Turks and Caicos Islands

tourism and agriculture. While Turks and Caicos has been classified as an middle-upper income group
country the recent impacts of the 2008 hurricane season and the global economic recession have all
contributed to the weakening of the economy. This is likely to affect the social structure of the territory,
altering the percentage of the poor and possibly increasing the percentage of vulnerable persons in society.
However, the territory’s Draft Climate Change Policy addresses the main needs of the health care sector
and may be sufficient given the current low incidence of most communicable diseases in the territory.
Nonetheless the impact of climate change on health in the Turks and Caicos Islands should be addressed
aggressively due to the higher cost of health care and the dependence on overseas health care institutions.
Further research of the association of disease incidence (e.g. acute respiratory infections and
gastrointestinal diseases) and other sectors such as tourism and water should be undertaken. This will
benefit the economy and society of the Turks and Caicos through increasing the country’s resilience to the
impacts of climate change and offering better adaption options. Increased research and validation of data
for example with diseases of low prevalence such as malaria should be given greater attention in their
infancy with respect to their threat to national health. Such research will pave the way for a sound platform
from which to inform policy and planning for the future as the climate changes.
7.6. Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity and Fisheries
The biodiversity and fisheries of the Turks and Caicos form the foundation of its economy and provide
numerous goods and services to the population. The coral reefs, white sand beaches and extensive
wetlands that have earned the Islands the reputation of “Beautiful by Nature” are highly vulnerable to
climate change due to their inherently fragile character and the various environmental threats brought on
by a booming tourism industry. Like many small island developing states, TCI is challenged to address gaps
in environmental management because of insufficient finances and a lack of available technical and human
capacity. The islands have generally demonstrated a positive response towards addressing biodiversity
issues through environmental policies that are geared towards sustainable natural resource use and
integration of tourism and other economic sectors into environmental management. Education on
environmental issues, public participation and co-management are also promoted by the Ministry of
Natural Resources. It can be expected therefore that with an intensified education and awareness
campaign geared towards climate change sensitization, and its pending impacts on biodiversity, that the
responsible agencies will take more rapid action to ensure completion of outstanding projects, programmes
and policy amendments for climate change adaptation, such as those outlined in the TCI Climate Change
Green Paper.
A joint public sector-private sector-community approach towards fish sanctuaries and MPA management
can serve as a catalyst in the paradigm shift from a business as usual approach to biodiversity consumption
to that of an eco-system based approach to adaptation. Along with the existing Conservation Fund, it could
provide the additional financial resources that will be needed as the country attempts to improve on
Protected Area management and expands coverage of MPAs. It is an opportunity to harness the evident
willingness of communities, the private sector and the Government of TCI to conserve its biodiversity, and
it is also an opportunity to channel the particular interests of these stakeholders towards achieving a
common goal and resolving common conflicts among resource users. Strengthening the adaptive capacity
of the country’s ecosystems in the face of climate change can only be achieved within the context of
collaboration. Ultimately, sustainable use and effective management of the islands’ biodiversity and
fisheries lies within the hands of its people; the CARIBSAVE Partnership is an impartial agent that can serve
as mediator between various stakeholders and provide the framework within which the adaptive process
may be executed.
184