(Photo courtesy of Oasis Divers, Grand Turk)
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has many natural resources utilised by various spheres of the community. While stakeholders in the tourism industry rely on these natural resources for their livelihoods, historically the onus has fallen upon DEMA to maintain these resources. While stakeholders absorb all the benefits of well-maintained natural resources, the government of TCI (TCIG) almost exclusively bears the cost. DEMA aims to change the attitude of the greater community by developing an ethic of shared responsibility for the resources of the TCI. This would allow DEMA to pass the responsibility of ‘custodian’ onto the greater community, and have DEMA become the monitoring agent to which custodians are accountable.
In effect the program assists various spheres of the community in identifying resources that they make use of on a regular basis, and the need for stewardship. The Community Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP) also educates stakeholders on the needs of the resources they utilise, the roles and the responsibilities that they, as a community, have and can adopt in order to work together in keeping the TCI beautiful by nature. Resource users, including commercial dive operators, hotels, schools and others, are encouraged to work together with DEMA to maintain, improve and eventually become accountable to the natural resources that they so frequently access and utilise and upon which their livelihoods depend.
The program acts as an ‘umbrella’ under which various, current projects may be incorporated. CCPP provides DEMA with the ability to exercise more efficient and effective monitoring of the various initiatives on the island, as well as provide for ease of management of the various current and future initiatives aimed at resource conservation.
Objectives of the program
- Instil an ethic of shared responsibility and stewardship for the environment in the various commercial and public spheres of the community.
- Develop relationships between DEMA and the greater public which would allow for information sharing, and public and government partnering in order to promote sustainable development in the TCI.
- Achieve targeted management goals, which are currently not implemented due to a lack of resources, such as coral reef monitoring, water quality testing, garbage clean-up and public awareness.
Expected program results
- The program will have a positive impact on resources, resource users and DEMA. Resources will be maintained and, or, improved promoting the principles of sustainable development and an environment that is beautiful by nature.
- Resource users will not only develop an understanding of the management needs of the natural environment, but will learn to appreciate and become overseers of the Islands’ natural resources.
- Partnering with DEMA will also allow for transparency and a willingness to share and assist the Government in maintaining the resources of the TCI.
- The program will also share DEMA’s responsibility as custodians of natural resources, freeing up human resources to carry out effective monitoring and management as the community effectively maintains resources.