#TurksandCaicos, February 25, 2021 – The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) was presented with a framed copy of the 2021 FortisTCI annual calendar. The cover showcases the national plant of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) – the Turks Head Cactus. The presentation was made by FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes to the DECR Director Lormeka Williams on Friday, February 19, at the company’s headquarters.  

This year’s calendar features plants and trees from across the TCI, including TCI’s national tree and the national flower, the Caicos Pine and the Heather. It also features well-known flora such as the Lignum Vitae, the Caicos Orchid, the Sea Grape, the Neem and the Sapodilla trees.

The DECR was chosen as the 2021 calendar cover recipient to recognize their work to protect the TCI’s natural vegetation and their efforts to educate the youth on how to care for the environment. DECR has worked over many years to restore the Caicos Pine forest in North Caicos, which was at risk of local extinction. They have also done extensive work to preserve plant genes at the North Caicos Native Plant Nursery. Their efforts include saving more than 100 native plant species, some of which have gone extinct in the wild, and at least seven that only grow in the TCI or a few neighboring islands.

Speaking at the handover, DECR Director Lormeka Williams said, “I want to thank FortisTCI for its support over the years. There have been numerous occasions when we have called on you to assist, including with our North Caicos Nursery and Caicos Pine Recovery projects. The calendar has beautiful images and shows some of what we have grown in our nursery. My favorite is the Encyclia caicensis. Many don’t know about our endemic orchid and how fragile it is and threatened. I think publications such as this allow persons to see and learn about the importance of what we have here in the TCI and appreciate the beauty that resides in our natural environment.”

FortisTCI President & CEO Ruth Forbes said, “We are delighted to present the framed calendar cover to the DECR this year as one of our many community partners. The work done by the DECR to preserve the beauty of our islands is not forgotten or overlooked. This is why FortisTCI has pledged its full support to assist with the restoration of the North Caicos Native Plan Nursery to ensure that conservation and the protection of our environment continues.” DECR Assistant Director of Research and Development (acting) Brian Manco and photographer James Roy provided captions and images for the calendar.

PRESS RELEASE: FortisTCI

Photo Caption: FortisTCI President & CEO Ruth Forbes (right) presents a framed copy of the 2021 FortisTCI calendar cover to DECR Director Lormeka Williams (left) at the company’s headquarters in Providenciales, featuring the Turks and Caicos Islands national plant, the Turks Head Caicos.