Ecosystems of
Grand Bahama Island
NATIONAL PARKS:
Lucayan
National Park Peterson Cay
National Park
Rand Nature Center
ACTIVITIES:
Adventures
in Nature Beaches
Bird Watching
| GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND ECOTOURISM ASSOCIATION: The island has affirmed is dedication to the environment by establishing its own Ecotourism Association, whose mission is to "educate and promote the natural, cultural and historical features of Grand Bahama Island." Founding Members include the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Chamber of Commerce, and Bahamas National Trust. Business members include the Rand Nature Center, Garden of the Groves, Hydroflora Gardens, Kayak Nature Tours, East End Adventures, Paradise Cove, Pinetree Stables and Twin Gables. Companies wishing to join must follow several guidelines designed to keep the environmental impact of Tourism down. Some of the issues that the Association plans to address are littering, marine debris, and uncontrolled coastal activity. |
To begin with, there are three national parks on Grand Bahama Island. Lucayan National Park, the star of the triad, is the only place in
the Bahamas where visitors can see all six of the island's ecosystems – a collection of plants and wildlife that offers an unparalleled view into the
complex interaction of native land and sea. Also within the park is one of the
world’s longest underwater cave systems – a sprawling network of tunnels
resulting from the island’s unique limestone geology. The Rand
Nature Center, with its resident flamingo colony, and reef-enveloped Peterson Cay National Park are equally thrilling in their beauty.
Both the Lucayan National Park and Rand Memorial Nature Center are easily accessible, but Peterson Cay can only be reached by boat.
Birdwatchers and plant lovers in particular
will enjoy Grand Bahama: the island has 18 of the 28 species of birds endemic to The
Islands of The Bahamas, including the striking Abaco parrot, and 52 species of orchids.
The Hydroflora Gardens, a research center where plants are grown without soil, and the Parrot Jungle's Garden
of the Groves, are excellent natural excursions right inside Freeport/Lucaya.
And then there is the sea. As part of one of the largest reef systems on Earth, the reefs of Grand Bahama Island are spectacular in both geographical scope and biological diversity. They are so numerous, in fact, that at one time people here made a living by merely salvaging the ships that wrecked on them. Among the island’s underwater treasures are the Hawksbill turtle, seahorses, dolphins, Caribbean reef sharks, and dozens of species of both coral and fish.
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