New Issue of ProtectEd (December 2017)

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project has released the latest issue of ProtectEd, the project newsletter which reports on project activities and activities of forest and protected area stakeholders.

Enjoy reading a copy of the latest edition at this link and please share with your networks.

Forest Officers take part in GPS-GIS Workshop

The "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project together with the Institute of Marine Affairs and the Environmental Management Authority recently assisted in facilitating a GPS-GIS Workshop for officers of the Forestry Division.

Learn more about this activity at  this link.

Examining gender issues in protected area management

Representatives of  various stakeholder organisations that are engaged in the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project recently participated in a one-day workshop which explored gender issues in protected area management.

The participants learned how to conduct a gender analysis in their organisations' environmental projects and in the protected areas to which they are connected through project Subcommittees.

A call-back session planned for early 2018 will examine how their new learning has assisted in review and in the application of a 'gender lens' to their work.

Learn more about the workshop at this link.

Work of local NGO featured on "Blue Planet" series

Learn more about the excellent work being undertaken by the Grande Riviere Nature Tour Guide Association in turtle conservation on the "Blue Planet" at this link: https://youtu.be/vDVOPAoN88w

The Grande Riviere Nature Tour Guide Association is actively contributing to the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project as a stakeholder on the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee.

Charloteville Escapade

After a long winding drive, and a few sleepy head nods later, we finally arrived at Charlotteville around 1440 hours.  The sun was out and there were a few persons hanging around on the shore of the bay, near the village center.

The team that participated in the Charlotteville walkabout

The team made its way to the conference room of the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville, where we briefly went over the evening’s proceedings and how we should approach the villagers on the walkabout sensitization session. 

Click here to read more

Bids For the Design and Development of a Live-Action Video Documentary and Infographic Materials

THE BCRC-CARIBBEAN INVITES BIDS FOR THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A LIVE-ACTION VIDEO DOCUMENTARY AND INFOGRAPHIC MATERIALS TO ENHANCE INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND KNOWLEDGE GENERATION FOR MERCURY MANAGEMENT

The BCRC-Caribbean is seeking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced Communications Consultant(s) (individual, team, firm, agency or company) (s) to provide the services for the design and development of an appropriate awareness raising live-action video and infographic materials to aid in the dissemination of the outcomes of national MIA reports in each of the four (4) participating countries: Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) can be accessed via the following link: http://bit.ly/2AlU2QE

Further information is available at the BCRC-Caribbean’s website: http://www.bcrc-caribbean.org/what-we-do/invitations-to-bid/

Deadline for Applications is December 15,2017. 

Farmers explore self-check options for pesticide use

A farmer conducts a rapid test for pesticide residue

The second session of a special workshop for farmers in the Plum Mitan area took place on 31^st October 2017.  

This activity was an undertaking of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project.  It was developed to assist in addressing threats to the Nariva Swamp Environmentally Sensitive Area, presented by the use of harmful chemicals including extremely toxic pesticides.  

In this session of the two-day workshop, the farmers learned about some options for conducting self-checks for their personal, produce and consumer health.  Learn more about the workshop at this link.

Vacancy Announcement: Consultancies for Sustainable Financing Study

IMPROVING FOREST AND PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PROJECT

- Vacancy Announcements: 

(1)Senior Financing Consultant to conduct a sustainable financing study for protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago 

(2) Junior Financing Consultant to conduct a sustainable financing study for protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago 

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is a full scale project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Planning and Development, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  The project’s overarching objective is to improve the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is issuing this Call for consultants to conduct a sustainable financing study for protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Please click the links below to see further details of these vacancies:

(1) Senior Financing Consultant

(2) Junior Financing Consultant

Applications should be submitted to:

Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Friday 8th December 2017.

Ground truthing field trip to Grande Riviere

Subcommittee members in discussion at the coast in Grande Riviere

The Matura Forest and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee, which is spearheading the development of recommendations for a management plan for this site, recently undertook a field trip to the area's northern boundary at Grande Riviere village.

Read more about this activity of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project in this informative blog written by
Raynaldo Phillips of the Forestry Division at  this link.

EMA hosts Media Management Workshop for Rural Community Organisations

The National Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, Wildlife and Livelihoods Project managed by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) recently hosted a "Media Management Workshop for Rural Organisations" at its Head Office in St. Clair, Port of Spain.  Some twenty-two participants, members of community based organisations and local community environmental activists, improved their communication skills while learning new techniques to communicate with a variety of audiences.  Learn more about the workshop at this link.

