BNT Expands Enforcements With Drone Technology

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Protecting the Bahamas’ natural heritage is getting a technological boost. The Bahamas National Trust has introduced drones into its enforcement efforts, giving wardens a sharper eye over more than two million acres of land and sea.

In this week’s sustainability first, our delvardo emmanuel takes a closer look at how the program is helping safeguard national parks.

From coral reefs to mangrove forests, The Bahamas’ national parks are home to some of the country’s most treasured ecosystems. 

But with 33 parks spread across the islands, keeping them safe is no small task.

That’s why the Bahamas National Trust has turned to drone technology. 

Project Manager Garth Jackson says it’s a sustainable way to extend their reach.

Garth Jackson – Project Manager, Bahamas National Trust

“ These unmanned aerial vehicles, they will allow us to be able to cover further distances that we may not be able to get through on feet. we may not be able to get through on boat.

and then it does allow some of autonomous, um. navigation through setting the boundaries within our system and allowing these vehicles to travel to these spaces even though we’re not directly behind the vehicle.”

Another notable pro, it also assists with faster response to threats like illegal fishing and poaching.

Deputy Park Warden in Exuma, Bradley Charlton, says the technology has become a vital tool in the fight to protect fragile habitats.

Bradley Charlton – Deputy Park Warden, Bahamas National Trust

“ it could be anything from. people, um, doing illegal fishing or illegal lodging and as well as accessing different habitats and zones that might be, like Garth said, a little bit more difficult to do with foot patrols or vehicles. “

The Bahamas National Trust enrolled eight of its wardens in a year-long training program designed to equip them with the skills to safely operate drones within bahamian airspace. 

Deputy Warden in Andros, Leron Rolle, provided an overview of the initiative.

Leron Rolle – Deputy Warden, Bahamas National Trust

“  whether that’s how to communicate with the control tower, um, the different altitudes that we’ll be flying at, um, different levels of strategies when it comes to, um, patrols, how we’ll be, where we’ll be flying the aircraft and all that stuff.um, also the conditions that we’d be flying in. and so we basically, we want to con to be able to move these unmanned craft. in a safe manner. so that could be safe for us.”

For now, the BNT has just two drones in rotation, but officials hope to expand the initiative to more national parks in the near future, ensuring the environment is preserved for generations to come.