Conservation of an Island Biodiversity HotspotThe government .docx
GD3_FOREST REST
1. FALL
2016
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE DESIGN 3 l LAA 6655
FOREST
RESETRESET
Expanding the forest coverage
in New Provdence
2. 1
The Bahamas is very rich in nature. Besides having the most beautiful beaches, it also has
tropical forests with a variety of plant species.
Nevertheless, Bahamians don’t recognize the value of their forest, leaving it unprotected and
using it as a dumping site signifi cantly. Due to this issue, the forest covered area has decreased
a lot in the last 30 years and if there is no action taken, it could be lost completely in the near
future.
Killarney Urban Forest is an urban forest in the heart of Nassau, surrounding Lake Killarney
which offers recreational activities, interactive trails, an edible forest; so that people learn the
value of the forest and start taking awareness on protecting it.
Project Statement
3. 2 3
0 INDEX
1. Site Analysis
a. Site Context
b. Forest Types
c. Forest Coverage
d. Birds in The Bahamas
e. Design Approach
2. Preservation + Recreation
a. Existing protected areas
b. Focus site 1
c. Preservation Area
d. Recreation Area
3. Learning + Producing
a. Killarney Food Forest
b. Schoolyard Initiative
4. Connected + Shaded
a. Connecting
b. Proposed Roads
5. Master Plan
a. Phase One
b. Phase Two
c. Phase Three
6. Exisitng and Proposed Vegetation
04
11
24
32
37
40
5. 6 7
1 1
In The Bahamas we can fi nd four forest types. Beggining with the Mangroves,
they are located closer to lakes and salt water. Then there is the Whiteland
Coppice, characterized for having woody trees. On a higher area there is the
Pineland forest protagonized by the 150 ft tall Caribbean Pines. And fi nally on
the most elevated areas, the Blackland Coppice is located; it is characterized for
having a mixed vegetation from the Pineland forest and the Whiteland Coppice.
FOREST TYPES IN THE BAHAMAS
Change through the years
Unfortunately, a great amount of forest
coverage in the Bahamas has disapeared.
New Providence for example, in 1961,
54,60% of the Island was covered by forest;
and 35 years later, is was reduced to a third
of that.
This was caused as a refl ection of city
growth.
FOREST COVERAGE
15.70%
18.50%
54.60%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
2014
1996
1961
6. 9
11
8
Endemic Species
BIRDS IN THE BAHAMAS
Caribbean Emerald
Chlorostilbon elegans
Extinct
Bahama Woodstar
Calliphlox evelynae
Bahama Yellowthroat
Geothlypis rostrata
Endangered
Bahama Warbler
Setophaga flavescens
Endangered
Bahama Oriole
Icterus northropi
Endangered
Brace’s Emerald
Chlorostilbon bracei
Extinct
* The pictures of the Brace’s Emerald and Caribbean Emerald are for reference, they are not pictures of these bird
species.
This radical change of the forest coverage has affected Bahama’s wildlife. The
Bahamas originally had six endemic bird species, which two of them have become
complete extinct.
This bird’s habitat and breeding zone was the forest; due to the deforestation in the
island, they had no where to live or breed causing them to get extincted.
But that’s not all, three of the four remaining endemic species are considered
endagered and need protection.
Residents and visitor species in The Bahamas
BIRDS IN THE BAHAMAS
There are 359 bird species recorded in the Bahamas, 145 are
permanent residents, 45 are occasional visitors and 169 species are
migrants.
The migratory birds are part of the Atlantic Americas Flyway Migration
Path that starts on the eartern side of Canada, continue over the
Caribbean islands and fi nishes on South America.
7. 11
1
10
DESIGN APPROACH
PRESERVATION +
RECREATION
LEARNING +
PRODUCING
CONNECTED +
SHADED
PRESERVATION +
RECREATION
The most important problem identifi ed in the Bahamas is the alarming deforestation
happening. Even though the main cause was the city expansion, there are other causes like
illegal dumping, squatting and also illegal hunting. This issues could be easily resolved by
restricting the access to the forest, but how people will appreciate the value of nature if
they are forbidden to see it?