Trinidad and Tobago to Explore Benefits of Advancing the Nagoya Protocol

Please see this article to learn about the Nagoya Protocol and how Trinidad and Tobago plans on exploring its benefits. The Environmental Policy and Planning Division is the national focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity which covers genetic resources that are applicable to the Nagoya Protocol.

Vacancy Announcement: Consultancy to conduct a sustainable financing study

IMPROVING FOREST AND PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PROJECT

- Vacancy Announcements: 

(1)Senior Financing Consultant to conduct a sustainable financing study for protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago 

(2) Junior Financing Consultant to conduct a sustainable financing study for protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago 

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is a full scale project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Planning and Development, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  The project’s overarching objective is to improve the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is issuing this Call for consultants to conduct a sustainable financing study for protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Please click the links below to see further details of these vacancies:

(1) Senior Financing Consultant

(2) Junior Financing Consultant

Applications should be submitted to:

Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Monday 6th November 2017.

Farming for Food, Health and Environmental Security

With the observance of World Food Day 2017 just around the corner, the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project initiated a timely step, in hosting a farmers' workshop in Plum Mitan, Trinidad.

This workshop, entitled "Farming for Food, Health and Environmental Security" assisted farmers in examining some of their farming practices to reduce the use of harmful chemicals on their farms.

Located within the northern portion of the Nariva Swamp Environmentally Sensitive Area, this particular group of farmers was identified as a key audience for sharing information and new techniques in pest control to help improve the management of the protected area.

Learn more about the workshop at this link.

ERIC receives National Energy Globe Award

The Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC) recently was recognised for its contributions to climate change awareness and action with a National Energy Globe Award for Trinidad and Tobago.

ERIC, an active participant on the Climate Change Champions network is also represented on both the Steering Committee and the Tobago Subcommittee for the project "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago".  Read more about this special achievement and the presentation of the award at this link.

Hunting with Tomorrow in Mind

Workshop participants preparing information sessions
for sustainable hunting campaign

A sustainable hunting campaign targeting the current open hunting season was initiated in Tobago, through a two-day workshop for Game Wardens, Honorary Game Wardens and Forest Officers on the island.

This workshop was an initiative of the “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project, which is being administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN) on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT).

Read more about the workshop activity at this link.

What is the Nagoya Protocol?

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation (ABS Protocol) is an international agreement which aims at fairly sharing the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic/biological resources. The exploitation of genetic resources for food, medicine and other natural products is now the basis of many international companies. The ABS Protocol is one policy instrument which can arrest acts of biopiracy in vulnerable countries, as well as providing a platform to efficiently connect foreign researchers and private enterprise, with holders of traditional local knowledge and genetic resources. To date seventy-one countries are Party to the Protocol. However, in the Caribbean, only two countries have signed onto the Protocol. Trinidad and Tobago is not Party to the Protocol.

More information about the Nagoya Protocol is explained in this video. Ways in which the Nagoya Protocol can open doors for Caribbean people can be also be viewed here. 

Renewable Energy Public Lectures by the Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education presents public lectures on renewable energy. These would be held at the University of the West Indies from September 26th to October 6th 2017. Please see the flyers below and the map for more information.

 

Interpretive Trail Design and Maintenance Course ends

The fifth and last module of the Interpretive Trail Design and Maintenance course took place earlier this month, with activities coming to a close in west Trinidad.

Some twenty-five participants put their earlier learning on the course to use, designing a series of trails at the Botanical Gardens, Port of Spain.

Learn more about their experiences in the last module at this link.

National Consultation on Draft Protected Areas System Plan

A meeting of key government and civil society stakeholders was held on Friday 9^th September 2017 in the form of a one-day national consultation on a Draft Protected Areas System Plan.  

The meeting sought to engage stakeholders in discussion of preliminary recommendations for harmonizing existing protected area sites with proposed sites, in order to develop the most feasible network of sites based on the criteria of representation, redundancy, resilience and realism.  The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Hon. Clarence Rambharat addressed the consultation, which was held at the PETROTRIN Staff Club, Pointe-à-Pierre.

Dr. Howard Nelson, consultant

The development of the draft Plan was undertaken by       Dr. Howard Nelson, a consultant to the “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project.  This project is currently being undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN) on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) over the period 2015-2019.

Learn more about the discussions which took place at the consultation at this link.

International Coastal Clean-Up 2017- Hart's Cut

Hart’s Cut, Chaguaramas was the Ministry of Planning and Development’s location for the 2017 International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) event. The activity, which was held on September 16, 2017 was conducted in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Solid Waste Management Company (SWMCOL), and at twenty-four (24) other sites across Trinidad and Tobago by other entities.

