BREEF News

Check Out the UNDP Publication Here

The Young Reporters for the Environment students (YRE) in The Bahamas and the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) gained international recognition for their initiative on climate action and approach to combating plastic pollution. Recently featured in a UNDP article called, “Turning the tide, How local NGOs in Seychelles and the Bahamas are working to raise awareness and inspire action to address marine plastic pollution,” YRE students share the importance of giving our marine environment a voice.

The YRE programme aims to empower students aged 11-25 to take a stand on environmental issues they feel strongly about and give them a platform to call attention to these issues through the media of writing, photography, or video. There are more than 350,000 young reporters in 45 countries across the world.

BREEF started implementing the YRE programme in 2019, making The Bahamas the first country in the Caribbean to offer the programme. Since then, students from all over the archipelago have participated in journalism and photography workshops, and snorkel field trips led by BREEF to the mangrove and coral reefs. They have also participated annually in the “Young Reporters for the Environment National Competition” submitting entries on local and global environmental issues.

“What motivates my friends and me to protect nature is sustaining it for future generations. Nature is often neglected by human beings in today’s world and now its survival is becoming such a vital aspect of life. We have to protect it!” -Kaitlyn Archer.

Photo 1. Young Reporter for the Environment student, Kaitlyn Archer, presenting to snorkelers about the importance of protecting our coral reefs.

Kaitlyn and her peers are participating in a youth-focused project with The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) aimed at increasing knowledge about marine ecosystems and the threats they face, including plastic pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.

The project was initially funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (SGP). Lombard Odier & Cie (Bahamas) Ltd is a key sponsor of the rapidly-growing programme.

“YRE is an amazing programme because it allows young people to utilize social media in an impactful way, expressing their concerns about the environment and proposing solutions. YRE teaches our youth how to communicate effectively by utilizing a cutting-edge approach to disseminate news.” Allison Longley, National Operator for YRE in The Bahamas.

To read the GEF SGP “Turning the Tides” article and to learn more about the Young Reporters for the Environment programme, please read https://undp.shorthandstories.com/gef-sgp-turning-the-tide/ and visit www.breef.org.

Photo 2: BREEF’s underwater classroom, a perfect fusion of art and conservation located at the Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden & Coral Nursery.

Photo 3: Students participating in a Snorkel and Underwater Cleanup event.

Photo 4: YRE students participating in a PADI Women’s Day snorkel event.

Grand Bahama’s Bishop Michael Eldon School’s (BMES) Vertical Hydroponics Garden project was named as one of five global winners of the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Campaign Best Practice Competition.  Cyprus, Germany, India, and Spain were the other winners in the Biodiversity Campaign. The competition was organized by FEE’s Learning about Forest (LEAF) programme and was open to the entire FEE network, Blue Flag, Eco-Schools, Green Key, Learning about Forest (LEAF), and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE).  The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) is the official FEE representative for The Bahamas and manages the Eco-Schools Bahamas and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes. 

Photo 1: BMES Vertical Hydroponics Garden

The GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Campaign involves a set of activities targeted at different stakeholders to emphasize the importance of protecting global biodiversity and ecosystems and focuses on actions to protect global biodiversity. In the Best Practice Competition, Eco-Schools, LEAF, YRE schools, Blue Flag sites and Green Key establishments were invited to submit one project or story connected with the GAIA 20:30 biodiversity goals of preservation and ecosystem restoration. 

“I am grateful for our BMES achievement. Thanks to the ever-supportive administration- Mrs. Sheryl Wood, our principal, and her team, all the organizations who have supported our school throughout these years in our journey as an Eco-school, GEF-SGP, Mr. Deon Stewart for assisting us with our grant, Keep Grand Bahama Clean-Mrs. Nakira Wilchcombe and her team, BREEF-Mr. Kevin Glinton, and his team. Special thank you to the Ministry of Agriculture-Ms. Jeri Kelly and her team, Ministry of Education-Mrs. Sheryl Bowe, and her team for providing us with our first set of hydroponics. Most importantly, the students who have tirelessly worked in the garden and were able to connect with nature during the pandemic. Above all, thank the Almighty God for his divine providence and protection,” said Mrs. Cheng Bee Selim-Dela Pena, BMES Eco-Schools Coordinator.

