Official Handover of Enforcement Officer Resources

On Wednesday December 11^th, 2019 the Food and Agriculture Organisation Food of the United Nations (FAO/UN) held the official handover of Enforcement Officer Resources stemming from the Improving Forests and Protected Areas Management (IFPAM) Project. 

The handover represents the results of the ongoing efforts of the IFPAM project, in particular three (3) workshops held under the auspices of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) in collaboration with the FAO/UN between June and August of 2018 at Port-of-Spain, San Fernando and Tobago.  The theme of those workshops was “Boosting our frontline: Improving enforcement of laws for environmental management.”

The objectives of the workshops, were to:

• Improve knowledge of the impacts of deleterious actions on the health of ecosystems and livelihoods
• Build and strengthen networks to enable improved collaboration among governmental organisations.
• Improve knowledge of the Environmental Management Act 2000 Ch. 35:05 and rules; the Forest Act Ch. 66:01; the Conservation of Wildlife Act Ch. 67:01 and other relevant laws, in particular the State Lands Act Ch.57:01 and The Town and Country Planning Act Ch.35:01.

As part of this initiative, three (3) tangible outputs were created;  

1. An enforcement officer’s guidebook, which lists some of the most applicable legislation, additionally, the guide explains at a basic level the methodology for coordinating among the various enforcement agencies and the fundamentals for laying charges under current legislation.
2. Standard Operating Procedures have been developed which include photographs of all the species to afford easy identification as well as a list of contacts of the relevant regulatory authorities.
3. Along with a wallet sized, weatherproofed guide which outlines the ten basic steps for carrying out an investigation. 

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms. Melanie Noel addressing the audience

Mr. Steve Lalbeharry, Regional Coordinator, Emergency Response & Investigations, EMA Describing the Enforcement Materials

Representatives of Different Agencies with Copies of their Enforcement Materials

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

MEDIA LAUNCH: SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY OF SELECTED PROTECTED AREAS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

On Monday August 12^th, 2019 the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organisation Food of the United Nations (FAO/UN) held a media launch of the Socio-Economic Survey of the communities surrounding 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 FAO-GEF Project “Improving Forest and Protected Areas Management in Trinidad and Tobago” and seeks to examine the interactions between the PPAs and the members of communities who live in and around six pilot PPAs.  The study will examine their socioeconomic attributes, reliance on PPAs for various needs (if any) and opportunities for sustaining and enhancing income opportunities through biodiversity-related ecosystem services.  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 CSO will perform the field surveys, aided by a team of technical experts who will provide support to the CSO to execute the field work (using the methodology and work plan referenced above) and to draft a narrative socioeconomic report based on the information identified in the Information Needs Assessment and the field work of the CSO.

The launch of the event featured addresses by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms. Ayleen Ovid; FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname Mr Reuben Robertson, Director of the CSO Mr Sean O'Brien and Senior Statistician of the CSO, Ms Ava Mahabir-Dass.

Training also began on Monday 12^th, August for the enumerators who will soon be engaged in the Socio-Economic Survey of selected communities near protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago". This 2-week training exercise is being held at the CSO, Training Room, Port-of-Spain.

Director of CSO , Mr Sean O'Brien addresses the audience

(L-R) Director of CSO Mr Sean O'Brien; Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Development, Ms. Ayleen Ovid; FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, Mr Reuben Robertson and Senior Statistician of the CSO, Ms Ava Mahabir-Dass

Survey enumerators undergoing training

Trails in Paradise

Trees at the Gilpin Trail in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, Tobago

The third module of the Interpretive Trail Design and Maintenance Course (for the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project) was held in Tobago over the period March 28th - 29th 2017.

Follow the experiences of the intrepid group at this link.

A Focus on the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve

Dr. Aidan Farrell, Plant Biologist of the Department of Life Sciences, UWI St. Augustine, recently wrote an article for the Newsday newspaper about the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve.  

This site is one of the pilot protected areas under the “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project.  

