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.

Workshop Report: Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation

Last February, the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project coordinated the hosting of the three-day workshop "An Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation"  with the assistance of the National Transformation Unit of the Ministry of Planning and Development.

We are happy to share the report on the workshop at  this link.