According to BMES Principal, Sheryl Wood, “We are so proud of her, the supporting teachers and the students who have persevered with these Eco-Schools projects.  This one is big time!  Thank you for the role you and BREEF played in making this possible,”.

Photo 2:  BMES student examining hydroponics system growth

Speaking of local and global significance of BMES’ award, BREEF’s Executive Director, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert stated, “Congratulations to these students from Grand Bahama and the other winners from around the world who developed great skills and knowledge on climate action and biodiversity conservation. Their work contributed to boosting biodiversity, raising awareness on ecosystem protection, and creating meaningful, long-lasting projects. Taking action for biodiversity is not only essential for sustaining healthy natural areas, but also healthy communities.”

BMES student Trinity McIntosh stated, “The achievement is very important to the Eco-Schools Programme and me. This is because we’ve happily and diligently taken care of our hydroponics garden. Many of us gained the opportunity to not only practice but promote biodiversity within our school. Using all that we have learned, we can make a positive impact on our environment. This accomplishment is truly significant and encouraging.”

Hydroponics team member Jamia William said, “The achievement feels amazing. It’s an awesome feeling when something you put your all into gets recognized for something great. It also inspires us as a club to keep doing what we’re doing because our hard work is paying off and it motivates us to do better.”

According to BMES student Brianna Bowe, “Working with the hydroponics garden every single day brings me great joy to work with the plants and with my classmates. This great achievement means a lot to me and the rest of the team because it will help us to continue working with the hydroponics garden and it will also encourage others to join in on the action!”

Photo 3:  BMES students maintaining their hydroponics system

Kevin Glinton, Eco-Schools Bahamas National Operator, expressing his gratitude to BMES for accepting the challenge, said, “The Bahamas is one of over 79 countries participating in FEE programmes.  I am extremely proud of BMES and BREEF’s 39 other Eco-Schools in The Bahamas that continue to show the world that we take environmental stewardship seriously.”

FEE Biodiversity: Best Practices from Schools Around the World Press Release

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — After another year of hybrid learning, four new Bahamas Environmental Steward Scholars (BESS) are ready for in-person experiential learning through the BESS programme.

Applicants from New Providence, Eleuthera, and Grand Bahama competed for coveted seats in this gap year programme offered by the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) and The Island School.

Scholars for the 2022-2023 BESS Programme are Asia Butler from Harbour Island All Age School, Taye Fountain from Lucayan International School, Darielle Bullard from Bishop Michael Eldon School, and Gayle Burrows from Queen’s College. Each scholar will spend a life-changing semester at The Island School at Cape Eleuthera, in addition to a four-month paid internship at BREEF.

Recognizing the growing need to solve problems in a rapidly changing world, BREEF and The Island School mentor these independent students through solutions-based learning and scientific research internships. Upon completion of the programme each scholar leaves well equipped to lead The Bahamas into a more sustainable future.

Asia Butler has shown exceptional leadership as the president of the Bahamas Plastic Movement Ocean Ambassador’s Club as well as inspiring her community with her backyard gardening.

Butler said: “During the pandemic Bahamians were struck with fear over possible food shortages which could be prevented by encouraging agricultural jobs and making agriculture an important part of our education system, thus increasing food security and bringing us one step closer to a plastic-free community.”

Taye Fountain is a Maritime Cadet also involved with Save the Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas.

Fountain said: “I am an avid swimmer, spear fisherman, boater, and scuba diver. I believe I can take much of what I have learned from my environmental education and implement it to inform others of ways in which the economy and country can develop without damaging our environment.”

Darielle Bullard is a Save the Bays and Waterkeepers Cadet and also in the Maritime Cadet Corps. She gives back to her community through Anchor Club and Interact and loves diving with sharks.

“My passion is nature and marine life,” Bullard said.

“I like to help clean up the beach with my friends and visit Owl Hole. I plan to major in marine biology, and BESS will show me how to make a difference in the Bahamas and have fun while I accomplish my goals.”

Gayle Burrows participates in Green Team Eco Club, Aquaponics, and the Model UN. She realizes the impending doom of warming oceans and climate change and has worked with youth to shape their future.

