Protect St. Martin's

By Md. Arifur Rahman, Environment Counselor, BEPZA

Every year, a number of people visit St. Martin's Island. Most of the time, this influx of visitors is in excess of the capacity of the island, which leaves a negative effect on its environment. In addition, most tourists are ignorant of the effects of pollution that they cause, and throw plastic bottles, polythene, leftover foods, coconut husk etc, all over the island. Kitchen waste and sewage from the hotels, and fuel seepage from the vessels also increase pollution in the island. Besides, the large number of unplanned infrastructure is destroying the biodiversity and beauty of the area. A definite action plan and proper management are needed to preserve the environment of St. Martin's Island.