Acting Premier Dame Lois Browne-Evans has thrown her support behind the Eden Project, an environmental trade fair.

At Cabinet Office yesterday Dame Lois was presented with a T-shirt by Joy Williams, the coordinator of the Eden Project exposition to be held at Number One Shed in Hamilton on Saturday, February 26.

"We all need to take care of the environment,'' she said.

Mrs. Williams was also the guest speaker at Hamilton Rotary, on Tuesday when she gave a speech highlighting the dangers to the environment.

"We must resist deforestation by planting trees, endemic trees in the right places, and we must protect the flora and fauna. Endangered species must be nourished, and allowed to flourish by any means possible. We must never allow the introduction of non-native species to our shores as happened to Bermuda in the past,'' said Mrs Williams.

The Eden Project will combine a lecture series by guest speakers, including Dr.Timothy McCartney from the US speaking on, "ChangeThe Only Constant'', Atherton Martin from Dominica speaking on "Sustainable Development'', and Dr.

Donald Linzey from the US will speak on "Actions And Consequence: Our Fragile Eco-System''.

A local panel of residents including moderator Peter Adwick, Larry Jacobs, Kent Simmons, Stuart Hayward and Collin Campbell will be examining the topic of Bermuda in the year 2100 and the implication of taking or not taking action to address issues relating to sustainable development.

The trade show seeks to address all the environmental problems and to come up with some solutions. Approximately 50 booths representing a wide variety of businesses, Government departments and environmental organisations have signed up for the event.

There will be products, services and information available on the Island's environment and heritage such as eco-tourism, natural beauty products, massage therapy, holistic health, environmental health, energy and water conservation methods, and home composting.

Mrs. Williams, who is originally from Guyana and is married to Michael Williams, Manager of the Pink Beach Hotel, warned of the dangers to the Island's tourist industry.

"Droughts, rising seas, flash floods, forest fires could turn profitable destinations into horror stories. Forest fires in Mexico last year caused smog in Bermuda. Acid rain and the pollution of the mega cities reach us all,'' remarked Mrs. Williams.

The Eden Project will be at Number One Shed on February 26, 2000 from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m.

There will also be an educational section called, "In A Bermuda Garden'', presented by the Bermuda Garden Club. Masterworks will have artists painting live at the show and there will also be an exhibition of garbo-art, art made from garbage.