The nature conservation charity, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), is launching a poster competition, 'Why are Seabirds Important'? Open to all schools from Grenada to Anguilla, EPIC is offering fantastic prizes to both students and schools.

Winning students will receive the most comprehensive Caribbean bird book, 'Birds of the West Indies', a pair of binoculars, as well as their posters displayed in government offices and in the press.

The winning students' schools will also receive 'Birds of the West Indies' and $EC300 to purchase books on nature conservation.

March 03, 2010 ….. The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment, through its forestry unit is expressing serious concerns over the illegal practice of lighting lemon grass and other grasses during the dry season.

Ruleta Camacho, officer in charge of forestry, warned, the ministry is working very closely with the fire department, since, the lightning of fire without a permit, constitute an offence.

February 9th, 2010…. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Jedidiah Maxime will be in Barbados, this Thursday representing Antigua & Barbuda at the Caribbean Agro-meteorological Initiative (CAMI), stakeholders Meeting.

This, initiative, which will be officially launched during the one –day session, Thursday, is a three year project funded by the African, Caribbean and pacific Group of States (ACP), Science and Technology Programme.

Yesterday the Environment Division along with many of its partners cleaned the Cades Bay mangrove area in recognisance of World Wetlands Day.

In 1997 the RAMSAR Convention was signed which promotes the ‘wise use’ of wetlands. It is because of this convention that World Wetlands Day is celebrated every 2nd of February. This year’s theme is “Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate Change”.

St. JOHNS, ANTIGUA, FEBRUARY 2ND , 2010..The first Regional Workshop, on sustainable Financing and management of Eastern Caribbean Marine Ecosystems for the Organization Of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Project, got off the ground, on Monday afternoon, at Jolly Beach Resort.

This workshop, which culminates on February 05th, was convened with the objectives to refine the structure and legal basis of the Caribbean biodiversity Fund, and the National Level Protected Area Trust Funds.

A new energy desk that will seek energy efficiency by developing a national energy policy and sustainable energy plan for the country has been established in the implementation office within the Prime Minister’s office. Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer first made the announcement in his New Year’s address to the nation. PM Spencer said that he would be taking definitive steps to address the issue of energy sustainability.