As January pulled to a close in 2003, Bermuda's environmental community was treated to its first skirmish of the year: a clash between Government and the National Trust over a controversial road scheme which threatened protected woodland.

The road scheme, a new access road through protected woodland to homes on Harbour Road in Warwick, had already been rejected four times by the development applications board and twice by independent planning inspectors before former Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson granted permission.

In January, Supreme Court Chief Justice Austin Ward sided with the National Trust, saying Mr. Hodgson had given no thought to a restrictive covenant at the Chaplin Estate in Warwick.

Government appealed the decision, and on what was labelled "a black day for environmentalists" in June the Appeals Court overturned Justice Ward's ruling.

The National Trust vowed to take the case to the Privy Council, however regretfully decided against it, instead lobbying for Section 34 to become permanent ? a move the Environment Ministry said it was not considering at the time.

January ended on an even lower note for the environment, with the death of a dolphin which had been stranded off Castle Island. Workers from Dolphin Quest and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) had struggled to save the Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin, however their efforts were in vain.

Sewage problems spread from Hamilton to St. George's in February with a sewage spill giving the old town a "stinking headache".

St. George's, concerned about the cruise ship season, pleaded with Government for emergency cash to upgrade the old plumbing system after King's Square was flooded overnight. Near the end of March $150,000 was donated to the town ? however Mayor Henry Hayward refused to disclose the identity of the donor. The town received its new sewage system in July.

An oil spill blanketed Pitts Bay near the end of February.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott revealed the existence a ten-year plan for disposal of electronic waste and the owners of Coral Beach donated a large swathe of land at the property to the Bermuda Audubon Society for a nature reserve.

Plans were also announced to build a new recycling plant at the Government Quarry at Bailey's Bay, though as the year came to a close those plans were still only "in the upper levels of Government".

The end of February also had its share of controversy however, with the ongoing dispute over who was responsible for dismantling the old Dolphin Quest facility at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.

In March the first effects of global warming could be seen in Bermuda with rising sea levels threatening the ancient Cedars in Paget Marsh.

Environment Minister Dennis Lister announced $100,000 had been set aside for environmentally sensitive practices projects, giving out the first five grants in June.

Reports at the Small Territories Conservation Conference held at the Elbow Beach Hotel urged the Island to "go green", including integrating bio-diversity conservation into every Government programme and policy decisions by 2007.

The face of Canada's natural conservation programmes David Suzuki arrived on the Island for the conference, which was hailed by all as a resounding success. NLP vice-chairman Graeme Outerbridge warned talk is cheap, however, and called for environmental action.

Also during the conference Mr. Lister unveiled the new Government Bio-Diversity Plan, with goals including increasing protected open land on the Island by 25 percent.

In April it was announced that a new tree was to be planted at the junction of Serpentine and Pitts Bay Roads. The old tree, a local landmark, had been seriously damaged the year before by a passing truck.

Claiming it was dangerous, Works and Engineering severely pruned the tree ? only to have it die shortly after, to the anger of the community who claimed the workers had been heavy-handed. The dead tree was then gaudily painted over by a local artist Bruce Stuart.

Finally, to the delight of residents, the old tree was torn down and a new tree was donated by the Cox family and planted by Sousa's Landscaping in May.

Works and Engineering was not out of the woods yet, however ? days after the announcement of the new tree at Serpentine Road, the Ministry was slammed over the axing of a Cedar tree in Warwick.

Workers cut the Ord Road tree down despite the National Trust rating it one of the top 20 to survive the blight of the 40s and 50s. The Environment Ministry was called on to intervene, but the owner of the property prevailed and the tree was felled.

In July protests were sparked again when Spice Hill Road residents claimed the Lemarc Development Company had felled 50 trees to create a new access road, despite attempts by residents to get Environment Minister Dennis Lister to halt the scheme.

Health fears also came to light at Prospect in July, with residents complaining of damp, mouldy buildings.

Near the end of July, with the General Election looming, Mr. Lister also announced the controversial dog breed ban which he called "not the endpoint but a starting point from which to work".

The ban, forbidding the breeding and importation of certain large dog breeds, was received with varying levels of outrage throughout the community, complicated by a vicious dog attack on veterinarian Dr. Maureen Ware-Cieters and the confiscation of 13 Fila Brasilero puppies from former dog warden Gino Brangman.

New Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield promised in August to review the ban, though in November Government denied rumours the ban would be lifted.

Also in August it was announced the number of lobster licences granted for the year would be reduced after a disastrous 2000-2001 season, which saw the number of lobsters landed drop by half.

The BBSR celebrated its 100th year with an open house in August.

In September Hurricane Fabian lashed into the Island, with trees uprooted and extensive coastal damage. Neletha Butterfield discussed plans for studying Bermuda's limestone roofs after more than 500,000 slates were lost, and Government prepared to slash duty on agricultural products and give subsidies to farmers affected by the hurricane.

In November, Minister Butterfield tabled the Protected Species Act 2003, giving legal basis for the creation of a protected species list. The Act includes laws for the protection of both animals and plants that are endemic species of Bermuda.

In December Government listened to residents' concerns and backed off on plans to build an emissions testing centre for the Transport Control Department on the farmland at Frog Lane in Devonshire.

Several studies were launched and updated throughout the year, including on Bermuda's marlin population, amphibian population, and a coral eco-toxicology study.

A coastal erosion study was initiated in July, with scientists returning to the Island in the wake of Hurricane Fabian to take advantage of the opportunity to see first hand the effects of a devastating hurricane on the Island's coast.

In the report the consultants recommended repairs take into account one-in-25 year or one-in-50 year storms, however, regarding the extensive damage to the Causeway they stated Bermuda should prepare for the one-in-100 year storm event.

The year also saw several changes in the upper levels of environmental organisations.

Brian Lightbourne took over from Jack Ward as principal curator at the BAMZ in June, and Susan Amos in her role as the new KBB president promised her organisation will expand from merely picking up trash.

In July Steve Conway took over leadership at the National Trust when Amanda Outerbridge resigned for a post at XL Capital.

The biggest change was, of course, in the office of Minister of the Environment itself, with Neletha Butterfield taking over from Dennis Lister in Alex Scott's new Cabinet.