Times of the Islands Spring 2020
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
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green pages newsletter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> department <strong>of</strong> environment & coastal resources<br />
This Caicos pine seedling, with needles yet to shrug <strong>of</strong>f chunks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> algal mat in which pine seeds <strong>of</strong>ten germinate, grew from seeds dropped<br />
in October. It is among <strong>the</strong> first <strong>of</strong> its kind grown in <strong>the</strong> wild in over ten years.<br />
Phoenix from <strong>the</strong> Ashes?<br />
Good news for <strong>the</strong> TCI’s National Tree.<br />
Story & Photos By B Naqqi Manco, TCI Naturalist<br />
The Turks & Caicos <strong>Islands</strong>’ National Tree, <strong>the</strong> stately Caicos pine Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis, has<br />
had a rough few decades recently. Following <strong>the</strong> introduction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> invasive pine tortoise scale insect,<br />
which infests trees through <strong>the</strong>ir fatality, as well as a sea surge and catastrophic wildfire in 2008–2009,<br />
and <strong>the</strong>n several more significant hurricanes, over 97% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> population <strong>of</strong> this vital species was lost.<br />
Caicos pine is <strong>the</strong> foundation species <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pine yard, part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> globally imperiled pine rockland<br />
ecosystem, a habitat unique to <strong>the</strong> Caicos <strong>Islands</strong> and nor<strong>the</strong>rn Bahamas, with fragments in sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Florida (but hosting a different species <strong>of</strong> pine).<br />
38 www.timespub.tc
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