Protect Our Environment from Overdevelopment
Yntegra/Rosewood Hotels’ Planned Density, Scope Threaten Sampson Cay’s Pristine Ecosystem
Preserve the Environment and Our Bahamian Way of Life
Yntegra/Rosewood Hotels’ plans to dredge in areas with coral reefs and seagrass meadows would forever damage this unique marine ecosystem. This proposed resort, designed for hundreds of guests and staff, is far larger than any existing tourism development in Central Exuma.
Yntegra’s plans, which keep changing, consistently call for extensive seabed dredging for a service dock and 13 acres of excavation of two environmentally sensitive salt ponds on Sampson Cay and the construction of a 390’ seawall at the opening of a pristine bay. The development also would direct commercial vessels through recreational waters used by kayakers, snorkelers and divers. Consequences include:
Seagrass and coral destruction
Marine life and tidal flow disruption
Damage to wildlife habitat
Destruction of protected mangroves and wetland ecosystems
Dredging puts the entire balance of the ecosystem at risk. Moreover, it’s not a one-time issue, typically, affected areas would require more dredging in the future.
The Central Exuma region is a precious part of our national heritage. We have collective responsibility to protect it for future generations.
What’s At Stake
The Bahamas is home to some of the richest seagrass meadows on Earth. Seagrass captures carbon 35 times more efficiently than the Amazon rainforest, making it an important element in the fight against climate change. These lush seagrass beds cannot be simply be moved from one location to another. Turbidity and altered tidal flow from dredging and the proposed seawall would affect every aspect of this sensitive marine community.
The Central Exuma region also hosts a vast array of plants and wildlife including vulnerable, threatened and endangered species such as Nassau groupers, Hawksbill turtles, whale sharks, and Elkhorn and Staghorn corals.
We want to ensure the environmental integrity of the region, which in turn supports our local economy and community well-being.
Proposed Supply Dock Location
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The proposed dock/inlet will require dredging a significant channel to access. Depth in front of the proposed location is 3 feet roughly 250 feet from the shore and will require dredging through hard bottom and active coral reefs. In addition, significant seabed dredging must occur throughout the rest of the north bay to allow supply ships to access the supply dock/inlet, including dredging through a 15 acre seagrass meadow.
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There is significant seagrass and coral reef around the proposed supply dock location and access to proposed marinas and west side residences will require ongoing dredging through recreational sandbars beloved by the community.
Click here to watch the video 'Saving The Cut From Yntegra'.
Overcrowding in Paradise
The proposed Yntegra/Rosewood Hotel would bring high-density development to the Central Exumas, testing the limits of the environment and existing infrastructure.
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