TCI Bank must liquidate - fp Turks and Caicos

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08 ENVIRONMENT
TCI protected areas
November 4, 2010 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ www.fptci.com
Princess of a park haven for marine life
By Marsha Pardee
and Kathleen Wood
The tourmaline blue
water that embraces the
beautiful cays found in
the Princess Alexandra Nature
Reserve is a sovereign safeguard
for those shorelines encompassed
within.
As part of the Princess Alexandra
Land and Sea National
Park (PANP), these waters are a
part of our Protected Area System
that reigns over and rules
what can happen therein. This
princess of a park harbors some
of the most delicate and fragile
of our island ecosystems, while
shouldering most of the greatest
ills of our landward developments.
Her domain includes shorelines
from the north end of
Turtle Cove, throughout the
whole of Grace Bay to points
slightly beyond the western end
of Water Cay extending out to
the 100-metre depth mark, and
the designated area that surrounds
Little Water, Mangrove,
Donna and Sinking Cays.
Within this undersea landscape,
all sorts of wonders can
be found. Beginning with the
majestic mangroves that spread
their leg-like limbs into the
sea, one can find scads of fish
and invertebrates. Well hidden
within the forest of prop roots
that provide protection from
bigger predators, the juveniles
of the marine world make their
homes. The roots themselves are
substrate upon which garlands
of algae, tunicates and sponges
grow, providing food as well as
shelter.
A little further out, we
encounter vast meadows of
seagrasses that are often mixed
with a variety of algae. Some of
these algal species provide cues
to baby conch and lobster, letting
them know it’s the time and
place to settle out of their larval
On the Web
▶▶Read all the TCI Protected
Areas series at fptci.com in
the Environment section.
The Turks and Caicos Islands
through the TCI National Trust
joins conservation leaders, researchers
and nature enthusiasts
from across the Caribbean
to celebrate and promote public
awareness surrounding the incredible
phenomenon of bird
migration during October.
According to trust Education
Officer Jonathan Sayao, the organization
is extending the observance
to Nov. 30, thus making
the observance a two-month
celebration.
“I am happy to announce that
the National Trust is supporting
the region-wide celebration
of the International Migratory
Bird Day (IMBD) and thus have
lined-up several activities that
promote protection of birds and
their habitat,” Sayao said.
According to Sayao, activities
for the IMBD celebration include
Wheeland Pond Clean-up
in Blue Hills which will involve
students and community members
within the vicinity, birdwatching
excursions to North
Caicos, school visits, setting-up
of booths, sale of bird merchandise
(e.g., books, ceramics) and
a Teachers Workshop for Providenciales-based
teachers.
“We are preparing resource
materials about birds, and those
will be given to schoolteachers to
help supplement their lesson on
birds, focusing specifically on
those common to us. Teachers
in the other islands will be sent
copies as well,” Sayao added.
forms.
Inlet areas such as the
Leeward Cut and Channel
are prime entry points for the
young of many marine animals
spawned in deeper waters. And
like the mangroves, seagrass
meadows provide both food
and shelter for the babes of the
marine world, while acting as
filters from landward runoff
that would otherwise contaminate
our reefs .
Next we encounter isolated
patch reefs and coral heads.
Albeit a hazard to navigation
at times, these individual reefs
are kingdoms unto themselves,
with every living character fulfilling
a niche while providing
a service in support of the little
community.
Our fringing reef along the
north shore differs from the
North West Point reefs in that
it slopes more gradually out
like stepping stones to the deep.
Here we found some excellent
“spur and groove” formations
that resemble rounded hill like
structures that dip into lovely
valleys and canyons.
And like North West Point
reefs, much of the fringing reef
along Provo’s Grace Bay (and
down to Water Cay) is protected.
Due to its proximity to
the most densely populated area
of the entire archipelago, park
management and enforcement
are concentrated here.
National Parks in part are set
aside for public enjoyment. For
the safety of the people as well as
the protection of resource they
come to enjoy, several rules have
been ordained in the National
Park Regulations.
The PANP also has established
several zones where different
activities are allowed to
occur. There are aquatic sports,
swimming and training zones
that are contained between the
low water mark to 100 yards offshore
to protect people engaged
in those activities from boaters.
Specific swimming and snorkeling
zones only are generally
marked by a line of white floats.
Access zones are also provided
in certain areas where
boats may approach the shore.
These lanes are 100 feet wide
and extend out to 110 yards
from shore and are typically
demarcated by red and green
buoys. There is also a water ski
zone between Club Med and
what is now Seven Stars which
Each year millions of birds,
representing hundreds of species
travel between North America
and the Caribbean.
TCI is one of the many countries
frequented by these neotropical
migratory birds.
“We need to recognize the importance
of the presence of these
migratory birds in the whole
spectrum of balance in nature,
starts 100 yards from shore and
extends out 1,000 yards.
All these zones, rules and
regulations are not meant to
dampen enthusiasm for any
water activities. They are meant
to provide a haven in which
all can enjoy the water world
in safety and with respect for
the environment in which they
come to play.
