(CNS): The recent nomination process for protected areas represented “a whole new level of public interest” in the conservation of Cayman’s natural habitat, according to Fred Burton, manager of the Department of Environment (DoE) Terrestrial Resources Unit. Presenting the report on the process at the NCC’s quarterly general meeting, Burton said many of the nominations were completely new proposals, but the areas getting the most calls for protection were the Eastern Lighthouse area on Cayman Brac, the Central Mangrove Wetlands and the Ironwood Forest on Grand Cayman, as well as proposals for making Barkers into an actual national park. He explained that 22% of Little Cayman is under protection and over 10% of Grand Cayman, but only 5.9% of Cayman Brac is protected.