“I have always wanted to contribute to my home, The Bahamas, by preparing children in younger generations to see that they have to take care of and preserve the environment because it’s our home,” Burrows said.

Since 2008, 55 young Bahamians have benefitted from this exceptional educational experience, with most scholars going on to pursue related tertiary studies or being currently employed in the environmental field.

The BESS Programme is a collaboration between BREEF and The Island School with over $160,000 provided in scholarships from The Island School to make the programme possible.

Click here to read the original Eyewitness News article.

Yesterday we celebrated the “International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.”

Mangroves are at the heart of our Bahamian marine ecosystems that sustains our way of life! Marine species such as conch, crawfish, and juvenile fish live and grow up in and around mangroves and rely on them for protection.

Preserving our Bahamian mangrove ecosystem is vital, not only do they protect other organisms but they also protect our communities and our homes by preventing flooding and protecting our shorelines against erosion. To learn more about “Life in the Bahamian Mangrove Creek,” Download our poster today!

Local Non-Profit Aims to Amplify Impact by Inviting Corporate Bahamas to Take Action!

With the release of a new guide providing best-practices and tips to host effective beach cleanup events, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) is encouraging local businesses to be responsible corporate citizens and embrace the important role they play in the sustainable future of our ocean.

World Oceans Day is recognised by the United Nations and organisations and individuals around the world on June 8th every year. Given that The Bahamas is 95% underwater, BREEF is celebrating the whole of June as World Oceans Month. 

Executive Director of BREEF, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert describes the annual celebration as “an internationally coordinated effort promoting the protection and restoration of the one shared ocean that connects us all.” 

The yearly observance, beginning in 2002 and officially recognised by the United Nations in 2009, unites individuals, governments, civic organisations, religious groups and businesses worldwide through thousands of in-person and virtual events organized across 140 countries throughout the globe. This year’s theme of  ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’ is especially relevant to The Bahamas as our primary industry, tourism, relies heavily on the ocean through beaches, seafood, snorkelling, yachting and more, along with the countless supporting jobs that go along with each. 

The head of the local marine-conservation non-profit indicated that this time each year her organization often receives requests by companies wishing to participate in coastal cleanup initiatives and to engage their staff in activities that help protect the ocean. “It is extremely encouraging to see businesses becoming more environmentally conscious and keen to take action. In these challenging times, there is no better place to be than outdoors and in the fresh air, or even better wearing a mask underwater!.” To facilitate this, BREEF has created an easy-to-use toolkit that businesses can use to organize their own events.

“Rather than facilitating one single cleanup, this year we decided to think out of the box and shift our focus to building capacity. We wanted to equip our partners with a simple but detailed guide that will help them to be successful” McKinney-Lambert continued.

The guide, which can be found on the BREEF’s website (breef.org) provides breakdowns for before, during and after cleanup events, important contact information for relevant agencies and data collection sheets that can be reported and input into a global database. The goal is that with multiple businesses conducting their own respective cleanup exercises throughout the month of June and beyond, the overall impact will be multiplied across the entire Bahamas.

BREEF is also offering companies planning on hostingbeach clean ups the opportunity to have a BREEF team member schedule time slots on the day to speak  with their groups on the importance of action to protect Bahamian marine life and how both the business and its team members can continue to do their part year-round.

With June 1st simultaneously serving as the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and initial projections forecasting an active season ahead, the BREEF executive felt there was no better time to release the publication. “Our coral reefs serve as the first line of defense during major storms, reducing wave energy by up to 97%. Human impacts like pollution are just one of several major threats wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems worldwide. With this new guide we really hope to maximize our reach and see an increase in the number of cleanups, no matter how big or small.”

The non-profit foundation will also be hosting a public cleanup and snorkel event at 10AM on Saturday, 12 June at Saunders Beach for interested individuals, small groups and families to attend.

Organizations wishing to coordinate their upcoming cleanup events with BREEF can get in contact by calling (242) 327-9000 or by emailing breef@breef.org.

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Media Contact
Casuarina McKinney-Lambert
Executive Director
Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF)
Tel: (242) 327-9000
Email: breef@breef.org
Web: www.breef.org

Biodiversity is integral to our coral reef and mangrove ecosystems. In celebration of #WorldBiodiversity day we are highlighting the importance of biodiversity of our Bahamian coral reefs. Coral reefs are teeming with a variety of species that help keep this ecosystem balanced and healthy.

