Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pineyard Forest
Endemic to four Bahamian islands, including Grand Bahama, this is a
sparse forest full of tall, skinny Caribbean pines once used for lumber.
While queen conch is considered 'commercially threatened' (though not
endangered) in some parts of the Caribbean, Bahamian populations are
considered well-regulated and stable and are not subject to any interna-
tional bans or censures.
Mangrove Swamp
Where the ocean meets the land, these brackish wetlands are home to
three types of thick, knobby mangrove trees - the black mangrove, the red mangrove and
the white mangrove. Mangroves swamps are hugely important to the greater environment -
the trees filter water through their roots, the shallows are an important hatching ground for
many fish and sharks, and the forests themselves provide a buffer against hurricane dam-
age.
Island School
ยป The Island School, a non-profit eco-learning retreat in Eleuthera, is
teaching a new generation about the importance of sustainability, with an
organic farm, solar power projects, sustainable fisheries initiatives and
more.
Shoreline
At the edge of the sand grows knee-high plants like sea purslane, bay marigold,
bay geranium, sandfly bush and spider lily.
Coral Reef
These underwater forests are built from the exoskeletons of tiny creatures
called polyps. There's a stunning variety of coral shapes, from branched elkhorn, to sway-
ing sea fans, to enormous brains. The reef is home to thousands of varieties of fish, and
provides an important bulwark against the tides. Unfortunately it's also one of the most
sensitive ecosystems, bleached by global warming and damaged by careless humans.
