fp Turks and Caicos

TCI protected areas

Back in the frontier days, when the great visionaries of the TCI Protected Areas were scouting out potential areas for conservation, the now burgeoning island of Providenciales had no paved roads and was dotted only by small settlements at the Bight, Blue Hills and Five Cays.

In those days, when one flew over the island of Providenciales, a single, striking landmark stood out from a background of surrounding hues of green and blue. Today, the almost reflective whiteness of Chalk Sound still mirrors a sound perfection of ecology and beauty.

Intrepid hunters on Provo, Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos managed in one day to bag 207 of the beautiful but invasive fish that eats every fish in its path, damaging the ecosytem and endangering our precious coral reefs.

The Lionfish Hunt, hosted by the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, was aimed at raising awareness of the danger the lionfish presents while showing that the first are easily caught and quite edible.

Twenty-seven children received certificates of completion after going through five days of rich cultural and environmental activities in a camp sponsored by the Turks and Caicos National Trust.

The camp was an overwhelming success and saw children develop a deeper sense of commitment to the preservation of the country’s culture and tradition and its lush environment — a commitment they share with the trust’s mission.

Seventeen Provo youngsters earned Junior Park Wardens Programme certificates in this year’s annual summer program by the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources.

The program is open to all youth, ages 13-18, who complete an application, including an environmental essay. Activities focus on environmental awareness, and this year’s activities were wide-reaching.

In the 1880s, light bulbs revolutionized the world. Though we call them “lights,” traditional incandescent bulbs are actually small heaters that produce a little light — but waste a lot of energy making heat.

Today we can do better. Energy-saving compact fluorescents (CFs) now rival the cozy, warm light of traditional bulbs.

TCI protected areas

Meaningful environmental conservation involves much more than just putting up fences to keep nature in and people out.

In order to maintain sustainable ecological integrity, conservationists must take into consideration multiple variables such as sensitive habitats, breeding, nesting and migration behaviors, recreational use, human needs and ecological productivity to name a few.

With this in mind, the 33 Protected Areas designated under the 1992 National Parks Ordinance are designed to accommodate the needs of man and nature and incorporate a total of 11 National Parks, 11 Nature Reserves, four Sanctuaries and seven Historic Sites located throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands archipelago.

If you care about the environment and are looking for a way to help protect it, then mark Aug. 5 on your calendar.

Created to get more people involved in helping to protect the vast unique environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Environmental Club is looking for dedicated people with an interest in the environment who would like to volunteer their time and energy in any way, shape or form.

TCI  Protected Areas

People of the Hindu faith embrace a simple wisdom. If one kills a cow for a meal, he will feast once, but if he nurtures the cow and allows it to live, the cow will produce milk for food and manure to nourish crops for several years.

Therefore, to kill a cow for food is a folly that sacrifices long-term prosperity for a short-term gain. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, nature is our sacred cow.

In the 1970s, the rapid development that has taken place in TCI would have been beyond comprehension for most individuals, but a few far-sighted individuals were able to foresee a TCI of the future, under pressure by development with rapidly declining natural areas.

The national tree, the Caicos pine, is under attack, but the DECR is leading the fight against its extinction.

An introduced pest insect, the pine tortoise scale, has caused severe population decline of the tree on the islands of Pine Cay, North Caicos and Middle Caicos. Adding to this problem, an excessive amount of dry wood from dead trees has resulted in normal seasonal fires (which pine trees tolerate) burning with far greater intensity, killing seedlings and seeds so new trees cannot grow.