The National Trust has called for Government to buy open spaces for preservation when it has allowed development on land previously zoned for conservation.

In what the National Trust calls its 'Green for Green' initiative, the environmental watchdog organisation is asking Government to either rezone public land for conservation or buy woodland to replace existing Government conservation areas which the Ministry of Environment has allowed to be developed.

"If the Government takes a course which uses preserved land for development, they must be seen to replace them with other areas from either public land holds or by purchasing private land," National Trust environmental officer Peter Drew said yesterday.

The Trust has launched the initiative because the Environment Minister has the right to issue special development orders which can override zonings on land which could not be built on otherwise.

Last year, Environment Minister Dennis Lister rejected Trust objections to a new youth residential treatment centre in Devonshire and issued a development order.

The Trust's Environment Committee said the development "would significantly impact woodland and open space protected as conservation areas under the Bermuda Development Plan".

Mr. Drew said Trust wanted Government to acquire or rezone a new conservation area which is equal or greater than the virgin woodland preserve which will be destroyed with the construction of the 40,000 square foot facility which will be on 359,803 square feet of government land.

"The trust identified a list of 'hot spots' which we would like to see the Government buy in exchange for these areas," said Mr. Drew "There are similar issues which still need to be addressed such as the (Berkeley) school project. The Government has yet to replace that open space land for the public.

"With greater and greater social problems and a greater and greater loss of green spaces, the noose is slowly tightening around our necks," said Mr. Drew.

"If the Government is taking something from the environment, then Government should be responsible to give something back" he said, adding that the issue of the Island's open spaces is above political affiliation, and is a matter of grave importance to all Bermudians.

Mr. Lister could not be reached for comment yesterday.