Major Highlights of the Socio-Economic Survey of Communities Near Protected Areas in Trinidad and Tobago

On Tuesday December 10^th, 2019 the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organisation Food of the United Nations (FAO/UN) held a launch of the major highlights of the Socio-Economic Survey of the communities near to the six (6) pilot protected areas (PPAs) under the project. These PPAs are the Main Ridge Forest Reserve in Tobago, the proposed North-East Tobago Marine Protected Area, Matura Forest and coastal zone, Trinity Hills and eastern extension, Nariva Swamp and coastal zone and Caroni Swamp.

The socio-economic assessment is part of the FAO-GEF Project “Improving Forest and Protected Areas Management in Trinidad and Tobago” and sought to examine the interactions between the PPAs and the members of communities who live in and around six pilot PPAs.  The study conducted in September and October 2019, by the CSO, assessed the overall awareness of persons living within close proximity to these pilot protected areas regarding their designation, and measured the impact of these areas on the livelihoods and well-being on nearby residents and the wider community. Aspects examined included socio-economic attributes, reliance on protected areas for various needs, and opportunities for sustaining and enhancing income opportunities through ecosystem services provided by these areas. Earlier in the project, an Information Needs Assessment was conducted to identify available information to contribute to the conduct of the socioeconomic assessment, to propose a methodology for data gathering and evaluation and prepare a detailed work plan for the implementation of the assessment.

The event featured addresses by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms. Melanie Noel; FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname Mr Reuben Robertson, Director of the CSO Mr Sean O'Brien and Mrs. Rebecaa Gookool-Bosland, Senior Economist,  of the Technical Backstopping Team.

Members of the Head Table (L-R) Mr. Reuben Robertson, Mr. Sean O’Brian,  Ms. Melanie Noel and Mrs. Rebecaa Gookool-Bosland

Mr. Sean O’Brian, Director, Trinidad and Tobago Central Statistical Office

Mrs. Rebecaa Gookool-Bosland, Senior Economist, Technical Backstopping Team

Update on the "Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in Countries of the Caribbean Region" Project

Since the first National Workshop on Advancing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilization (ABS), at the Hilton, Port of Spain in April, 2016, we have kicked the Regional UNEP-GEF project into high gear. 

Some of the highlights of 2017 include:

1.      Attendance at two (2) Regional Meetings to advance the Protocol:

 - Inception Workshop on Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in Countries of the Caribbean Region and Regional Workshop on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABSCH) Clearing House, July 2016

                      -  Regional Workshop on the ABSCH, and Contract Template Development, November 2017

2.      Participation in a National Inventory of Genetic Material: Perspectives and Prospects

3.    Assessment of current national legislation to determine if a separate ABS legislation is needed, or if the ABS protocol can be enacted with current legislation.

4.    A national workshop on ABS legislation to generate recommendations on the way forward, September 2017

5.     A review of current administration systems for accessing genetic resources in Trinidad and Tobago

6.      Participation in a regional exercise to draft Cabinet Notes for accession to the Protocol

In 2018, the Project aims to:

1.     Complete the national genetic inventory report

2.     Host a national workshop with Indigenous Local Communities on awareness raising of the Protocol

3.  Engage in public awareness elements e.g. signage, newspaper articles, blog, roving caravan, television spots, regional ABS webpage

Image showing Attendees at the Workshop on “Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in Countries of the Caribbean Region-Legal Perspectives”, September 11^th, 2017; EPPD, MPD.

Welcome to our blog!

To kick off, we would like to firstly introduce ourselves. We are the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD), a division of professionals within the Ministry of he Environment and Water Resources of Trinidad and Tobago which is geared toward enhancing the element of sustainability within the strategic planning process of the Government.Within the EPPD, there is the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU), which has T&T's international and regional environmental treaties as its key focus.

We accomplish our main goal by taking into account the social, economic and environmental considerations, since humans and the environment are co-existent, and then crafting policy to guide domestic actions based on these considerations.

In the interest of becoming better known by our stakeholders, we are taking advantage of the opportunity that ICT has so wonderfully provided for us by creating a new information dissemination mechanism (a blog!). We, the staff of the EPPD, therefore welcome you to the start of our activities blog, aimed at making you aware of what we do and its significance on a national scale.

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