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The Turks and Caicos Islands; a place truly deserving of its slogan “Beautiful by Nature”. Filled with expanses of white sand beaches, miles of azure sea, and countless coral reefs, our calling card is picture perfect. But like everywhere else, the need for economic growth often demoralizes this essence of pristine. Hotel complexes and condominium projects tend to wreak havoc with the forces of la natural. Is it possible for a small island country to maintain a balance between ecological integrity and economic growth?
The answer is Eco-tourism, that trendy word that tends to attach itself to almost any outdoor activity, like Fat-Free on all edible products these days. Yet, it is a word to aspire to, with hopes of creating the real thing. Conscientiously used, it confers the connotation of ecologically sustaining activities for the tourism industry. The Turks and Caicos Islands have taken a stand to uphold the virtue of the word.
For starters, the country has set aside over 33% of its entire mass for preservation purposes, apparent in the numerous National Parks, Natures Reserves, Sanctuaries and Protected Areas. A 1% Conservation Tax has also been levied on all accomodations to provide the funding to maintain and protect these sites. Further resources have been solicited through private donor and international agencies, via the conduit of the non-profit organization, the Turks and Caicos National Trust. In compliance with its mission of conservation and preservation of the islands resources, the Trust has endeavored to create ecologically sustainable and economically beneficial eco-tourism activities.
The Trust’s first major accomplishment was the Eco-tourism Award winning (finalist) Little Water Cay Nature Trail Program. This small island is a retreat for the native rock iguana, currently listed as a critically endangered species. For years, tourists would flock to the cay to visit the iguanas, meanwhile inadvertantly trampling nesting areas and burrows, while feeding and harassing the harmless creatures. In an effort to curtail these activities, two boardwalk nature trails were built to provide limited access to the cay while protecting the burrows and nesting chambers of the iguanas. Training programs were initiated for tour operators to teach them about the ecological role of the iguanas and the rules of “iguana etiquette” to confer to their passengers. The program and trails are maintained by a $3 fee with profits going to other conservation orientated programs. Now, three years later, the iguanas are healthy, the operators are enthusiastic and the tourists are happy with their iguana experience.
A second endeavor by the National Trust was an attempt to protect the nearshore reefs of Providenciales. Two beachside areas, locally known as Smith’s and the Bight Reefs, were being severally impacted by snorkeling traffic due to their ease of access. Funds were acquired through numerous concerned local donors to install snorkeling trails on each. The trails act to minimize impact by localizing it, steering swimmers through safe passages that harm neither them nor the corals, as well as providing educational and “reef etiquette” information. The trail markers are environmentally sound and unique, using specially constructed Reef BallsÔ for the sign mounts, that provide habitat for fish and surface for corals to grow. Eventually, the mounts will become mini reefs. The signs themselves are cleverly crafted handmade tiles, graphically embedded with words of reef wisdom. To further augment the process of reef relief, a participant program is now being offered through Reef Ball Coalition that invites visitors to spend a portion of their holiday constructing a new reef.
The Middle Caicos Eco-tourism Project is yet another example of the country’s efforts to preserve and provide. In one fell swoop, this project has protected the immediate coastline from development, preserved an historic trail used by natives of long ago, and created an economic venture for the island of Middle Caicos. The coastal trail provides areas for hiking and biking activities, access to cavernous caves and historic ruins, as well as the opportunity to taste of the local flavor.
A final project still in the making, offers visitors a chance to stroll through the pastures of a former plantation, Wade’s Green. Located on the island of North Caicos, these ruins depict island life long ago and from which the native generations have blossomed and grown. By spreading the eco-tourism dollar throughout the island chain, we help to ensure widespread economic growth while dampening the need for large-scale development throughout. This in turn, helps to sustain our ecological integrity, as we hope to remain always “Beautiful By Nature”.
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