Conservationists on Bermuda are hoping to hold an international conference on sustainable development on the Island.

The plan was proposed by Bermuda National Trust environmental committee chairman Wayne Carey during a UK Overseas Territories and the Environment conference in London.

The UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum is backing the initiative.

Geoffrey Hoon, the UK Foreign Office minister with responsibility for the environment, has asked the Trust to write with further details.

Trust conservation officer Cathy Gosling said the organisation is hopeful the Environment Ministry will act as a partner in supporting the conference.

Mr. Carey made the suggestion of holding the summit in Bermuda in 2001 or 2002 at the London conference in June.

He said: "Mr. Hoon requested that the Trust write to him directly with details of the proposal.'' He added that the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum agreed to develop a closer working relationship with the Trust and is willing to support a Trust initiative to hold such a conference in Bermuda.

The Forum intends to "get the ball rolling'' by contacting UK Government agencies.

"We believe that there are both positive and negative lessons to be learned by using Bermuda, a densely-populated oceanic island, as a case study to critically examine the linkages between biodiversity, environmental protection and sustainable development,'' he added.

"Additionally, a conference of this nature would be likely to attract representatives of small island communities around the world.''