National Inception Workshops - BIOREACH Project

BIOREACH: Biodiversity Conservation and Agroecological Land Restoration in Productive Landscapes of Trinidad and Tobago

Project Preparation Grant (PPG) Inception Meetings

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nation’s (FAO/UN) project preparation team is leading the development of a Project Document (for the BIOREACH: Biodiversity Conservation and Agroecological Land Restoration in Productive Landscapes of Trinidad and Tobago project) in collaboration and consultation with relevant Agencies and stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago. The outcome document is to be completed by March 2020, for submission to Global Environment Facility (GEF) for their endorsement.

In light of this, on October 8^th and 10^th 2019 the BIOREACH Project Inception Workshops were held at the Cara Suites in Claxton Bay, Trinidad, and at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort in Tobago.

The workshops were geared at creating awareness among national stakeholders about the Project, and getting their feedback on the design of the Project.

Participants were informed through presentations on different components of the Project (which seeks to address threats to our local biodiversity and productive landscapes from human encroachment, forest fires and unsustainable practices); and also participated in several group discussions, with the aim of assisting in the development of a Project proposal that when completed will result in a well-drafted proposal with the potential to achieve sustainable and effective results.

The presentations delivered during the Inception Workshops can be found below:

1. Project Components
2. Project Outline and Objectives
3. Socio-Environmental Analysis

Attendees at the Trinidad Workshop Listen to a Presentation Delivered by Mr. Asif Khan, PPG National Coordinator

Group Presentation during the Trinidad Leg of the PPG Inception Workshop

Dr. Claus Eckelmann, Lead Technical Officer - FAO/ UN Addressng Tobago Invitees

Group Discussions at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort in Tobago

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project - Inception Workshop Report now available!

The Inception workshops held in Trinidad on November 24, 2015 and in Tobago on December 3, 2015 provided a forum to validate proposed actions and mechanisms and provided useful additional mechanisms to contribute to achieving the project results. 

Stakeholders  identified a few gaps in the work plan which could be addressed under project activities or via complimentary projects. Additionally, stakeholders demonstrated and shared a sense of ownership for the project.  The project activities and results were promoted on several local media. 

While there is significant progress with regard to the establishment of the Pilot Protected Areas (PAs) Sub Committees and towards the development of work plans for these six Pilot Protected Areas other key areas of the project require an in-depth project revision.  These are:

• Project Component 1, Output 1.1.1 which addresses the drafting of a national legislation for forest, wildlife and PAs management; and
• Capacity building and training of staff of the proposed Forest and Protected Areas Management Authority. 

 
The Inception Workshop Report provides further details on the Workshops.

Inception Workshop for the IFPAM Project in Tobago

On Thursday 3^rd December 2015, the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN) hosted the second Inception Workshop for the Global Environment Facility funded project entitled "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" at the Works Lecture Room in Shaw Park, Tobago.

Assemblyman Godwin Adams, the Secretary of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment delivered the feature address on behalf of the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).  In his remarks he described how the project compliments the THA’s actions in forest and protected area management and revealed plans for a large scale reforestation project on the island.  Participants at the workshop included representatives from Divisions of the THA and other key stakeholders in forest and protected area management on the island.

Ms. Nevlin Renwick,

Administrator, Agriculture,Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment delivering opening remarks.

Seated at centre is Assemblyman Godwin Adams, Secretary, Agriculture,Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment.  To his left is Mr. William Trim and Mr. Selwyn Davis from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, THA

As with the first Inception workshop in Trinidad, this workshop afforded participants the opportunity to review the draft work plans for each pilot protected area and to input into proposed actions and mechanisms to achieving the project's objectives.  Work plans for all the six pilot protected areas were presented with a more detailed focus on the pilot sites in Tobago, namely the Main Ridge Forest Reserve and the proposed North East Tobago marine protected area.