Projects

The National Trust’s Conservation department is now carrying out its ambitious Field-roads Project, is developing low-impact Eco-tourism sites for visitors who wish to see the natural beauty of the islands. The traditional Caicos term for a footpath, “field-road,” was retained for the project. All of the trails have features of cultural, historical and natural interest. The development of these new Eco-tourism sites first occurred with the continuation of the Biodiversity Management Project, funded by a grant from the Environment Fund for Overseas Territories managed by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development. The opening of our first two Field-roads took place in July of 2004: Haulover Plantation Field Road and Conch Bar to Indian Cave Field Road on Middle Caicos. Numbered markers at points of interest are keyed to laminated guide cards, which serve as a ticket to some field-roads.

Perhaps the most monumental of the Trust’s developments this year is the conversion of the Bambarra Primary School in Middle Caicos into an Eco-tour base and visitors’ centre, and accommodation and work area for scientists. This project was funded largely by the Turks and Caicos Government’s Conservation Fund, and TCI Government further supported the project by the transfer of the property upon which the centre sits to the National Trust.  Further support came from the Norbellis Foundation, which supplied grants for the construction and accommodation for project managers.

The Conservation Programme is also making strides in the scientific community through three collaborative projects. 

The Ramsar Review aims to gather and organise more data about the existing North, Middle, and East Caicos Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, and the identification possible extensions to this site. The Protected Areas Department, the UKOTCF, and the Trust have been working together to protect internationally significant wetlands throughout the islands.

The National Trust has also continued its involvement with the Turks & Caicos Rock Iguana research conducted by the San Diego Zoo.  The Senior Conservation Officer works with Dr. Glenn Gerber and affiliates in creating ground-truth satellite imagery and in gathering data on iguana food plants and nutrition.

The Turks & Caicos Government’s intent to become a signatory of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species has led to the formation the Scientific Authority Panel Government., The Senior Conservation Officer represents concerns regarding all species of the territory’s terrestrial flora and fauna on this panel, which reviews research proposals, drafts conservation legislation, and will advise Government on C.I.T.E.S.