Government will spend $200,000 to buy part of a plot of land at historic Smith's Island in St. George's as a nature reserve and wilderness camp for youngsters.

There was unanimous approval in the House of Assembly yesterday for the plan to buy a 23.5 percent interest in the 24-acre plot of land, which will remain preserved for the public.

The Island, which was occupied by some of the earliest settlers in Bermuda in 1612, will be run by the Bermuda National Trust as part of a joint venture.

Proposing the purchase yesterday, acting Environment Minister Nelson Bascome revealed Government would establish an open spaces committee to oversee the proper conservation and use of undeveloped land on the Island.

Mr. Bascome said Smith's Island would become a conservation island and wilderness project for students, which would not encroach on the natural habitat. There will also be a cedar reforestation programme to regrow one of the Island's historic trees.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party supported the purchase, which was passed unanimously.

Mr. Bascome said Smith's Island was central to Bermuda's whaling industry and was a "very strategic part of our history''.

He added: "This is a very exciting opportunity to work with the Trust by contributing a quarter of the cost and enhancing Smith's Island as a conservation area.

"Past administrations said they wanted to deal with open spaces, but now the Minister of the Environment has taken the bold step of putting in place a committee that will look after open spaces.'' Shadow Environment Minister Gary Pitman said the UBP supported the purchase 100 percent, which he claimed was a "continuation of the wise policies of the previous Government''.

The Rev. Wilbur Lowe , PLP MP for St.George's South, said some of the earliest settlers who came to Bermuda in 1612 in The Plough wanted to settle on Smith's Island, but instead went for St. George's.

St. George's North PLP MP Delaey Robinson said: "The loss of open space from underdeveloped land to development has plagued this Island for a long, long time.

"It behooves this country to go even further than the previous Government and this Government with this legislation to encourage land owners not to develop the small remaining arable land we have.'' He said Bermudians should be encouraged to have small allotments to grow their own vegetables because they tasted so much better than those imported.

He added: "As Bermuda has become more urbanised, the fabric of society has broken down. We have to avoid becoming a concrete jungle and assuming the look of everywhere else.''