Ancat is an Androsian NGO working here in Fresh Creek, Andros, Bahamas to protect, preserve, enhance and restore the natural resources of Andros Island and its marine environment through education, conservation and management for future generations.
Ancat was formed by a group of concerned citizens in 1998 and led the effort to establish the vast 330,000 acre Central Andros National Park in 2002. Ancat has been bringing the environmental message to the island residents since its inception, teaching about the value of our natural resources, promoting sustainable livelihoods and healthy living here on the island.
Ancat is pursuing multiple goals, presently we are spearheading the ongoing effort to restore the creeks of Andros, our main focus for the Spring of 2010 is Fresh Creek. In December 2009 we were able, through assistance from Project Aware, to remove over 20 tons of trash from two stretches of waterfront in the harbour. We plan to continue with this effort until our banner will honestly read: ‘Fresh Creek a gem to behold’. We still have a long way to go and are planning to achieve our goals through the active involvement of our local residents and the generosity of our guests.
Another programme that Ancat is actively pursuing is the Recycle Andros project, presently every piece of garbage that we make is dumped onto the land and often garbage is discarded without thought along our highways, byways and waterways. Ancat knows that recycling could help to alleviate this unsightly problem and we are seeking support to instigate firstly an aluminum soda can recycling project, and when this is successfully launched we plan to move onto glass and other waste. We hope to convert our waste into cash with which we will be able to employ local people and further enhance our natural environment with the establishment of trails through the National Parks which offer our residents and visitors alike a slice of life in the Andros wilderness.
Our sustainable livelihoods programme is offering to the local residents the opportunity to learn about their surroundings with the objective of assisting them to embrace the livelihoods which will further enhance the visitor experience, for example fishing, bird watching and tour guides.
This is just a taste of the Ancat agenda and we would love to share more with all of you Andros lovers, please visit our website at www.ancat.net for further information about Ancat and the island or contact us here in Fresh Creek at 1 242 368 2882 or email us at ancatoffice@gmail.com and we will get right back to you.
Please consider becoming a member of Ancat and making a donation to support the above mentioned programmes. US citizens may make a tax deductible contribution through Eco Ed Foundation Inc., Co/ June Jager Norman, 3780 N 169th St., Brookfield, WI 53005, USA. Federal Tax ID# Eco Ed Foundation; 40-0001542
We know that we have a lot to achieve but the prize is enormous, Andros is one of the last great places on the earth. Working together we will be able to protect, preserve, enhance and restore the island we all love.