Dr. Farrell is a member of the Tobago Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee and his article, also uploaded to the Wild Tobago blog, can be viewed at this link.

Protected Area Stakeholders learn value of Monitoring and Evaluation

Over the three day period February 6^th – 8^th 2017, a team of 14 stakeholders participating in the “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project took part in a workshop entitled “An Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation”.  The workshop was deemed to be a very enlightening experience by participants.  

Learn more about the workshop at this link.

Drone called into service for vegetation survey

Last October, members of the Project Coordination Unit witnessed the test flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is being used to undertake the vegetation survey in pilot protected areas for the project "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago".  

Learn about their experience in this link.

Results of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey in Tobago

During the month of August 2016, a team of survey enumerators visited the villages surrounding the two pilot protected areas in Tobago, in order to carry out a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices

(KAP) survey.  The information was collected from over 400 respondents generally in the northeastern half of the island.

The results of the survey were presented to the stakeholders representing various organizations on the Tobago Subcommittee for the two pilot sites – the Main Ridge Forest and the proposed North East Tobago Marine pilot protected areas.

These stakeholders then took part in a facilitated discussion of the results, to propose strategies for public communication to improve on areas where knowledge is lacking, where positive attitudes and behaviours need to be stimulated and to support existing programmes where positive actions with successful impacts are already underway.

Please click here for a summary of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey results.

On the Trails

November 30th and December 1st marked the first two days of training in trail design and maintenance for 21 government and community-based stakeholders from the six pilot protected areas in the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project.  The overall objective of the training is to build capacity of stakeholders to design more attractive ecotourism products.

The first day was based at the Pax Guest House and the second day was based at the Asa Wright Nature Centre.  Topics covered included the historical context of these two ecotourism destinations, the products offered to tourists and the typology (characteristics) of the tourists.

The most exciting part of the days’ activities was walking along trails in the vicinity of the two sites and taking in the interesting sights and sounds.  Considerations for trail design were discussed.  These included who are the targeted users of the trails, the use of established historical trails, the use of ridges, gradient, drainage and the type of materials used to construct the trails.

On the Alben Ride trail from Pax Guest House (at left); view from the trail (at right) .

Down the Discovery Trail towards the call of the Bearded Bellbird (at left); Listening to the Asa Wright Nature Centre tour guide (at right)

Promoting improvements in forest and protected area management

Over the past month, the Project Coordination Unit for the “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project took part in recent environmental events to raise visibility of protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago.  Here is a brief outline of these activities:

•  An observance of the “birthday” of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), marked on World Food Day, was one avenue used to promote the link of protected areas to managing the impacts of climate change”.  The PCU contributed to activities at the popular San Antonio Green Market in Santa Cruz valley and in Tobago, where World Food Day activities took place at the Dwight Yorke Stadium Parade Grounds in Bacolet.  An information brochure was distributed at both events which gave the ordinary person some ideas on how to reduce his/her carbon footprint while practicing agriculture.  Additionally, an Information Leaf which presented information on the issue of farms in protected areas was also distributed.

His Excellency, President Carmona at the Bioblitz event

•  The University of the West Indies Department of Life Science together with the Field Naturalist Club hosted the annual Bioblitz at the Botanical Gardens in Port of Spain.  The PCU developed a PowerPoint presentation which introduced visitors to the six pilot protected areas in which the project is currently underway.  A set of quiz questions on protected areas was also used for communicating with the public.  The PCU was heartened to see the interest demonstrated in the Bioblitz activity by His Excellency, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, who both visited the event.

• Nature Seekers held an environmental exhibition titled “Eco Blend” in the community of Matura at which the group also unveiled its new logo.  The PCU shared updates on the project – in which Nature Seekers is an active stakeholder – and placed a focus on the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone pilot protected area.  Visitors were able to write or draw what the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone mean to them on a supersized drawing of the map of the area.  School children took part in a game to learn about the importance of halting pollution of our coastal areas.

