Several Biology and Environmental Degree students from the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) attended the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCG) held in Cayman last month

Thanks to an invitation from Ann and Mike Piekowski, coordinators of the UKOTC, UCCI science students were able to attend a variety of presentations and discussions at the Westin Casuarina Resort.

The UKOTCF brought UK and UK Overseas Territory Organisations, and non-governmental organisations together in the Cayman Islands to discuss strategies for conserving whole ecosystems and communities, including important aspects of the built environment, for the benefit of future generations.

The UCCI Biology and Environmental Degree students learned about the conservation of increasingly threatened and endangered terrestrial and marine species at all levels, from the gathering of base-line data, to measuring climate change, to counting species population numbers, to the granting of funds from the UK for Overseas Territories projects worldwide, said a UCCI press release.

Conference activities included a field trip that took delegates and students around Grand Cayman, stopping at Pedro Castle and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.

The trip included opportunities to identify and photograph the Cayman National symbols- Silver Thatch Palms, Cayman Parrots, and Wild Banana Orchids, now in bloom at the Botanic Park.

Fred Burton and John Marotta were on hand to proudly tour participants throughout the Blue Iguana Breeding Centre.

Participants also had a chance to meet informally and exchange news and views about conservation issues in the UK Overseas Territories world-wide. Sixteen UK Overseas Territories were represented, many of which are islands, including the Cayman Islands, the Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar, Anguilla, the Isle of Man, Tristan da Cunha, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Ascension, the Falkland Islands, British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, the Channel Islands, and a small part of the Republic of Cyprus .

Throughout the conference, delegates and students heard about various common issues which all UK Overseas Territories face – the superb biodiversity and array of endemic species they wish to protect; the increasing loss of habitat; the perceived short-fall in funding for projects; an emphasis on local action; and increased numbers of threatened and endangered species due to a variety of negative factors affecting their survival.

Uncommonly, and unexpectedly, students learned that there is no airport at all on St Helena in the remote South Atlantic, necessitating a weeklong boat journey for any of the 5000 inhabitants to reach the nearest airport in the Falkland Islands.

St Helena has some of the world’s most unique wildlife due to its isolation. Airports facilitate movement of personnel, food, freight, scientists, and tourists, something the rest of us take for granted, a UCCI press release.

The conference encouraged student feedback, and resulted in the formation of a new student group including 27 of UCCI’s Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac students, in addition to peers from Jersey in the Channel Islands. They will keep in touch with each other via the UKOTCF Forum blog-site available to all students and conservation-conscious people, by registration at www.ukotcf.org.

UCCI is an institution of higher learning that contributes to Caymanian society by advancing knowledge and developing creative graduates through cultural, social, economic and environmental activities. UCCI offers a number of certificate programmes, associate and degree courses as well as graduate programmes and professional and vocational training. Visit www.ucci.edu.ky to learn more.