Existing buildings in Bermuda should be renovated in a bid to save open spaces from development, an environmentalist has claimed.

Deputy president of The Bermuda National Trust Wayne Carey said the Island was in danger of losing much of its benefits and beauty if it continued to develop at its current rate.

Mr. Carey addressed members of the National Trust at its annual meeting at Cathedral Hall in Hamilton last week.

He said Government should be looking at environmental sustainability, rather than sustainable development, and said a number of things must be implemented if Bermuda is to become the model for the future.

Mr Carey said: "In my view we have already exceeded Bermuda's carrying capacity in terms of population density.

"At 3,000 people per square mile, Bermuda has one of the densest populations in the world. And it shows.

"We see it in traffic accidents, in wastes of all types, in flared tempers, in housing shortages, in increased physical violence, in high stress levels...

"There is no question that the quality of life on our Island has deteriorated despite... perhaps, ironically, because of the economic development that has brought greater individual wealth.'' He said it was therefore incumbent upon business leaders to focus on environmental problems. And he added that businesses needed to examine their overall environmental performances and seek opportunities for improvement that will simultaneously benefit environmental sustainability and the financial bottom line.

The deputy president continued: "Consideration should be given to immediate moratorium on all development that would involve loss of additional open space, whether public or private.

"This is a bitter pill that has to be swallowed, and would involve discussion of the issue of compensation for landowners who are prohibited from developing their property.

"At some point, Bermuda has to recognise that being able to go for a walk in the woods is as important to a functioning society as being able to build.

"In my view, the next Bermuda Planning Statement must require the development of existing buildings and properties as a matter of first priority as a means of preserving the remaining open spaces and green spaces.

"In order to address the fact that our natural environment is being overwhelmed, the Bermuda Plan should increase its focus on conservation of green space and the sensitive redevelopment of areas that are already developed and perhaps derelict.'' But Mr. Carey said the number of people being allowed to enter Bermuda also had to be limited.

International businesses on the Island, he claimed, should be looking at ways to restrict the number of employees they actually had present here.

Trust cites the importance of a walk in the woods And he said the Government must resist the temptation to increase cruise ship visitors by making huge and unwarranted investments in larger cruise liners.

During the meeting last Tuesday, Mr. Carey told how the trust had just undergone a major strategic planning exercise and had chartered its course for the next three to five years.

It aims to enhance its role through the hiring of an education officer and the establishment of an education committee to enhance and guide its education programmes.

Also on the agenda for the Trust is an intention to partner with other organisations on the Island to offer advice, expertise and to promote the theme of retaining open space.

Environment minister Arthur Hodgson recently told The Royal Gazette businesses should not automatically assume they had the right to bring in foreign workers if they cannot find Bermudians.

The Government's Open Spaces Committee, set up by Mr. Hodgson, is also considering compensation for landowners who are no longer able to build on their land because of changes to planning zones.

Mr. Hodgson said: "We're not so much changing policies as saying you've got to consider other things.

"The assumption that you have the right to impact on others without them having an input into it is not on.''