Times of the Islands Fall 2017

green pages
newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
head office: church folly, grand turk, tel 649 946 2801 • fax 649 946 1895
• astwood street, south caicos, tel 649 946 3306 • fax 946 3710
• national environmental centre, lower bight road, providenciales
parks division, tel 649 941 5122 • fax 649 946 4793
fisheries division, tel 649 946 4017 • fax 649 946 4793
email environment@gov.tc or dema.tci@gmail.com • web www.environment.tc
The leaves, flowers and pod-like fruits of the Moringa tree have many nutritive and medicinal uses.
The Wonder Tree
Moringa abounds in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
By Eric F. Salamanca, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Research & Development;
Ethan Griesbach, MSc., Acting Director/Deputy Director; and Bryan Manco, Environmental Officer,
Department of Environment & Coastal Resources
Photos By Dr. Eric F. Salamanca
The Moringa tree can be found in the farms, residential backyards and landscaping of resorts and hotels
in many tropical and subtropical regions, including the Turks & Caicos Islands. It is known to be native
to India and introduced in the West Indies by the French in the mid-1780s. This tree may have been
introduced in the TCI as an ornamental tree by the landscaping industry. Until recently, not many people
were aware of its multifarious uses.
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