But even with all these
safeguards in place, the marine
environment continues to take
a beating. Our mere human
presence oiled up with tanning
gels and sunscreens adversely
affects the reefs, as well as the
ever seeping runoff from coastal
developments and their ongoing
activities.
particularly with reference to the
native TCI ecosystem,” he said.
“Thus, we implore the public’s
support in this endeavor.”
Approximately 350 species of
birds that breed in North America
migrate each year to spend
the winter in Latin America and
the Caribbean. As a group they
are referred to as neotropical
migratory birds, and they include
many species of songbirds,
hawks, egrets, and ducks, among
other well known groups.
Additionally, a smaller number
of species migrate from
South America into the Caribbean
to breed during the summer.
The Caribbean therefore
shares these species with North
and South America, and many
spend the greater portion of each
year on our islands (up to nine
months annually), compared to
the time they spend outside of
the region.
“Most people really don’t
know that the birds that they
see and love are, in fact, species
that spend their summers and
winter months in separate, far
away, countries,” said Anthony
fp
Natural erosion and accretion
of sand becomes exacerbated
up and down stream by creating
non natural structures to
hold the sand in check. Constant
dredging to take away or
put sand in its wrongful place
further upsets the physical and
biological balance of the system.
Our National Park Regulations
are a thorough and very
protective guide to what should
and should not be done within
the park boundaries. Making
exceptions to the rules that govern
the Protected Areas will only
hasten their demise, along with
the prosperity it brings us all.
The Princess Alexandra National
Park is truly a princess of
a park that reigns supreme over
our most populated strand of
sand. And due to her popularity,
it makes it even more important
to oblige the rules to ensure her
long-lasting sovereignty.
Marine ecologist Marsha
Pardee, M.Sc., is a Permanent
Resident of the TCI, living here
for nearly 20 years. She is a
member of the government’s Scientific
Authority Committee and
a consultant for environmental
management and aquaculture
projects, working for both public
and private sectors. She has
taught many of the country’s
children in local schools and in
the DECR’s Junior Park Warden
Program on Providenciales.
Terrestrial ecologist and Master
Gardener Kathleen Wood,
B.Sc., is a Permanent Resident
of the TCI, dividing her time
between the Turks and Caicos
and North Carolina. She is the
author of many publications including
the book, “Flowers of the
Bahamas and Turks and Caicos
Islands.” She has worked for the
public and private sectors on
many environmental projects in
the Bahamas, TCI and U.S. Follow
Kathleen on her blog at www.
killingmother. blogspot.com.
TCI joins global Migratory Bird Day celebration
Schoolchildren take to the woods for birdwatching.
National Park Regulations
The following are prohibited
within all national parks:
▶▶the taking of any animal or
plant by any method on land
or at sea, except to the extent
permitted in any fishing zone;
▶▶the taking of any artifact;
▶▶the destruction of, or damage
or injury to, any animal or
plant;
Prohibitions and permitted
activities:
▶▶the removal of sand, rock,
coral, coral-rag or any calcareous
substance;
▶▶anchor damage to coral
reef structures living or dead
and associated marine plant
and animal life;
▶▶the anchoring of vessels
greater than 60 feet in length
other than in an anchoring
zone;
▶▶jet skis and hovercraft;
▶▶water skiing, except in a
water-ski zone;
▶▶the dumping of refuse,
abandoned vehicles, toxic or
other wastes, bilges, oil and
other petroleum products,
pesticides and other items
harmful to animals or plants,
or unsightly items;
▶▶the driving or riding of motor
vehicles and bicycles other
than on public roads declared
under the Road Traffic Ordinance
or in a parking zone;
▶▶car parking except in a
parking zone;
▶▶the making of fires, other
than in a portable stove or
grill;
▶▶camping except in a camping
zone or with the prior
written approval of the Director;
▶▶erecting any structure unless
authorized by the Director
of Planning;
▶▶playing a game to the discomfort
of other persons;
▶▶playing any musical instrument,
radio, cassette player,
record player, television or
other item which produces or
reproduces music, to the discomfort
of other persons;
▶▶operating a vessel in excess
of 15 miles per hour unless
within an aquatic sports or
water-ski zone.
Levesque, Regional IMBD Coordinator.
Because most birds migrate
mostly during the night, their
epic movements, though frequently
spectacular in numbers,
are often unnoticed by the public,
he said.
Unfortunately, the long-term
survival of about one third of
these migratory species is of
concern because of sustained declines
in their populations over
recent decades.
“There are just much fewer
numbers of even some of the
more common and well-known
species now relative to their
numbers a few decades ago,”
said Dr. Lisa Sorenson, president
of the SCSCB.
“Because we are dealing with
birds that change the country
in which they live twice a year,
every year, both local, regional,
and international partnerships
are essential components of any
conservation effort,” Sorenson
said.
This year’s IMBD celebration
theme is “The Power of Partnerships.”