"Waves of Change," a compendium of environmental briefings written by a variety of experts and aimed at legislators and decision-makers, had its coming-out party Tuesday at Yacht Haven Grande, with eight V.I. senators among the attendees.
A copy of the document was given to each senator to help develop legislation and understand environmental issues. The document’s nine chapters include topics like coastal planning, water quality, waste water and solid waste management, protected areas and threatened and endangered species.
The three-year effort coordinated short briefings just two to four pages long, which provide up-to-date info.
"There is so much information that we could fill books," said Marcia Taylor, who helped to develop the book. "We decided to keep it short; we didn’t want anything to deter them [decision-makers] from reading it. At the same time, we provided all of the references."
Indeed, the end of the document provides an extensive Appendix of Information Sources.
Sen. Usie R. Richards could see the immediate use for the document from his standpoint as the primary sponsor of land and water use plans. Richards said that he has been asked to hold off on the legislation for the past three sessions.
"We can use this book to finalize the legislation," Richards said. "I am tired of holding off. We need to begin to act."
Truly an interagency effort, the spiral-bound document was created by the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service, the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the V.I. Waste Management Authority, University of the Virgin Islands’ Center for Marin and Environmental Studies, the Cooperative Extension Service, Eastern Caribbean Center, the V.I. Network of Environmental Educators, St. Croix Environmental Association, VI-Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, NOAA, the Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Geological Survey.
The book launch was held Tuesday at Wikked Restaurant in Yacht Haven Grande. There is also an online version. epscor.uvi.edu/docs/uvi_vimas_waves_of_change.pdf
Senators in attendance included Richards, Craig W. Barshinger, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Louis P. Hill, Shawn-Michael Malone, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly, Patrick Sprauve.