Travel Tips

Voluntourism Spotlight: Island Conservation in Bermuda

Beyond the white and pink-sand beaches, one of Bermuda’s main attractions is the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo. But going there isn’t just about observing the animals from afar. You can even volunteer with the organization’s conservation efforts. Tune into Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio on Saturday for more information on the conservation program and check back every Wednesday for more voluntourism opportunities.

Giving back to the land is big part of the culture in Bermuda. One the island’s main tourist attractions, the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, also runs a conservation program that aims to restore the island to its natural habitat. Its main initiative is to take invasive species out of the environment and replace them with ones that can help replenish the land and sustain the Bermuda climate.

On Trunk Island, a section of land had been overrun by invasive species. Unwanted trees and brush started to take over and completely destroy the plants that should be on the island. Bringing native species and plants back to the island also helps with the entire ecosystem. In another project, restoration helped bring back the island’s native bird, the Cahow, which was once thought to be extinct.

Giving back to the conservation program requires some heavy lifting and dedication. Groups will come in for a few days at a time and learn which species they are looking to get rid of and the best way to get rid of them. Using heavy machinery and tools, volunteers spend the day cutting down trees and dragging them to the decomposition area where they will naturally decay back into the earth.

This is not an organization where you can just drop in; they are looking for groups that can give up a few days of their time and come as a group to really make a difference.

For more information, check out the BAMZ website.

By Alyssa Caverley for PeterGreenberg.com