Turks & Caicos gearing up to join in World Wetlands Day

#TurksandCaicos, January 23, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) will be hosting a clean-up in support of World Wetlands Day 2023, on Saturday, 04 February 2023.

It marks the Islands’ support for the global event which takes place on February 2nd and marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The Turks & Caicos Islands boast the protected North, Middle and East Caicos Nature Reserve, which is an area expanding 210 square miles, declared an International Ramsar Site.

Join us at 7am on 4 February 2023 to clean-up Wheeland Ponds, Providenciales, or at Pond Street (at the Grand Turk public gazebo), Grand Turk and learn why these wetlands are indeed more than swamps!

The DECR can be contacted at aavenant@gov.tc or 338-4170 for more information.

Wetlands are often an undervalued natural resource and are important as they:

1. ensure fresh water and replenish ground water;
2. purify and filter harmful toxins;
3. are a breeding ground for many commercially important fish species;
4. provide vital habitats for migratory birds;
5. ease flooding and safeguard against drought;
6. reduce the impacts of erosion; and
7. provide sustainable livelihoods.