Clement Howell High get their hands dirty for World Wetlands Day 2016

Providenciales, 03 Feb 2016 – Clement Howell High School assisted the Department of Environmental & Maritime Affairs (DEMA), the Turks and Caicos National Trust and the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF) in celebrating World Wetlands Day 2016. 18 Students from the school brought along a willingness to get their hands dirty in order to assist with conservation efforts at one of Provo’s most important wetland sites.

“DEMA and the National Trust were delighted to see just how enthusiastic the students were to assist with our on-going conservation efforts in the area. They demonstrated stewardship in an area that is often taken for granted and neglected and hopefully this would encourage the rest of the community to do the same!” said DEMAs Environmental Outreach Coordinator, Amy Avenant.

Red mangroves were planted along the site, which will hopefully grow to create a buffer between the road and the wetland. This would be important as the mangroves act as natural filters that improve the water quality, as so often polluted runoff flows straight into the wetland – a critical habitat for resident and migratory birds, and other fauna and flora. The mangroves also create a natural buffer for any materials (litter) that may find its way to into the wetland.

DEMA, the National Trust and TCRF would like to remind youth between the ages of 15 and 24 to participate in the International World Wetlands Day Photo Contest. The contest will run from 2 February to 2 March, 2016. The winner will win a free flight to a famous wetland of their choice courtesy of Star Alliance Biosphere Connections, and other prizes will be given to runners up. To enter the competition Young people are invited to take a photo that shows “people making a living from wetlands” Upload up to 3 photos on the World Wetlands Day website www.worldwetlandsday.org Other members of the public can participate by voting for their favourite photo and help contribute to the selection process.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February, and day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.