New signage installed at protected areas

Main Sign located at Salybia-Matura Trace, Salybia Village

November 13th 2019 marked a significant day in the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project, with the unveiling of new signage at a protected area.  The Matura National Park Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) was the first of five pilot protected areas of focus in the project to be bestowed with these simple yet significant features, which are intended to aid in building awareness and valuing of protected areas.

Educational sign located at Orosco Road, Matura Village

The ceremony to unveil these signs took place at a main entryway to the ESA, at the corner of the Salybia-Matura Trace and Toco Main Road in the village of Salybia.  Senator the Hon. Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and Mr. Reuben Robertson, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname took part in the unveiling ceremony after addressing a small gathering of about 60 persons; several members of the surrounding community were present at the ceremony.

Boundary sign located at Salybia

A total of 30 signs will be mounted around the ESA, with some of these located within the communities that surround the site.  In 2016, a survey of persons living in these communities revealed that persons who lived outside the village of Matura had little or no connection with the Park that has "Matura" in its name.  As a result of this, stakeholders on the Project Subcommittee associated with the site decided that apart from boundary-demarcating signs, information signs that highlight key assets of the Park should be mounted in neighbouring communities, headlined with the words "In Your Neighbourhood" to stimulate a closer connection with the protected area.

Similar signage exercises are expected to take place around four more protected areas in the coming months with the intent of building interest, knowledge and appreciation of the value of these sites.

Livelihood Study completed for Matura National Park

Over the period July - August 2017, a Livelihood Assessment Study was undertaken in communities surrounding the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area (PPA).  The study was an activity requested by the Subcommittee for this PPA under the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project and sought to determine how people who live in these communities are currently engaging with the protected area in livelihood activities, as well as what are feasible, sustainable livelihoods that can be developed for this region that can also assist in management of the site.

In a two-part blog, principal researcher Dr. Veerle van den Eynden shares some of the main findings of the study.

The first part of the blog gives a snapshot of existing livelihood links to the PPA and can be found at this link.

Part two of the blog provides information on the recommendations for sustainable livelihood development after review of key assets associated with the site and the surrounding communities and can be found at this link.

Ground truthing field trip to Grande Riviere

Subcommittee members in discussion at the coast in Grande Riviere

The Matura Forest and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee, which is spearheading the development of recommendations for a management plan for this site, recently undertook a field trip to the area's northern boundary at Grande Riviere village.

Read more about this activity of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project in this informative blog written by
Raynaldo Phillips of the Forestry Division at  this link.

Livelihoods assessment kicks off in protected area

A livelihoods assessment for communities surrounding the Matura Forest and Coastal Zone pilot protected area has started in the north-east communities of Matura, Salybia, Toco, Montevideo, Grande Riviere and Fishing Pond.  

This activity is being undertaken for the current “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project.  

Over the next two months, the study will document how local livelihoods are based on the natural resource richness of the Matura National Park and the nearby protected beaches, and identify which livelihoods opportunities can be feasibly developed in these communities, based on the sustainable use of natural resources.

For more information about the activity and a schedule of community discussions, read more at this link.

Call for Proposals: Livelihoods Assessment Study

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management Project

- Call for Proposals: Livelihoods Assessment Study

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 a Call for Proposals 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 this call:

Terms of Reference: Call for Proposals for Livelihoods Assessment Study

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

Deadline for submission of applications is: Friday 20th January 2017.

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.