That’s why some areas should have to be protected and some others have to be open so that
people can enjoy the beauty of nature.
8. 12 13
Forest area around Lake Killarney
The first focus site is a great extend of forestry surronding Lake Killarney. This site is
18 square miles and will be divided in three sections; two for preservation of the forest
and one more section for recreation purposes.
Therefore, 6.25 square miles will be assigned for complete preservation of trees and
wildlife and 11.75 square miles will be used to build a Forest Park.
2 FOCUS SITE 1
National parks and areas protected by the PS ACT 2010
As we can see, only 50% of the remaining forest is protected; and despite that,
it is not completely protected. Up to the date, in these protected areas you can still
find ilegal dumping and squatting.
This areas needs an action to be taken immediately.
EXISTING PROTECTED AREAS2
PS ACT 2010
NATIONAL PARKS
Areas for Recreation
Areas for Preservation
2.25
sq Mi
11.75
sq Mi
4.00
sq Mi
9. 14 15
Purposes and objectives
Primarily bird Species to focus
Perspective of Bird Towers
Detail section of Bird
Towers
The access to the Preservation area will be restricted to prevent deforestation
from illegal dumping and squatting and also, will protect its wildlife from illegal
hunting. Nevertheless, this area will be accessible to scientists for research of
diverse topics from fl ora to fauna and ecological changes.
And, in order to protect the forest wildlife, fi ve Bird Towers will be placed within
this area. This towers will be a nesting place as well as a place to hang around.
PRESERVATION AREA2
BAHAMA
YELLOW THROAT
Warbler
5.5 INCH
Coppice forest
and Pineforest
Spring and
summer
TYPE
HEIGHT
FOREST
HABITAT
BREED
INFO
BAHAMA
WOODSTAR
Hummingbird
3 - 5 INCH
Pineforest
Breed year round
but mostly in April
BAHAMA
WARBLER
Warbler
5 INCH
Pineforest
Between August
and October
BAHAMA
SWALLOW
Swallow
6 INCH
Pineforest
Lay eggs in
Banana Holes
10. 16 17
Killarney Forest Park
The other 11.75 sq Miles of the site will be adapted into a forest park. After an
analysis to other forest parks in the world, I selected the most convenient and friendly
outdoor activities for this park.
The park will have camping areas, docks around the lake so visitors can do paddle
sports and also a pedestrian track around the forest and the lake. These activities will
allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature and appreciate the benefi ts of having the
forest.
RECREATION AREA2
16
Forest-friendly Recreational Activities
11. 18 19
plan view proposed dock
Camping
There is two camping areas
one on the northern side of
the lake
and another on the south.
BOATING + PADDLE SPORTS
Killarney Urban Forest will host the following activities:
• Fishing
• Kayaking
• Paddle boarding
There are 3 piers located along the lake shore
14. 24 25
3
Killarney Forest Park
Program outlook
KILLARNEY FOOD FOREST
LEARNING +
PRODUCING
Another problem identifi ed in the Bahamas is that most Bahamians will rather eat fast
food than eating healthier food. This is a refl ection of the high prices of produce food
compared to cheap fast food available on every corner; besides from the fact that The
Bahamas imports 100% of their produce foods.
On one of my conversations with Bahamians, one student told me that they won’t
mind eating healthier if vegetables and fruits were affrodable.
This second approach focuses on teaching Bahamians how to produce their own food
on an affordable manner so that they can enhance their eating habits by providing them
a produce area and teaching students how to produce at their schools.
The fi rst part of this approach is to provide a food forest oin the Killarney Forest Park.
This Food Forest is divided in four sections:
• Edible Arboretum - Variety of fruit trees
• Gathering plaza - Area of gathering for events and to provide classes
• Community Gardens - rentable area to locals for producing
• Rhizosphere - Are with root vegetables and shrubs
Another problem identifi ed in the
Bahamas is that most Bahamians
will rather eat fast food than eating
healthier food. This is a refl ection
of the high prices of produce food
compared to cheap fast food
available on every corner; besides
from the fact that The Bahamas
imports 100% of their produce
foods.