Coral reefs have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet—even more than a tropical rainforest. Occupying less than one percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home to more than 25% of marine life. Coral reefs provide protection from storms, and generate income for tourism and fisheries.  The Bahamas is home to 35% of all coral reefs in the Caribbean.

Coral Reefs are under threat from human impacts such as climate change, pollution, invasive species, coastal development and overfishing. 80% of live corals have died in the last 50 years. BREEF works to protect coral reefs through restoration, education and by influencing policy.

To learn more about the abundant biodiversity below the surface check out BREEF’s Virtual Coral Reef Field trip.

Check out this sneak preview of the BREEF Virtual Coral Reef Field Trip!

The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) is proud to announce

Eliana Bowe, age 11 from St John’s College is the winner of the 2022 Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) National Competition. 

The winning photo entry “Is it better in The Bahamas?“ calls attention to one of the leading threats to coral reefs, pollution. Ms. Bowe captures a current photo of land-based garbage just footsteps away from the shoreline. 

Ms. Bowe received a brand-new GoPro HD camera gifted by BREEF to support her future in

environmental reporting. She will now represent The Bahamas in the 2022 Young Reporters for the Environment International Competition hosted by the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE). 

BREEF commends all of the YRE participants for submitting their articles and photos. Entries focused on various real-time issues such as the effects of climate change in The Bahamas, biodiversity loss, and pollution. 

The YRE Programme aims to empower students aged 11-25 to take a stand on environmental

issues they feel strongly about. It gives them a platform to call attention to these issues through

writing, photography, or video. There are more than 350,000 young reporters in 45 countries

across the world.

Speaking on behalf of the YRE programme in The Bahamas, Allison Longley, National Operator for the Young Reporters for the Environment, said, “ The YRE programme allows a platform for young people to give nature a voice in such a fun and creative way. The YRE National Competition is the pinnacle of the programme however throughout the year students have an opportunity to connect with the marine environment first-hand through snorkel field trips and mangrove walkabouts. 

When asked what motivates her to protect nature, Eliana Bowe stated, “ I love my country and its beautiful water. It’s important to take care of our marine environment. I am passionate about the ocean because I don’t want to see the fish go extinct.”

The Young Reporters for the Environment programme was launched in The Bahamas with the support of a grant from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme. Additional support has been provided by Rolex and Lombard Odier & CIE (Bahamas) LTD to enable children around The Bahamas to get involved with the Young Reporters for the Environment programme and take part in the international competition. 

To learn more about the Young Reporters for the Environment programme and how you can get involved, please visit www.breef.org.

Photo 1; Eliana Bowe’s winning  photo entry focuses on pollution.  

Photo 2; Eliana Bowe, age 11, St. John’s College winner of the 2022 Young Reporters for the Environment National Competition.  

The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation ( BREEF) kicked off Earth Week by hosting a Snorkel and Underwater Cleanup this past Saturday April 16, 2022 at Saunders Beach.

During the event participants learned about fish identification, threats to coral reefs and how to snorkel for the very first time.

Allison Longley, BREEF’s Outreach and Education Officer stated, “ Earth Day is a wonderful reminder for everyone to take a moment and appreciate the beauty of The Bahamas, in particular the coral reefs and the many things that they do to sustain our way of life. It’s vital that we connect our youth first-hand to the marine environment so they too can understand the importance of protecting the coral reefs that protect us.”

Heather Brockbank, a BREEF intern in the Bahamas Environmental Stewards Scholars (BESS) programme, supported the event and stated, “Having the opportunity to indulge in marine ecosystems and help guide the youth to see the wonders of the underwater world is a rewarding experience for all and helps to bring knowledge and joy of marine ecosystems to the community as a whole”.

This event was a part of  BREEF’s Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme.

To learn more about how you can get involved and participate in the next upcoming event please visit www.breef.org.

Photo 1; Heather Brockbank, BREEF intern and BESS Scholar teaching snorkelers about fish identification. 

Photo 2; Snorkelers enjoying the event.

Photo 3; Snorkelers taking action to combat plastic pollution by cleaning up garbage from the ocean. 

Check out our ZNS News Coverage!

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