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

Expansion of the Green Government Policy in the MPD

The Green Government Policy was approved by Cabinet in 2011 and seeks to minimize the adverse effects of Government’s operations on the environment by promoting efficient resource use, pollution prevention and facilitating cost effectiveness of Government operations by reducing energy use, waste and consumables. 

Since its re-launch in 2014 by the EPPD Green Committee, implementation has been steadily progressing on Level 26 of Tower D, International Waterfront Complex (IWC), Port of Spain (POS). Based on the success achieved and knowledge acquired thus far, the Ministerial re-alignment presented itself as an opportune time to expand implementation of the Policy to the other arms of the Ministry of Planning and Development. 

This has been occurring through a phased approach: 

 

Phase I was initiated following a meeting convened by the EPPD on January 28th, 2016 with representatives from the European Development Fund (EDF), Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD), the Green Fund Executing Unit, the Communications Unit and the Human Resources Department. These representatives were apprised of the Green Government Policy, the progress and challenges encountered during its implementation by the EPPD, and the recommended next steps to enable seamless Policy operationalization at their respective locations.  

Phase II of the expansion took place subsequent to this meeting. It involved presentations led by Ms. Keima Gardiner, Environmental Engineering Specialist (Environmental Policy and Planning Division) delivered at the individual departments upon the request of their representative. These presentations took place on:

• February 4th, 2016 - Human Resources, Henry Street, POS
• February 18th, 2016 - Town and Country Planning (TCPD, Level 17), EWFC
• February 19th, 2018 - EDF, Technical Corporations Unit, IT, Registry and the Advisory Town Planning Panel
• February 24th, 2016 - TCPD on  Level 13,Ground Floor and the Basement, and the Communications and Library Unit at the EWFC
• March 10th, 2016 -  Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) in Nicholas Towers
• March 11th, 2016 -  Ministerial Floor and General Administration situated on Level 14, EWFC

 

 Snapshots

EDF , TCU Green Government Policy briefing session on February 19th, 2016.

TCPD , Communications and Library, Level 13  Green Government Policy briefing session on February 24th, 2016.

EDAB  Green  Government Policy briefing session on March 10th, 2016.

EWRC and TCPD (Level 17), TCU Green  Government Policy briefing session on February 18th, 2016.

HR , Henry Street Green Government Policy briefing session on February 4th, 2016.

Minister and Operations, Level 14 Green Government Policy briefing session on March 11th, 2016.

Air Pollution Rules - Chamber of Industry and Commence Breakfast Meeting

The Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU) of the Ministry of Planning and Development to participate at Breakfast Meeting arranged by the Chamber on Friday 19th February, 2016 at the Chamber’s Westmoorings offices. 

"The APR 2014 is legislation developed under the Environmental Management Act Chapter 35:05 designed to manage the levels of specific air pollutants known to cause harm to human health and the environment, thereby improving overall air quality. To this end, prescribed standards for air pollutants in Ambient Air (Schedule 1) and for the release of air pollutants at distinct points (Schedule 2) have been established. Therefore, the main objective of the meeting was to sensitise the members of the Chamber and the wider business community, of the requirements of the Air Pollution Rules, 2014."                                                                                                                                                                                                      Source: http://www.ema.co.tt/new/index.php/legal/legislation/air-pollution

Among the presenters at the Meeting which included the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), was Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh, Head of the MEAU.

 

He presented on the Potential Role of the APR 2014 in implementing the recent Paris Agreement which came out from the twenty–first Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which occurred in December, 2015.

 

 

Blog Website Training

On Thursday 18th February, 2016 the Environmental Policy and Planning Division held two (2) back to back training sessions (9:30 - 10:30am and 10:30 - 11:30am respectively) with divisions of the Ministry of Planning and Development on setting up blogs.

Sharing the experience of the EPPD using blogs to maintain a strong presence on the internet and keep its stakeholders informed on their actions with regards to environmental management and policy, participants gained insight into the benefits of utilising the Web 2.0 tool to effectively communicate and share information with their stakeholders on the activities of their departments/units.

Additionally, attendees were also given a live and interactive tutorial on the features of and the creation a blog using the Google Blogger Platform. Participants included representatives from the Communications Unit, Town and Country Planning, Economic Development Advisory Board, European Development Fund Unit and the Technical Cooperation Unit of the Ministry. 

Presentation on the EPPD's blogs (click here for presentation)

A few of the participants of the first training session including Ms. Anastasia Gordon (first from the left) and Dr. David Persaud (first from the right) from the EPPD who facilitated the training sessions.

Some participants of the second session of the blog website training session.

Inception Workshop for the IFPAM Project in Trinidad

On November 24th 2015, the Ministry of Planning and Development in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN) hosted an Inception Workshop for the Global Environmental Facility Project entitled "Improving Forest and and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" at the Petrotrin Point-a-Pierre staff Club.

Dr. David Persaud, Environmental Manager, Environmental Policy and Planning Division delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister of Planning and Development.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN), is implementing a USD 30 million, four-year project on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to conserve globally important biodiversity and ecosystems in Trinidad and Tobago. This project supports the Government’s policy reforms for biodiversity conservation for sustainable management of forestry and protected areas.

The project will establish six pilot protected areas (PA) to model participatory approaches to sustainable natural resource management. Therefore, a key strategy in this project, is guiding the implementation of the project through the constitution and support of Pilot Protected Area Subcommittees comprising of key stakeholders for each of the pilot sites. To date over 30 different governmental institutions and civil society organizations have accepted to serve on these Sub-committees. Over the last four months, these Subcommittees have drafted work plans for their respective pilot sites.

The Inception Workshop served as an opportunity for representatives of the Pilot Protect Area Subcommittees to present on the draft work plans for each pilot protected areas and to solicit feedback and validation from stakeholders present on the proposed actions and mechanisms to achieving the project's objectives.

Participants present at the Inception Workshop for the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project,  November 24, 2015.

Presentations from Inception Workshop including the presentations from the Pilot Protected Areas Subcommittees can be found below:

• Improving Forest and Protected Area Management - Project Coordinating Unit
• Caroni Swamp
• Nariva Swamp and coastal zone
• Matura Forest and coastal zone
• Trinity Hills and eastern extension
• The Main Ridge Forest Reserve, Tobago
• The proposed North-East Marine Protected Area, Tobago