The ICC is a global data collection exercise with an objective of removing trash and marine debris from beaches and waterways in an effort to help restore the integrity of the marine environment. The data collected is utilised for public awareness and sensitization programmes, mapping trends over the years and policy development. 

The Ministry of Planning and Development, as the Ministry with responsibility for the environment continued to be the largest local monetary sponsor of the event. The combined efforts from the members of staff from the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), the Communications Department, the Central Statistical Office (CSO), and other divisions of the Ministry, along with the volunteers from the SWMCOL collectively resulted in the removal of 884lbs of garbage from the bay. The most unusual items collected included plastic veneer strips used for interior decorative purposes, an audio headset, an oil filter, a wooden stool, a paint tin, and dental floss.

 Special thanks to all volunteers who generously gave of their time and worked harmoniously towards the achievement of trash free seas, and for embodying the Ministry of Planning and Development’s ICC theme, ‘Environmental Pride is National Pride’.

                                     
             

Message from the Minister of Planning and Development on the occasion of International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

Message from the Minister of Planning and Development

on the occasion of

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

September 16, 2017

The message from the Honourable Minister can be accessed via the following link: http://nou-tt.blogspot.com/2017/09/greeting-from-honourable-minister-of.html

Vacancy Announcement: Socioeconomic Assessment exercise

IMPROVING FOREST AND PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PROJECT

- Vacancy Announcement: Conduct an Information Needs Assessment, Propose Survey Methodology and Develop a Work Plan for a Socioeconomic Assessment

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is a full scale project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Planning and Development, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  The project’s overarching objective is to improve the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is issuing this Call to conduct an Information Needs Assessment, Propose Survey Methodology and Develop a Work Plan for a Socioeconomic Assessment in and around six pilot protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Please click the link below to see further details of this call:

Terms of Reference: Vacancy Announcement for Socioeconomic Assessment

Applications should be submitted to:

Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Friday 29th September 2017.

Save The Date: International Coastal Cleanup 2017

 

The International Coastal Clean-up is a global exercise whereby volunteers have been removing marine debris from beaches and inland water bodies for the past thirty years. Trinidad and Tobago has been participating in this initiative since 2002. Join the Ministry of Planning and Development, the major local monetary sponsor at Hart's Cut, Chaguaramas on September 16th 2017 from 7-11 a.m. 

 

Remember environmental pride is national pride!

On a trail of prepositions

Dwelling house at Wa Sakami Ecosystems project

The Interpretive Trail Design and Maintenance Workshop is a training exercise which has taken place in six modules over the past eight months in the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project.

Raynaldo Phillip, Forestry Officer assigned to the Forest and Protected Area Management team provides a reflection on one of the modules in a short blog.

Enjoy reading at this link.

Managing rivers, Sustaining life

Over a six-week period of the school vacation (July/August), the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project hosted a young intern of the Forestry Division, Mr. Bryce Orr.

While assisting the project team on various activities of the project, Bryce undertook a research activity on the topic of clearing of rivers, particularly after floods.  The project team is happy to post a short article prepared by Bryce on this key issue.  Enjoy reading the article at this link.

(Photographs in Bryce's article were contributed by Raynaldo Phillips of the Forestry Division)

Livelihoods assessment kicks off in protected area

A livelihoods assessment for communities surrounding the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone pilot protected area has started in the north-east communities of Matura, Salybia, Toco, Montevideo, Grande Riviere and Fishing Pond.  

This activity is being undertaken for the current “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project.  

Over the next two months, the study will document how local livelihoods are based on the natural resource richness of the Matura National Park and the nearby protected beaches, and identify which livelihoods opportunities can be feasibly developed in these communities, based on the sustainable use of natural resources.

For more information about the activity and a schedule of community discussions, read more at this link.

National Website for Forest and Protected Areas

Trinidad and Tobago now has a national website for forest and protected areas: www.protectedareastt.org.tt.  

The website was formally launched at a brief ceremony on August 4^th 2017, at the Conference Room of the Environmental Management Authority in St. Clair.  Senator the Hon. Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries delivered brief remarks at the launch. 

Read more about the new website at this link

NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS TO ADVANCE THE DRAFT CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY FRAMEWORK
AND
THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES ACTION PLANOF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY FRAMEWORK (JULY 2017-JUNE 2022)

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has made available its Environment and Natural Resources Policy, along with the Action Plan for National, Sub-regional and Regional review and comments.

