Event: Department of Environmental Planning and Protection Environmental Conclave
Attended by: Kelli A. Armstrong, BRON’s Project Manager & Environmental Scientist & Agnessa Lundy, BRON’s Sr. Environmental Scientist
What is DEPP?
The Mandate of The Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) is to provide for the prevention or control of pollution, the regulation of activities and the administration, conservation and sustainable use of the environment and for connected purposes. The Department also manages multilateral environmental agreements.
The Department also manages research permit applications for scientific investigations involving or affecting natural resources within The Bahamas. In addition, the Department is responsible for the development and implementation of policies, programmes and plans for the effective management and conservation of the physical environment within The Bahamas.
The goals of this event are for key environmental stakeholders to become better acquainted with the services and activities of the DEPP, their relation to the decisions coming out of COP 26 and our country’s commitments, including, but not limited to, the necessity and processes of the:
- The Certificate of Environmental Clearance
- Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
- Forestry, Mangroves, and the National Forest Estate
- Research Permitting
– www.depp.gov.bs
Kelli’s Experience at DEPP Conclave:
As a college student, I had several internships with the former Bahamas, Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission that enabled me to become the first Environmental Scientist at Caribbean Coastal Services, and the first Bahamian Climate Change Professional (CC-P) certified by the Association of Climate Change Officers. It is an honour for me, for BRON, to be considered “key environmental stakeholders”, and be part of DEPP’s continued growth.
BRON offers a comprehensive list of environmental services required for developments by The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR). These include but are not limited to the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) Application, Environmental Baseline Statement (EBS), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Public Consultation & Report, Environmental Management Plan (EMP), Permit to Harvest a Protected Tree Application, and Environmental Training & Monitoring. As a result, we regularly interact with DEPP officers on behalf of our clients.
- Why did you/BRON choose to attend this event? – BRON thought it important to attend DEPP’s Environmental Conclave because we wanted to show our continued support for DEPP by interacting with their officers, as well as other stakeholders, by learning more about the topics presented, the impacts to their work, and the country’s overall progress in these areas.
- What was the most valuable part of this ecperience for you? – As was communicated to DEPP, the most valuable part of this experience to me was being in the same room with our colleagues in government, non-government, and private sectors, engaging on matters of the environment that we are all passionately working to improve. Issues and challenges with various processes and practices were discussed so DEPP can address them and be more successful in executing their mandate. Attendees were refreshed not only on mandates, objectives, activities, and processes of DEPP, but also The Department of Forestry which is also part of MENR. As the largest interdisciplinary consulting firm in The Bahamas, and in the English-speaking Caribbean, BRON has the opportunity and privilege to contribute to the sustainable development of The Bahamas. We look forward to participating in stakeholder meetings, and look forward to further engagement with DEPP and other key environmental stakeholders in the near future.
