Fishery wardens will gain Police enforcement powers under plans by the Environment Ministry, announced in the Budget.

In the Budget speech, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox said: "The Department of Environmental Protection will conduct training courses with the Bermuda Police Service. The training plan will lead to Fishery Wardens becoming Special Constables."

Government is also to push ahead with evaluating the economic value of Bermuda's coral reefs, with a report expected in June.

Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney said: "The use of economic valuations in environmental resource management has recently gained wide acceptance as a valuable decision-making tool. The results of this study will provide information that will allow for the environmental impacts of proposed developments to be valued in economic terms."

Among other projects announced on Friday were a cross-Ministry woodland management scheme and a Horticulture training programme.

Up to $70,000 has been allocated for new playground equipment at Warwick Long Bay and Shelly Bay.

The Department of Parks will also complete Fort St. Catherine and provide support for the Island's 400th Anniversary celebrations at this and other Fort sites, and the Botanical Gardens.

Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation Services is to launch a project to tag the Cahow in order to track the movements of our endemic bird.

Within the Department of Environmental Protection, the Plant Protection Section will concentrate on banning importation of plants with invasive potential and restricting pesticides with health or environmental risks.

Mr. Blakeney said on Friday: "The Department is also looking into the erection of a Shoreside Service Facility (Fish Hatchery) which will facilitate increased sampling of pelagic species with commercial value."

The Veterinary Services section will also launch an initiative to improve reproductive rates, production efficiencies and animal welfare on local farms.

The Department of Land Valuation is conducting the 2009 Revaluation, to come into effect on January 1, 2010.

This will provide an up-to-date Valuation List of all properties on the Island for land tax purposes, and will assist open market appraisals for other Government departments, such as Works and Engineering, Immigration, the Tax Commissioner and the Registrar of the Supreme Court.

This year's Ministry of Environment and Sports budget of $40,062,000 marks a cut of $3,301,000 on last year.