In one of my conversations
with Bahamians, one student told
me that they won’t mind eating
healthier if vegetables and fruits
were affrodable. And I think that
if children knew how to produce
their own food, it will change their
eating habits towards a healthier
one.
24
15. 26 27
Program outlook
Relationship between schools and neighborhoods
SCHOLYARD INITIATIVE3
PHASE ONE
- Grants Town
PHASE TWO
- Oakfi eld Center
- Sandilands Village
PHASE THREE
- Bamboo Town Waterfi elds
- South Beach
- Allotment Gardens
- Oaks States New Town
- Peperalis
Teach students
about the benefi ts
of the forest
Improve
student’s eating
habits
Enhance relationship
between parents &
community
But how do we really motivate people to start growing their own food?
Is always harder to create a new habit in grown up people compared to kids,
that’s why the second part of the Learning + Producing approach is creating a
schoolyard initiative where Bahamians students will learn how to grow their own
food at school.
The Schoolyard initiative consist on assigning a space in every school, where
students and teachers will can come together and lea
So every schoolyard should have an area for seedling beds, an arboretum, a
sitting area for outdoor classes
To begin with program design, I analized the relationship between schools and
neighborhoods. At fi rst sight, is easy to see that all the schools are located at the
west side of New Providence; being denser around the Over The Hill area and
spreading out to the adjacent neighborhoods.
On the primary phase, the program will start with the neighborhood with more
schools, being that Grants Town. Following a second phase with the following
two neighborhoods with more schools, Oaksfi eld Center and Sandilands Village;
and fi nally on a third phase, all the remaining schools will be
Relationship Between Schools and Neighborhoods
16. 28 29
Grants Town
Columbus Primary
SCHOOLYARD INITIATIVE3
Grants Town
3 SCHOOLYARD INITIATIVE
1
5
3
7
2
6
4
8
1
3
5
7
2
4
6
8
School building
Lawn
Forest
Columbus Primary
29
Existing School
Proposed schoolyard
18. 32 33
BAHAMIAN STUDENTS WALKING TO SCHOOL
CONNECTED +
COVERED
What about connectivity?
Another problem in New Providence
is that they lack of sidewalks in some
areas which is not safe for students
who walk to school.
And what if all the schools and the
Forest Park were connected?
Now on this third approach, I
redesign the streets that connects the
schools and the park so that they are
pedestrian friendly and also shady by
implementing trees along the roads.
At the same time, some bike paths
are implemented so that Bahamians
have another transportation option.
19. 34 35
1
Secondary roads
PROPOSED ROADS
Relationship between schools and proposed Urban
Forest Park
CONNECTING4
SECTION OF PROPOSED CONDITION
SECTION OF EXISTING CONDITION
Main roads
Secondary roads
6’ 6’4’ 4’6’
20. 36 37
MASTER PLAN54
Main roads
PROPOSED ROADS
SECTION OF EXISTING CONDITION
SECTION OF PROPOSED CONDITION
sidewalk
sidewalk
bikelane
bikelane
forest
extension
forest
extension
bioswale
bioswale
carlane
carlane
sidewalk
PHASE ONE 0-3 YEARS
Close access to preserved
areas
Construction of bird towers
Design of the
schoolyards from:
-Grants town
Re-construction of main
roads and secondary roads
adjacent to Grants Town
PROTECTION +
RECREATION
LEARNING +
PRODUCING
CONNECTED +
SHADED
21. 38 39
5 MASTER PLANMASTER PLAN5
PHASE TWO 3-8 YEARS
Construction recreational
park and give access to
people
Design of the schoolyards
from:
- Oakfield center
- Sandilands Village
Start planting the trees in
Grants Town
PHASE THREE 8-15 YEARS
Design of the schoolyards
from:
- Bamboo Town Waterfields
- South Beach
- Allotment Gardens
- Oaks States
- Peperalis
Continue planting the
remaining trees
PROTECTION +
RECREATION
LEARNING +
PRODUCING
CONNECTED +
SHADED
PROTECTION +
RECREATION
LEARNING +
PRODUCING
CONNECTED +
SHADED
