The National Trust has welcomed announcements made in the Throne Speech about steps to protect the environment.

An amendment to the Bermuda National Parks Act will see the number of parks protected under the Act expanded. Enforcement powers against offenders will also be increased.

Government plans to reduce stamp duty on land purchased by non-profit organisations to maintain open spaces. It is hoped that this will encourage an increase in the permanent reserve of Bermuda?s communal lands.

Meanwhile, measures will be put in place to safeguard protected species and habitats through new regulations under the Protected Species Act.

Amendments will be made to the Agriculture Act to ensure the future viability of this industry, and the Government will also introduce a Control of Pesticides act to consolidate relevant portions of earlier acts.

The news was welcomed by Environmental Conservation Officer Dorcas Roberts, from the Bermuda National Trust.

?Open Space is essential for the environmental and social health of Bermuda and any steps that are taken to protect open space, such as amendments to the Parks Act, Agriculture Act and Stamp Duties Act, are most gratifying to the trust,? she said.

?Any attempt to help protect Bermuda?s agricultural industry, which is of great cultural importance and maintains the rural character of the Islands, is valuable.

?We welcome any move that will help increase Bermuda?s ability to preserve our irreplaceable endemic and endangered species and the introduction off the Pesticides Act and regulations under the Protected Species Act is of enormous importance.

The introduction of such Acts are a tribute to the hard work that is presently being undertaken on the Island.?