BERMUDA'S environment is precious, fragile and at the mercy of each person who lives or visits here.

Keeping our Island environment intact is the responsibility of individuals, as well as agencies and non-profit organisations dedicated to caring for Bermuda's land, water, air, animals and plants.

What can one person do to care for the environment? The following are some suggestions for keeping our Island environment healthy.

It starts with your environment at home.

Here is an environmental checklist for your home: Do you conserve water and electric energy? Does your house have any leaky faucets? Do you have `low flow' devices on showers and faucets? Do you reuse leftover cooking water or tea to water plants? Do you do laundry only when you have a full load? Do you hang laundry in the sun to dry? Do you use energy-saving light bulbs? Do you use fans rather than air conditioners? Do you use rag or sponges instead of paper towels? Do you recycle cans and bottles? Do you save paper bags to use as scrap, wrapping or drawing paper? Do you avoid using pesticides to rid house or garden of insects? Do you avoid using toxic chemicals like air fresheners, ammonia, bleach, drain cleaner? Do you pack your own lunch using reusable containers rather than disposable plastic wraps, bottles or containers? Do you clean up litter near your home? Do you want all of Bermuda to be as nice as the ideal home? se environmentally friendly transportation. Walk or use a bicycle, take public transportation, such as ferries and buses, to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide that goes into the air we breathe.

If you do drive a car or motorbike, make sure it is in good condition, running well to pollute minimally, and remember to turn off the engine whenever you stop for a minute or more.

Dispose of trash properly to save animals' lives. Trash can be harmful to birds, animals, reptiles and marine life.

Balloons can kill. Helium balloons that are released into the air in Bermuda most often end up in our surrounding water where they may be mistaken for jellyfish by marine life or birds and eaten.

Balloons are not digestible and will kill. Deflate balloons and put them in the trash.

Soda cans can trap and kill skinks that crawl into them. Plastic rings that hold cans together can become inflexible nooses trapping animals on land or in the water.

Before placing plastic holders in the trash, cut them apart to ensure that they cannot become traps.

Be aware of what you buy. When you go to the supermarket, pharmacy or department store, consider what you are buying, and remember to bring your own string or canvas reusable bag.

Do not eat anything that is in crisis like bluefin tuna, atlantic swordfish, Alaska king crab and Nassau grouper.

Do not buy fish that has been caught in fish pots. Buy only `dolphin safe' tuna -- that is tuna caught without the sweeping nets that trap and kill dolphins.

Look for fruit and vegetables grown without pesticides. Buy foods with less packaging; packaging becomes trash.

When buying clothing, be aware of furs or fabrics, like pashmina wool, that come from endangered, as well as coral and tortoiseshell.

If you see stores doing something damaging to the environment write or call them to make your views known.

Get involved with a plants or animal. When you put time and effort into keeping a plant or pet healthy you learn to appreciate nature.

A pet or an aquarium full of fish is great. You might also set up a birdhouse in the garden, nurture a flowering plant or plant a tree.

Instead of buying a cut Christmas tree, buy a living one with roots that can be planted.

You can `adopt' an animal at the Bermuda, Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. Call 293-4464 for information.

ake time to rediscover life in paradise: walk, swim, snorkel, hike on your own, or get involved in the many nature outings and lectures on the Island year-round.

The more effort you put into learning about our environment, the more conscious you will be of your interaction with it.

Help other people to discover nature -- give living plants or trees as gifts rather than cut flowers.

When you are out enjoying water sports, remember our fragile, essential reef and protect it by mooring boats safely and resisting the urge to take anything from the reef.

Contribute time or money to organisations that care for the environment. Be a volunteer, for example, cleaning up beaches and roadsides, caring for animals, counting birds, marine life or plants.

Be a member. Bermuda's local conservation groups include the Bermuda Zoological society, Bermuda National Trust, Keep Bermuda Beautiful, Save Open Spaces, Friends of Fish, Bermuda Audubon Society and Bermuda Botanical Society.

Make your views known. Write to or call newspapers or radio stations to let them know your views on the environment, particularly if you see something that should be fixed or cleaned up.

Make yourself heard in government. Write to or call government officials. And if you are eligible, vote for representatives who will ensure that Bermuda's precious environment is appreciated and cared for.

What are you doing to keep Bermuda beautiful?