Senator the Hon. Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (third from right) and Susan Lakhan, Nature Seekers (far right) pose with members of the Project Coordination Unit at the EcoBlend Exhibition

The PCU welcomes these opportunities for sharing information on protected area management and learning more about people’s views on forest and protected areas.  

Baseline Survey Video Feature

The Department of Life Sciences of the University of the West Indies is undertaking a biological baseline survey in each of the project’s six pilot protected areas.   This survey is focused on six groups namely: arthropods, birds, freshwater fauna, herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles), mammals and vegetation; in Tobago the marine fauna will also be sampled in the project’s lone marine pilot protected area.  Recently the team compiled a short film on their work on coral reef assessment in the proposed North East Tobago Marine Pilot Protected Area. Do enjoy viewing the video at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=799eIbTJkYc&feature=youtu.be

Consultancy Available for Livelihood Assessment Activity

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management Project

- Consultancy Available for Livelihood Assessment Activity

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 advertising a consultancy to undertake a Livelihoods Assessment study in the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area.

Please click the link below to see further details of the consultancy:

Terms of Reference – Consultancy

Applications should be submitted to Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Monday 14th November 2016.

Communication Workshop to improve reporting on forest and protected areas

Where do people get their information about Forest and Protected Areas?  What are the best means of communicating with people that impact on and are impacted by these natural sites?  These questions were part of the key focus of participants in a communication workshop that was jointly hosted by the Project Coordination Unit for the IFPAM project and Nature Seekers a leading
environmental NGO. 

The main aim of the workshop was to improve reporting on forest and protected areas, to influence more positive public attitudes and behaviours towards these resources. 

Attendees gained useful tips on working with the media, using social media and adopting interactive methods in communicating with key target audiences, and also gained insight into the work of an active and successful NGO at this event. 

Click here to learn more about this workshop activity.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey underway in Tobago

What does the average person know about forests and protected areas?  What value if any is attached to them?  Do people play a part in protecting and managing these natural resources?  In an effort to investigate the answers to these and other questions that are relevant to the six pilot protected areas, a “Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices” survey was initiated in Tobago at the end of July 2016. 

This activity was kicked off by a training session held with staff and interns of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) and the Fisheries Division. 

The survey will capture views of people living in the general area of the two pilot protected areas in Tobago and will advise a communication strategy for the project. 

Click here for a full report on the training activity and the first day of field work.

Week Three at P3DM – Populating and Polishing

Week 3 at the P3DM exercise at Cumana Village focused on gathering information from stakeholders (“populating” the model) and later, painting of the model (“polishing”) to reflect the various assets and threats at the site.  

The first activity featured lively interaction with representatives of Government agencies and local
non-governmental groups including community groups and religious groups. 

The staff of the Project Coordination Unit of the “Improving Forest and Protected Areas in Trinidad and Tobago” participated in both activities and provided a brief report. 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

Week Two at P3DM – Cumana Village, Trinidad

Week two of the Participatory 3-Dimensional Model (P3DM) building exercise at the Cumana Agro-Tourism Centre featured the ‘smoothing’ process, painting of the model and information “population” occurred during the period Monday July 11 - Saturday July 16, 2016.  The co-ordinating team of the Environmental management Authority (EMA) was once again joined by the mixed group of facilitators, including members of the “Improving Forest and Protected Areas Management in Trinidad and Tobago”  Project Coordination Unit of the Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO).

Click here to access the full report.

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management Project - Consultancy Available for Web Development!

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 advertising a consultancy for the development of a  Website for Forest and Protected Areas in Trinidad and Tobago.  

Please click the link below to see further details of the consultancy:

 

Terms of Reference – Consultancy

Applications should be submitted to Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org. 

Deadline for submission of applications is: Monday  18^th July, 2016.

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project – Consultancy Available!

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 advertising a consultancy to lead on the preparation of a National Protected Areas Systems Plan.  

Please click the link below to see further details of the consultancy:

 

Terms of Reference – Consultancy

Applications should be submitted to Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org. 

Deadline for submission of applications is: Monday  11^th July, 2016.