World Wetlands Day Clean-up 2024

#TurksandCaicos, January 18, 2024 – The 2^nd of February marks 53 years since the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

The DECR will be hosting a clean-up, with the support of the Turks and Caicos National Trust, to celebrate this important conservation milestone, World Wetlands Day 2024, on Saturday, 03 February 2024.

Join us from 7am to 9am to clean-up our wonderful wetlands and help us protect our them! Be sure to bring along a hat/sunscreen, shoes that can get wet and water in a reusable water bottle.

Clean-up locations:

• Providenciales
  • Five Cays Wetland (meet at Bugaloos)
  • Wheeland Pond (meet at Froggies)
• Grand Turk
  • West Road Pond (meet at John Missick parking lot)
• Middle Caicos
  • Meet at Conch Bar Community Centre

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, and the largest within the UK Overseas Territories.

Restoring and protecting the health of wetland habitats is vital to protect the benefits they provide to our islands. Wetlands perform several functions, including:

• acting as buffers against coastal storms, waves, and surges;
• absorbing flood water;
• stabilising soil/sediment, and reducing erosion;
• absorbing carbon from the atmosphere;
• filtrating water;
• purifying air;
• supporting biodiversity and nurseries for wildlife;
• sustaining livelihoods through tourism, and fishing; and
• enhancing our wellbeing.

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