Bermuda shapes and looks after its environment of the future.

Giving an independent view on the issues facing the Island, the National Trust say the new Minister of the Environment -- or Natural Resources as they suggest it should be called -- has a vast job to do, with little margin for error.

"It is difficult to think of any action by any other ministry which does not have some environmental impact, therefore the significance of the Environment Ministry cannot be overstated,'' said director Amanda Outerbridge.

"We are experiencing overwhelming pressure from residential and tourism development. Bermuda has exceeded its carrying capacity, causing every human action to have a more intense reaction on our natural environment than ever before.

"It therefore makes the role of the Environment Minister more crucial than ever. Strategic planning is essential for Bermudians to enjoy a safe and comfortable future.'' Overcrowding has become important, so much so that the Trust believes it imperative that open spaces be identified and acquired, to provide "green'' buffers between developed areas.

And with land parks, so marine parks should be established and any building on the coastline should come under scrutiny in context of the entire Island.

With that there is also the beauty of the cultural and physical landscape which should be protected.

The Trust has called for listing of buildings and believes that education could help persuade those who do not believe in it, along with compensation and assistance.

The disposal of waste and sewage calls for an Island-wide plan in conjunction with projections for population growth and the latest technology, she said.