Minister of the Environment and National Resources, the Hon. Zane Lightbourne delivered a detailed outline of his ministry’s duties, contribution to the economy and the alignment between economic development and environmental protection as a whole in his 2026/2027 Budget Contribution, June 11, 2026. He also acknowledged and thanked all of the directors responsible for each department.
“The work being carried out by my Ministry is divided into four critical components, each essential to the seamless and effective functioning of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. While each department has its own distinct mandate, together they operate as one unified body, working toward the shared goal of protecting and responsibly managing the natural resources of The Bahamas.
“The latest data from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute indicates that our economy expanded by 3.8 per cent in 2025, following growth of 4.2 per cent in 2024. While many factors contributed to this performance, it serves as a reminder that economic progress depends upon the environmental assets that sustain tourism, support investment, protect communities, and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by residents and visitors alike”.
A brief summary of each department Minister Lightbourne addressed, with excerpts:
Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS)
“The Budget Communication reports that The Bahamas welcomed approximately 12.5 million visitors during 2025, representing growth of 11.4 per cent over the previous year. Those visitors come because of the beauty of our beaches, the quality of our marine environment, the cleanliness of our communities, and the reputation of The Bahamas as a world class destination. The work of the Department of Environmental Health Services therefore supports not only public health but also one of the principal engines of national economic growth”.
The minister went on to elaborate on the significant growth in numbers involving environment protection and their initiatives such as the removal of environmental hazards, derelict vehicles and garbage and debris collection from residential and commercial properties. Before closing the DEHS he spoke on the issuing of spot fines and its benefits, the Vector Unit with primary responsibility for monitoring illnesses and airborne diseases related to the environment such as dengue fever and Zika virus, which mosquitoes carry, and also rodent monitoring.
Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP)
“The Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) has continued to make steady and meaningful progress in carrying out its national mandate to prevent and control pollution, regulate environmental activities, and promote the sustainable use of the environment across The Bahamas. Over the past year, one of the Department’s most significant achievements was the establishment of the Environmental Administration Fund. This marked an important financial and administrative milestone, with close to $400,000 collected from approved environmental work, research permits, Certificates of Environmental Clearance, and fines for unapproved activities”.
“Through the Bahamas Debt Conversion Project for Marine Conservation, The Bahamas successfully completed a $300 million external debt refinancing initiative that supports marine conservation while strengthening fiscal sustainability. This landmark initiative demonstrates that environmental stewardship is not a cost to the economy; it is an investment in long-term national prosperity”.
The Department is also executing the $20 million Integrated Landscape Management Project through UNEP, which focuses on addressing land degradation, enhancing food security, and improving climate resilience within the agricultural sector. Under this initiative, $340,000 was allocated to BAMSI for the development of ten propagation facilities across several islands, $700,000 was approved for the Bahamas Development Bank to support farmers with business planning and grant writing, and $350,000 was directed to the University of The Bahamas to establish a soil health monitoring system in Andros, Long Island, and Eleuthera.
Forestry Unit
“The top priority of the Forestry Unit is the passage of updated forestry legislation. This legislation is critical because it will provide the legal foundation for modern forest management, stronger enforcement, and improved environmental protection nationwide”.
“The Forestry Unit has requested a budget allocation of $248,000 to support staffing expansion, conservation programmes, education and training, research initiatives, community engagement, and international reporting obligations”.
“An investment of $248,000 positions the Forestry Unit to transition from reactive environmental management to proactive, science-based conservation leadership. By strengthening legislation, staffing, education, and inter-agency collaboration, the Unit is building sustainable national capacity while directly supporting government agencies in disaster management, education, urban planning, environmental regulation, and national conservation efforts across The Bahamas.”
The Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems Centre (BNGIS)
“The Government’s investment in the BNGIS Centre reflects its national importance, with a budget of approximately $6.8 million. A large portion of this funding is directed toward capital projects such as national mapping, geospatial infrastructure, and digital data systems. This shows that the focus is on long-term national development systems rather than only day-to-day operations”.
“In practical terms, this work directly benefits government agencies. For example, emergency services such as ambulances and disaster response teams can use accurate maps and address data to locate incidents more quickly and plan faster response routes, especially across multiple islands. This can save time and potentially save lives during emergencies. Similarly, agencies responsible for the election register can use verified national mapping and standardized address systems to ensure voter locations, polling divisions, and electoral boundaries are accurate and well-organized. This improves transparency, efficiency, and administrative accuracy in the electoral process.”
“Through technical training, workshops, and awareness programmes, the Centre has trained over 150 public officers, utilizing geospatial software, tools, standards, policies and procedures and the use of the Geoportal. This ensures that agencies are not only given access to data but also have the skills to use it effectively in planning, environmental monitoring, disaster management, policy development and in the context of teaching how GIS may be integrated in the classroom to nurture the next generation of savvy students to conduct scientific research and analysis utilizing modern geospatial technologies and data.”
“Taken together, the work of DEPP, the Forestry Unit, BNGIS, and the Department of Environmental Health Services reflects a Ministry that is putting in place the legislation, science, enforcement, data, and education, to ensure stronger environmental protection, sustainable infrastructure planning and improved disaster readiness. All contributing to better national development.”
The post The Alignment of Economic Development and Environment Protection Highlighted by Minister Lightbourne appeared first on ZNS BAHAMAS.
