The Conference opens on Thursday evening with an informal cocktail party and open house at FRIENDS’ education center for speakers and attendees. Speakers are coming from Universities and organizations in the United States, the Caribbean, and across The Bahamas, as well as Abaco based researchers and program directors.
Friday is a day full of interesting speakers at New Vision Ministries. Topics to be covered include: The impact of nutrients on the marine environment, historical and modern bird records from fossils and observations, conservation planning and a population study on beaked whales. Friday’s talks are offered to school students free of charge thanks to sponsorship of the conference by JS Johnson, Abaco Tourism Office and Royal Bank of Canada. Interested schools should contact Friends of the Environment to sign up.
Saturday’s talks will occur in the morning and will look at coral reef restoration, invasive species and a proposal for an important bird area in Abaco.
Saturday afternoon will be devoted to field trips. The first option for a field trip will be joining local expert Nancy Albury on an expedition to visit Gilpin Point along with Perry Maillis to introduce one of Abaco’s newest fossil sites. The trip will explore the coastal habitat at Gilpin Point, with opportunities for snorkeling, bird watching and participating in fossil collection for the research project. The second field trip will be led by local birding expert, Woody Bracey, to one of Abaco’s unique bird habitats.
More information about the conference, the speakers, and the field trips are all available on the FRIENDS’ website: www.friendsoftheenvironment.org or call 367-2721.
PO Box AB 20755
Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas