Cooper's Island may soon follow in the steps of Nonsuch Island as a protected, living museum and nature reserve.

Expanding the Nonsuch Island programme is one of the main visions Government's new conservation officer, Jeremy Madeiros, has in mind for his tenure.

Mr. Madeiros took over as Conservation Officer from Dr. David Wingate upon his retirement. "Obviously it is a great responsibility and great privilege to be working in this particular area,'' said Mr. Madeiros.

He pointed out that while Nonsuch Island has received a lot of attention and worked out very well as a living museum, "some of our mainland reserves have many more problems.'' And yesterday, Dr. Wingate pointed out that Nonsuch Island's 15 acres represent only 0.001 percent (1/1000) of Bermuda's landmass.

Nonsuch Island is now a living museum to which Dr. Wingate personally re-introduced thousands of Bermuda's endemic plant species and removed those which were imported to the Island over the last 400 odd years.

When he began the Nonsuch programme in 1962, the island was practically a desert. Now, the small group of people (maximum 25) who are allowed to visit Nonsuch each Thursday see the closest approximation Bermuda has to the Island that those wrecked in Bermuda aboard the Sea Venture would have found.

In addition to the plant species, the island is a haven for skinks, butterflies, longtails and the endangered seabird believed extinct until Wingate and two scientists re-discovered the species in 1951 -- the Cahow. The cahow population is now believed to have reached over 200.

Government wants to continue to promote eco-tourism but must take care that tourists don't feel shortchanged if they don't get to see Nonsuch, Dr. Wingate said. It will need to create similar experiences elsewhere. Looking at the few areas that are undeveloped but could be protected in such a manner is the natural next step.

Mr. Madeiros said that Cooper's Island and Walsingham Jungle are two particular areas Government is looking toward as areas to further develop eco-tourism within a protected environment.

Cooper's Island could follow in Nonsuch Island footsteps "I'd definitely like to see the programme expand,'' said Mr. Madeiros. And he said Cooper's Island presents a perfect opportunity. "It is an area that is isolated and still pristine,'' he said. "The same kind of restoration could be done (as on Nonsuch) and when you consider that Nonsuch is 15 acres, with Cooper's you are talking about 77 acres. It would be very adaptable to eco-tourism in that it is vehicle free. People would have to walk in and walk out.

"This is what many tourists are looking for now and many Bermudians don't have. Cooper's Island could offer an experience that has been lacking for Bermudians for over 50 years. It is the only place which has these particular features where such a programme could be carried out.'' Mr. Madeiros said the ground work is currently being laid for the transition of the island. "This is something we are carrying out a preliminary investigation on,'' he said. "Obviously it depends completely on what decision NASA takes and if they hand over the area. This has been a long-time dream of David Wingate's. It's something we would like to continue and one day bring to fruition.'' It has only been a handful of years since the public first gained access to the greater portion of Cooper's Island -- including Clearwater Beach -- which had been used by the US Navy.

The southern tip, accessed by a narrow strip of land bordered by two bays was used primarily by NASA, and would be the area under consideration to follow up the Nonsuch programme.