National Consultations on the Policy and Action Plan are scheduled have been planned for August 21-22 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Policy Framework articulates a regional approach to the sustainable management of the environmental and natural resources of the Community and its Member States.

Persons are invited to review and comment on the both the Policy and Action Plan documents.

Further details will be provided as to the location and time of the national consultations in a subsequent post.

Creating a road map to develop protected area management plans

Management plans are critical to ensure effective management of protected areas. They help to define the overall vision and goals and identify the roles of different stakeholders and the resources needed for management.  

The Caribbean Natural Resource Institute (CANARI) has begun work to create a road map outlining a participatory process for the development of protected area management plans and to build the capacity of stakeholders to engage in this process. This work will support the development of management plans for six pilot protected areas under the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project.

Learn more about the objectives and benefits of the road map as described on CANARI’s website: http://www.canari.org/fao-tt-pa-roadmap

BRUV surveys yield information on sharks and rays

Typically under-represented by scuba-led surveys, sharks and rays are a conservation priority given their simultaneous ecological and economic value as a living resource. During October 2016 the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (www.eric-tobago.org) conducted a series of baited remote underwater video surveys in northeast Tobago to gather data on species and relative abundance of sharks and rays.

Above: Caribbean reef shark recorded on a BRUV (c) ERIC

This data is intended to complement the data gathered by scuba-led underwater visual census of coral reef communities conducted by the University of the West Indies, in order to provide a holistic assessment of the coral reef resources of northeast Tobago and inform emerging conservation management measures under the national IFPAM project.

The Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville has collaborated with Global FinPrint (www.globalfinprint.org) since early 2016 to conduct BRUV surveys of shark and ray populations throughout Tobago, and to contribute to improved conservation management of these keystone species on local, regional and international scales. In order to maximise the awareness and outreach of this project in Tobago, surveys have at various times engaged as participants and observers, members of the ERIC community based field technician team as well as a number of Fisheries Officers.

Read more about the survey at this link.

New issue of ProtectEd is available

Welcome back to ProtectEd, the newsletter produced by stakeholders involved in the project "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago".

In this issue you can learn about developing a new Protected Areas System Plan and steps underway in approving a National Ecotourism Policy.  Find out also about how the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices surveys have progressed at the six pilot protected areas.

Enjoy reading and please be sure to share with your networks, from this link.

Request for Proposals for a Web Developer

A web developer for the Project "Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in Countries of the Caribbean Region" is being requested.

This website will allow information to be shared with participating countries, as well as, regional and international entities who want to learn about Access Benefit Sharing in the Caribbean. It will also inform interested persons about the project outcomes throughout the duration of the project.

For more information, please see the attached Request for Proposal. The deadline date for submissions is July 10th, 2017.

Developing a National Protected Area System Plan

A Protected Area System Plan is an attempt to express a country’s vision of how (and how much of) its natural heritage is used for both conservation and sustainable use. 

Such a plan should cover the range of ecosystems present, link the key players (including civil society) responsible for developing and managing protected areas, include processes for defining management options, setting priorities and integrating with other land use.  

Work has recently begun to develop a National Protected Area System Plan in Trinidad and Tobago, under the “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project.  

Learn more about the context for and benefits of developing the Plan at this link.

Results of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey: Caroni Swamp

Following the conduct of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices surveys in communities surrounding pilot protected areas in Matura and Tobago, a similar exercise was carried out in communities surrounding the
Caroni Swamp.  This activity was undertaken in the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT).

Scarlet Ibis at the Caroni Swamp
Photograph courtesy: Tourism Development Authority

These surveys provide some insight on how the local people value these sites and their views on the protected area designation that is applied to the sites.  Additionally, the survey is able to uncover knowledge gaps and gain information on what is known about the area by those who live in close proximity to the sites.

Summarized information from the survey undertaken around the Caroni Swamp shows that people are knowledgeable about the Swamp and the threats that impact on its viability.  Many understand its ecological importance and others its economic value, and others shared views on how its management can be improved.

Read more about these findings at this link.

Call for proposals: Concept for Design of a Management Information System

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management Project

- Call for Proposals: Concept for design of a Management Information System

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is a full scale project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Planning and Development, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  The project’s overarching objective is to improve the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is issuing this Call for the preparation of a concept for the design of a management information system for forest and protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Please click the link below to see further details of this call:

Terms of Reference: Call for Proposals - Concept for Design of a Management Information System

Applications should be submitted to:

Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Tuesday 4th July 2017.