those under natural pine forests, particularly in the northern Bahamas. Large areas of this arable land are currently under citrus cultivation and other cash crops for domestic and export markets. Small farmers are encouraged to cultivate cash crops intermixed with forest trees and to adopt other agroforestry systems. The natural forest which fringes these agricultural developments provide much needed shelter from strong winds and assists in reducing the effects of catastrophic storms and hurricanes that the country may experience during the summer months. In addition, the unique features of the Bahamian forests, including the multiform vegetation, flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, rich and varied bird life (including the rare and endangered Bahama parrot, endemic only to the Bahamas) and plentiful wildlife, offer potential with respect to the conservation of biodiversity and ecotourism. Selected areas of forest have been designated as conservation forest to achieve this purpose. The Ministry of tourism has formulated a National Ecotourism Strategy for the Bahamas.
