Times of the Islands Fall 2016

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green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources Above: During a boat trip with Big Blue Unlimited, program leader Amy Avenant (at center) taught the children about respectfully observing wildlife without touching or harassing it. Opposite page (from top): The kids hiked the half-mile Caicos Pine Yard Trail, led by the DECR’s B Naqqi Manco, to study the Caicos Pine, the TCI’s National Tree. Besides learning to swim, Tiann Malcolm learned much about marine life and its value to TCI. Bonding with Nature Junior Park Warden course spawns new environmental advocates. By Evangelia Ganosellis ~ Photos By DECR Education Outreach Coordinator Amy Avenant The beauty of the Turks & Caicos Islands is obvious to anyone who looks. It’s why hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the country every year. It’s why our national motto is “Beautiful by Nature.” And it is why, for the last two years, Grace Bay has been deemed the “Number One Beach in the World” by TripAdvisor voters. To maintain that beauty requires some foresight. That’s why 300 square miles of the Turks & Caicos are designated as Marine Protected Areas. But that won’t mean anything to someone who doesn’t understand it. It begins with education, especially with the local children. They are, after all, the future of the Turks & Caicos Islands. 30 www.timespub.tc
green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources This forms the foundation of the Junior Park Warden program—a two-week summer course hosted every year by the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) since 2000. The aim is to give kids a better understanding and appreciation of the islands they call home so that they can become advocates for the environment. This year’s program, sponsored by the Pine Cay Project and led by DECR Education Outreach Coordinator Amy Avenant, focused on Marine Protected Areas and took the kids—ages 10 to 17—beyond the shores of Providenciales. The program kicked off at the National Environmental Center, where they learned about the TCI’s natural wonders and listened to a talk by Lynn Robinson of Big Blue Unlimited about marine pollution and the importance of reducing plastic waste. By that afternoon, they were on the beach, watching a green turtle tag-and-release at Coral Gardens and practicing their swimming and snorkeling. Tiann Malcolm, 14, of Wesley Methodist School, completed the program with a new skill —the ability to swim. “I learned a lot of things about marine life that I didn’t know before. I knew that marine life was important, but I didn’t realize it was that important to the Turks & Caicos,” Tiann said, citing parrotfish and their relationship with the reef as an example. Parrotfish eat algae off coral. “Marine life matters just as much as human life,” Tiann added. The students participated in a beach clean-up, learned about fish identification, and were fortunate enough to see a dolphin and her calf during a boat trip with eco-tour company Big Blue Unlimited—an opportunity for program leader Amy to teach them about respectfully observing wildlife without touching or harassing it. “I learned about the importance of protecting the national parks,” said Antwun Arthur, 16, of Raymond Gardiner High School on North Caicos. “National parks are important places. They can be a breeding ground for fishes and we have one of the last sustainable reef systems.” The kids also had the opportunity to spend a day on North and Middle Caicos, where they hiked the halfmile Caicos Pine Yard Trail, led by the DECR’s B Naqqi Manco. The Caicos Pine, the TCI’s national tree, is a threatened species found only on some Turks & Caicos and Bahamian islands. They also visited Marine Protected Areas Flamingo and Cottage Ponds. On the last day of the program, while the older kids cruised the north shore of Providenciales by boat, Amy quizzed the students on TCI environmental trivia. “What is the sedimentary rock that forms our jagged coastline? On what islands are the Caicos Pine found?’ (Answers: Limestone. Middle Caicos and Pine Cay.) Most kids agreed—their favorite part of the program was being on the water, exploring Princess Alexandra National Park, and getting acquainted with marine life. “I learned about the importance of the coral reef and different types of fish and things that are in the sea,” said Nikeem Claire, 12, of TCI Middle School. “I learned some of the fish names,” said Rayvon Walkin, 11, of Ianthe Pratt Primary School. We can only fully appreciate and protect that which we understand. That’s why the JPW program is so important. In two weeks, 32 children walked away with a greater understanding of the environment, and why conservation should matter to them and the TCI gained 32 environmental advocates. a Times of the Islands Fall 2016 31
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