Coastal zone field trip provides insight to Subcommittee

The Subcommittee for the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area recently undertook its first field trip to examine current issues pertaining to management of the area. 

A key aspect for consideration was the feasibility of a physical linkage between the Matura Forest and this satellite coastal zone. 

The field trip took place on August 12th 2016 with stops at Fishing Pond Village, Vega de Oropouche and Matura Village.

Click here to read more about this activity.

 

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

New P3DM begins in Cumana

All were hands on deck for the development of a participatory 3-Dimensional model (P3DM) of the Matura National Park Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). This was led by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), this project got underway at The AgroTourism Centre, Cumana Village, Toco in early July.   

Students begin tracing contours under guidance of the EMA officers

Students enjoying the model-building

The activity is in support of the Authority’s Education and Outreach Programme in the ESA, and is the third component of a project geared towards promoting the use of public participation in the management of sensitive areas, building public knowledge and understanding of the value of the ESA, documenting existing threats to the site and to gather information that will advise on the best way forward on addressing environmental concerns and inform a communication strategy for the ESA.

The model layers are kept in position by glue and metal poles and are reinforced by nails during construction

River valleys and coastal zone areas appear on the model

Additionally, the modelling also fits well into the into the current national project, “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” currently being coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Project Coordination Unit of the FAO therefore provided support to the project in assisting with the training of facilitators for the activity and actual facilitation throughout the model-building process.

Click here to read the full report. 

Forging Forward: IFPAM Sub-Committees start work in pilot PAs

To date, the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago”, (IFPAM) pilot protected area (PPA) sub-committees have formulated work plans for the 6 pilot sites under the IFPAM Project and have commenced implementation of their plans.  Three of the subcommittees have executed site visits to verify literature reviews on the ground and to improve their contextual understanding of management issues in their PPA so that they can formulate recommendations on the boundaries and level of protection required for their PPA.

These site visits occurred on: 

• March 4th, 2016: The Nariva PPA sub-committee gathered information on land use, hydrology, ecology, and threats on their site visit 

• March 11th, 2016: The Trinity Hills and eastern extension PPA sub-committee analysed issues concerning habitat fragmentation and edge effects; location of existing eastern boundary, and proposals for a new eastern boundary; challenges with coordinating monitoring efforts among multiple entities with responsibility for management; and improving the approach to the management of hunting of wildlife on their site visit
• March 18th, 2016: The Caroni Swamp PPA sub-committee explored issues on supporting sustainable  livelihoods at the pilot site.

The remaining PPA sub-committees have chosen other activities to start work on in their PPA.  The Matura PPA sub-committee is currently engaged in drafting a communication plan for the PPA.  This initiative, lead by the  Environmental Management Authority, includes a Knowledge, Attitude and Perception Survey of the 15 communities surrounding the PPA and the participatory development of a three-dimensional model of the PPA with the residents of the 15 communities.  The PPA sub-committee which manages the two PPAs in Tobago have focused their attention on coordinating research in the PPAs.

Site Visit by Subcommittee for Trinity Hills PPA on March 11th, 2016

Site Visit by Subcommittee for Caroni Swamp PPA on March 18th, 2016

Site Visit by Subcommittee for Nariva Swamp  on March 11th, 2016.

 Other outputs to be produced in the 1st year of the IFPAM Project are:

• National PA system plan
• Training of PA managers on interpretation and trail design
• A roadmap towards the preparation of Protected Areas Management Plans for the 6 pilot protected areas
• Work plan for the preparation of protected areas management plans for the 6 PPAs
• Plans for establishing the National Biodiversity Information System (NBIS)
• Baseline inventory, training and protocols for an ecological research and monitoring programme 
• A visibility strategy for the Project including a public education and awareness programme