The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) has hailed the creation of the Lodge Point Nature Reserve, but said even more could be done.Chairman Stuart Hayward said that more of the Ireland Island area should be protected to protect existing open space.“The Nature Reserve declaration deserves our recognition and acclaim — which we are pleased to give,” Mr Hayward said. “However, that does not deter us from urging further park designations on Ireland Island South, notably all of Maria Hill, which is the most important block of woodland on Ireland Island South.”Last week Wedco formally unveiled the new 4.2 acre reserve in the Craddock Road area.The site had been a residential area, but when the properties were demolished the area became an illegal dumping ground.Wedco and a team of local charities had spent 18 months clearing the area, and Wedco Chairman Walter Lister said the Corporation is working to preserve another 6.5 acres south of Craddock Road.Mr Hayward said the addition of the Lodge Point area to the existing Lagoon Park reserve is an important step forward, but he felt that more steps should still be taken.“We do not believe that Wedco would deliberately deprive future residents of an adequate quota of reserved open space — after all, this set-aside indicates a recognition of the value of reserved open space,” Mr Hayward said.“Wedco has the opportunity — and more than that, an obligation — to create communities where even dense housing plots are buffered by adequate open space.”Mr Hayward said that Ireland Island North is already totally urban, which means protecting the open space on Ireland Island South is vital to maintain a proper balance.“We recommend the designation as parkland of all of the area enclosed by Malabar Road to the north, Lagoon Road to the south and Craddock Road to the east as well as Lodge Point, including the hill north of Lefroy House where segments of the movie ‘The Deep’ were filmed in an old quarry.“Ultimately, our concern is that the undesignated one third of Ireland Island South, south of Malabar Road, will be used for more housing or tourist accommodation.“Such development would increase usage of the parkland so far designated to the point where it would be overwhelmed and degraded, thus defeating the purpose and negating the impact of newly preserved area.”