Caribbean Review: Cayman Islands Makes Stand Against Caribbean Over Development

Hemmington Forest on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands is expected to become a national park. This development will include plans for new trails, protected areas, restrooms, an observation tower, and more. The designation of national parks is very important for ecosystems and environments in the West Indies, where natural spaces are under constant attack from development projects and tourist hubs. 

The 194-acre forest and shrubland in west central Cayman Brac is already protected under the national conservation act, but the national park designation will buttress this protection and management in Hemmington Forest, including total prohibition of development on the land.

The National Conversation Council has launched a draft management plan for Hemmington Forest and has invited the public to comment on the plan. The consultation has been open since October 31, 2025 and closeNovember 28, 2025. A public meeting will be held at the University College of the Cayman Islands campus on Cayman Brac at 6p.m. November 20. The area is often referred to as ‘Barkers National Park’, but hasn’t been officially designated as such for many reasons including much of the land being privately owned. 

The plan would allow the public to further enjoy the unique flora and fauna of the land, through improved pedestrian paths, installing a public walking trail, a new trail center and employing a protected area officer from Sister Island Tourism Association (SITA) to manage park infrastructure. The proposal also announced a goal to control invasive species at the park like feral cats, green iguanas, chickens and rats. The National Conservation Council of the Cayman Islands said the park will provide “an enjoyable and inspirational experience of the natural and human history of the land, while cherishing, restoring and protecting its natural biodiversity”.

The designation of national parks and protected areas in the Caribbean is crucial to combat rapid land privatization, tourism growth, and other human interference in these essential ecosystems. 

Tourism fuels much of the economy of West Indian nations, but its environmental impact is growing. Cruises are destroying reefs and marine ecosystems, through plastic pollution and unsustainable fishing practices. Local resorts are draining fresh water supply from local communities. The energy intrusive industry of tourism is also leadin to rising carbon emissions. 

Furthermore, resort developments are causing coastal erosion, as well as leading to extinction or displacement of species when constructed. Tourist waste is often too much for local infrastructure as well.

Much of the fresh water in the Caribbean is harvested from natural springs and aquifers, as well as rain water, in dire cases, freshwater is imported at high costs. Runoff of cleaning supplies and pesticides from resorts and hotels have led to a surge in pollution in the Caribbean water sources. 

Small islands like the Cayman Islands rely heavily on tourism for their economy, but the buying up of land in the West Indies and destruction of natural resources are extremely detrimental for residents. Many American and Canadian tourist companies have greatly increased their investment into buying up resort spaces in the region and privatizing the land, stripping away fishing, farming, and recreational space for locals unable to afford the expensive resorts. 

Many locals then turn their careers away from sustaining themselves and their family and become vendors for tourists or work at the resorts, making them even more dependent on foreigners. The shift from sustainable industry on these islands are a heavy contributor to growing instability, where the local governments can no longer run their nation independently. This is why sustainable tourism is so important. With more sustainable practices, like immersive and “slow” tourism that involves spending more time in one area and being concsoius to avoid environmentally taxing activities, tourism could be less destructive to these small islands at the hands of large companies.

Hemmington Forest becoming a national park and protected space is a large step towards protecting natural space. This 194-acre forest will now be protected fully from development and the destruction that comes with it. The plants and animals that call the park home will now be protected from displacement and pollution that plagued so many other natural spaces in the Caribbean.

There has been a rise in climate conscious moves from governments in the West Indies, including large loans from the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), a leading source of loans to developing countries in the West Indies. In 2024, the IDB group gave money and provided strategies to Jamacia, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and more, all for goals of combating climate change and repairing exploitative tourist sectors. If these investments continue and more protected areas are continuously established, communities in the West Indies could continue to grow and sustain themselves. The ecosystems needed for food and water on these islands will survive, and the islands will be one step closer to sovereignty.