October 2024
Newsletter

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As I reflect on this past month, it’s impossible to overlook the increasing strength and size of hurricanes and their impact on coastal communities. Hurricane Beryl and Hurricane Helene have wreaked havoc on the region and even as I have been preparing this month’s newsletter, news of Hurricane Milton and it’s projected path, just weeks after Helene, is chilling. Hard times are coming. In the midst of these storms, sea surface temperatures continue to rise and the challenges posed to coral reef habitats intensify. These natural disasters serve as stark reminders of the vulnerabilities faced by our precious marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

In times of hardship, we are called not only to mourn our losses but also to galvanize our efforts for meaningful change. The resilience of nature and the dedication of individuals committed to conservation inspire us to look forward with hope.

We are excited to share insights from the recent Antigua training workshop, where I was sent to train a group in benthic survey methodology on behalf of AGRRA (Atlantic Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment), another fantastic example of TCI working collaboratively on a regional scale. We’re also calling all teachers to book their coral lab field trips, with only 2 per week, they fill up fast! Updates on our efforts to prevent destructive dredging in South Caicos and tips on how to make your house more eco-friendly, all inside this month’s newsletter. 

Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities for positive change.

With Hope,

Alizée Zimmermann
Executive Director
Turks and Caicos Reef Fund

Positive news to keep our hearts inspired…

antigua training session

TCRF Executive Director was sent to Antigua to conduct AGRRA (Atlantic Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment) Benthic Survey Training and Train a Trainer — a mouthful we know!

Alizée was asked to go to Antigua for an intensive training with Ruleo Camacho from National Parks Antigua and his team as well as members of the Environmental Awareness Group NGO and Elkhorn Marine Conservation Antigua NGO. Both in class and field training were conducted and by the end of the week Antigua had 5 new AGRRA Benthic Surveyors and Ruleo is officially a Benthic Trainer for AGRRA. This is important because it shows TCRF continuing its involvement in the regional effort to better monitor and understand our coral reefs. This comes as part of a larger CORDAP project on Caribbean Restoration Roadmpas, an innovative and regional scale project that brought over 15 countries together back in June. Alizee continues to be a part of the ‘Be a mentor. Meet a mentor’ project.

Fun Fact: The Diadema urchins in Antigua are huge! We learned that it’s not uncommon to see much larger urchins in the eastern Caribbean than we do around TCI and the Bahamas!

Back to school

As students get back to school TCRF is inviting teachers to reach out and organize a visit for your class to the coral lab and educational facility!

We had our first group of students for the school year join us in the last weeks of September. This was a particularly exciting class as it was the first Marine Science GSCE class in the TCI. Congratulations to the British West Indies Collegiate and to Mandy Brittain the head of Marine Science and Biology there for getting this on the curriculum and to the group of bright, enthusiastic students who signed up! We hope to see more schools add marine science to their available course list.

We host 2 school groups a week with up to 20 students per group but the schedule fills up fast so make sure you reach out to info@tcreef.org to book your school trip!

Update from the lab

Check out how much our little recruit has grown!

Found in June on the side of a Dendrogyra cylindrus skeleton, we’re almost positive this is a baby DCYL a.k.a Pillar Coral!

Realities that we’re facing…

Judicial Review: Sailrock Development in South Caicos

On September 3rd the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund filed a Judicial Review in relation to Development Permission given to Sailrock for their development proposal including canal systems that enter through the Admiral Cockburn National Park, actions that would be illegal under 3 of our country’s Ordinances. As an environmental advocacy NGO, we have a responsibility to stand up for and give voice to the environment in times of need.

This is a reminder of why National Parks and Marine Protected Areas are so important. They act as a geographically and legally designated area/space that is recognized, dedicated, & managed for the long term conservation of nature and those associated ecosystems and cultural values. These are places of conservation, where nature comes first. If there is a conflict between nature and another use, it’s nature first.

On September 26th, Sailrock held another community meeting in South Caicos. Alizee represented TCRF in this meeting and the developer showed the different iterations that their plans have gone through over the years as well as their updated plans to move the canal entrances out of the National Park. These new plans will need to go through the full Development Approval process including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before any permissions are granted. Premier Charles Washington Missick was present at the meeting and assured the people that “I am not going to sit around and allow my legacy to be judged on the basis of giving away your birthright to developers, I will not do it.” 

There has to date been no response to the Judicial Review itself from TCIG.

Quick Tips to Get Started:

1. Choose a Bin: Use any container that allows for airflow. I have a 2 compartment composter on a stand (so it can spin) that I got off Amazon for under $100 and have been using for over 2 years now!

2. Compost Wisely: Add fruits, veggies, coffee grounds, and yard trimmings—avoid meat and dairy.

3. Layer & Turn: Alternate “greens” (nitrogen) and “browns” (carbon) and aerate every few weeks. 

4. Natural Reward: In just a few months, you’ll have nutrient-rich compost for your plants!

do you Own a rental property
in Turks & Caicos islands?

Become a Certified Reef Keeper today! Enlisting your property in our Reef Keeper Conservation Program can help us keep the islands ‘Beautiful by Nature’ and further conservational efforts.

A commitment to improving your property’s sustainable initiatives and adding an optional donation of $2 per night towards reef conservation on your guest’s bill, is a small but HUGE way that you can help us grow our team and our reach.

Find out which tier suits your property best…

Tier 1 — Basic Certification
Tier 2 — Supporting Certification
Tier 3 — Champion Reef Keeper

Help bring supplies to the Island

We invite you to browse our latest Amazon Wishlist filled with items that benefit our non-profit directly! By downloading it, you can view the items listed that we need desperately. You’re welcome to purchase & drop these items off to help support our cause further.

Thank you for your continued support!