Green Pages
- The Wonder Tree October 11, 2017Moringa abounds in the Turks & Caicos Islands. By Eric F. Salamanca, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Research & Development; Ethan Griesbach, MSc., Acting Director/Deputy Director; and Bryan Manco, Environmental Officer, Department of Environment & Coastal Resources ~ Photos By Dr. Eric F. Salamanca The Moringa tree can be found in the farms, residential backyards and landscaping of resorts ...Read more about this post
- Tree of Death June 19, 2017The dangerous machineel tree is thriving in Turks & Caicos. By Eric F. Salamanca, Bryan Manco and John Claydon, Department of Environment & Coastal Resources, and Kathleen Wood, SWA Environment Photos By Eric F. Salamanca The manchineel tree, scientifically known as Hippomane mancinella of the family Euphorbiaceae, is considered by the Guinness Book of World Records as the ...Read more about this post
- The Good Shark June 19, 2017Shark research in the Turks & Caicos Islands. By Dr. Aaron C. Henderson and Camilla Smith, School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos Photos By Camilla Smith The public perception of sharks has shifted dramatically over the last couple of decades. Whereas they were once portrayed as bloodthirsty monsters, spawning the adage, “The only ...Read more about this post
- A Rare “Snowbird” Returns March 10, 2017Piping Plovers return to the TCI for the winter. By Eric F. Salamanca (DECR), Elise Elliot-Smith (US Geological Survey), Caleb Spiegel and Craig Watson (US Fish and Wildlife Service), Sidney Maddock (Contractor for Environment and Climate Change Canada), Simon Busuttil (Turks & Caicos National Trust & Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Kathleen Wood (SWA ...Read more about this post
- Two Kews March 10, 2017TCI’s native plants are a long way from home. Story & Photos By B Naqqi Manco, TCI Naturalist It is a plant fanatic’s dream—away from the exhibition greenhouses and behind the public barriers, the walk through the glass-walled corridor of the Tropical Plant Nursery at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London passes by huge glasshouse rooms ...Read more about this post
- Under the Mistletoe . . . January 5, 2017This unusual plant is not as “romantic” as it would seem. Story & Photos By B Naqqi Manco, TCI Naturalist “Ugh, it’s like evaporating rubber cement,” I lamented, scraping the mucilaginous liquid off my fingers onto the twig of a pink poui tree, “No wonder I could never get it to work before—I was doing it wrong ...Read more about this post
- Project RESCQ September 13, 2016Restoring endangered coral species to TCI reefs. Story & Photos By Don Stark, Chairman, Turks & Caicos Reef Fund Coral reefs form some of the planet’s most biologically diverse ecosystems, providing protection of beaches, habitat for fishes, and a natural source of carbon capture from the atmosphere (corals build their homes out of calcium carbonate which they ...Read more about this post
- Meal Time! September 13, 2016The past, present and future of feeding the Turks & Caicos Islands. By Dr. Alastair M. Smith, School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos, and Dr. Jessica Paddock, Sustainable Consumption Institute, Manchester University, UK One of the many reasons that a growing number of people are flocking to visit the Turks & Caicos ...Read more about this post
- Caving In for Science July 4, 2016TCI’s cave system helps researchers understand local geology. By Michael J. Lace, John E. Mylroie, Nancy A. Albury, and Joan R. Mylroie, Coastal Cave Survey The Turks & Caicos Islands are well known for beautiful beaches and sparkling turquoise seas. Did you know that the Islands also have a unique and interesting underworld? It is made up ...Read more about this post
- Piping Up March 9, 2016Rare, endangered, and threatened bird found in Turks & Caicos Islands. By Eric F. Salamanca, DEMA, Elise Elliote-Smith, US Geologic Service, and Caleb Spiegel and Craig Watson, US Fish and Wildlife Service Photos By Eric F. Salamanca The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and beaches. Due to anthropogenic disturbances, ...Read more about this post
- Out with a Roar March 9, 2016Invasive lionfish mitigation on South Caicos. By Anela Akiona, School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Management Invasive species are a major threat to ecosystem stability and biodiversity and the environmental and economic costs are increasing. While most invasions to date have been in terrestrial and freshwater systems, marine invasions have significantly increased. This has been ...Read more about this post
- The Iconic Nassau Grouper December 21, 2015Regionally endangered, locally abundant Story & Photos By John Claydon, PhD & Marta Calosso, MS, MA – TCI Nassau Grouper Project leaders Go on any SCUBA dive or snorkel trip in the Turks & Caicos Islands and you would be very unlucky not to see a Nassau grouper or two. It is no exaggeration to say that ...Read more about this post
- Birds in Paradise September 25, 2015South Caicos’ salt ponds attract an amazing bird community. Story & Photos By Liam M. Carr, Ph.D., School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos The island of South Caicos provides important habitat for over 200 species of birds, some year-round residents and others only appearing briefly as they move across the region. Mourning ...Read more about this post
- Keeping Tabs on Turtles July 3, 2015Beach profile monitoring for marine turtle nesting areas. By Charlotte de Fontaubert, Heidi Hertler, Aaron Henderson, and Anela Akiona The Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) are an archipelago of about forty limestone islands. Most of the land habitat is scrub lands. The mangrove forests, seagrass ecosystems, salt flats and coral reefs that line the coast are among ...Read more about this post
- Burn, Baby, Burn March 31, 2015Second controlled burn in Middle Caicos pineyard a success. Story & Photos By B Naqqi Manco, Caicos Pine Recovery Project Manager Following the excellent results of TCI’s first controlled burn in the Middle Caicos pineyard in May, 2012 (see Times of the Islands, Fall 2012 “A Burning Desire”), a second controlled burn was carried out on December ...Read more about this post
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Tucked at the northeast corner of North Caicos is Greenwich Channel, formed at the northern tip of Bottle Creek by the convergence of Horsestable Beach and Bay Cay. By using a drone Master/Craftsman Photographer James Roy of Paradise Photography (www.myparadisephoto.com) was able to capture this dramatic abstract image. The shallow water and shifting sandbars and channels create surreal natural art in many hues of turquoise and green.