While Government discusses Green Papers on marine resources and David Wingate battles for more environmental protection -- some young people prepare to take the reins of Bermuda's environmental concerns.

And a student whose future is entwined with Bermuda's environment had a lot to say about the lack of scholarships for `grass roots' students.

Aaron James Lutkin, 21, said that there is an abundance of scholarships and loans for students who study the "traditional'' concentrations of accountancy, business studies or hotel management.

For a student with Aaron's awards and distinctions, its hard to imagine that no companies were willing to financially support him.

The young man has a National Diploma in Amenity Horticulture from the UK.

Normally a three-year course, he finished in two years.

During that study, he was supervisor of a project garden on college grounds and participated in the construction of a courtyard garden at the Chelsea flower show, winning an honourable Silver Guilt.

After that he was accepted as a summer worker in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, working in the world-famous Palm House, Temperate, Evolution and Waterlily Houses as well as in the Temperate section's nursery.

Returning to college, he earned a Higher National Diploma in Landscape and Amenity Horticulture Management in one year after skipping the first two because of work-experience.

He is in his third year of study for a Honours degree at Brittle College in Essex and after that, he hopes to go back for a Master Degree in Horticulture.

Subjects studied include Arboriculture, Conservation and Ecological Management, Computer Aided Design, Theory and Principles of Landscape Management, Business Plan, Landscape Construction, Soft Landscaping, Plant Identification and Engineering/Mechanisiation -- most with grades of High Merit or Distinctions.

Aaron went to college with help from the Garden Club, St. Patrick's Church and the UK fee differential award from the Bermuda Government as well as his parents.

Despite this support, Aaron feels the financial burdens associated with going to school abroad.

"There appears to be plenty of scholarship money for student studying management, insurance, and accountancy courses as well as those studying to pursue a job in the corporate world. Students like myself seem to struggle to find funding.

"Overseas students studying in the UK tend to pay seven or eight times more than British students.'' Aaron says his concern stems from the importance that horticulturists, conservationists and environmentalists play in Bermuda's micro-environment.

"Our environment is extremely important, and it needs to be preserved in order to keep it a healthy and productive one. All of the scholarship awarding companies need to remember that the environment plays an integral part of their, and our lives.

"To help further educate them to be more environmentally aware, we need more horticulturalists, conservationists, and environmentalists. It is extremely important to have soft landscaping and environmental care around these very large buildings that populate the Island's capital and without (environmental students) this wouldn't happen.'' Saltus graduate Aaron is extremely concerned with the nature of Bermuda's environment and expresses concern that there is not enough being done to protect it.

"Our environment is extremely over populated and we have to keep the parks from being developed.'' He said for Bermuda to flourish, we have to develop and cultivate the endemic fauna and flora around the island.

"There are some endemic species that people don't even know about.'' He feels that the work of David Wingate and other conservationists or activists is going a long way to improving Bermuda and admits to having a deep admiration for Mr. Wingate.

"Just look at what he's done -- I mean he started with nothing. And now look at Nonsuch Island, with the cahows and all.'' One rarely looks at Bermuda's fauna and sees a career in the delicate balance of landscaper, construction worker, farmer and scientist. But that happened when Aaron entered his first Agricultural Exhibition years ago.

"I couldn't image doing anything else and it is particularly gratifying if a horticulturist is able to plant a Bermuda cedar for instance. It's good to help give back something to the environment and island in general, especially our endemic tree, which was very close to extinction some time ago.''