World Wildlife Day 2015!

Today, March 3^rd, 2015 is Wold Wildlife Day (WWD)! It is dedicated to celebrating the diversity of wildlife and raising the awareness of threats to the world’s fauna and flora. March 3^rd was assigned as World Wildlife Day on December 20^th, 2013 at the 68^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). It was put forward by the Convention on the Convention on International Trade of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) after its 16^th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-16) in Bangkok, Thailand, signifying the day of the adoption of the CITES. 

Trinidad and Tobago comprises of a myriad of ecosystems and this enables it to possess the highest biodiversity level in the Caribbean. It contains over 420 species of birds, no less than 600 different butterfly species, more than 95 types of mammals, 85 varying reptiles, 30 amphibians and 54 freshwater fish species. Furthermore, there are more than 2,100 flowering plants with 2% of these being endemic (native to Trinidad and Tobago).

In light of the importance of our local wildlife, the first National Wildlife Policy for Trinidad and Tobago was approved in December, 2013. The Policy recognises that wild species contribute significantly to national development, livelihoods and human well-being. It focuses on issues related to endangerment, and provides guidance on the management of threatened species. Key policy issues on the management of game species, wildlife habitat and the engagement of civil society in the management of wildlife are also addressed.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago will continue to do its part in the preservation and sustainable management of the country's wildlife resources!

For further information on WWD, please visit:

 

http://www.wildlifeday.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V8DbbqKYDQ

https://www.facebook.com/MEWRtt?fref=nf 

  

See also messages from the Secretary Generals of CITES and of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on the occasion of World Wildlife Day below:

 

 http://www.cbd.int/doc/speech/2015/sp-2015-03-03-wwd-en.pdf

 

The National Wildlife Policy has been approved!

On December 19, 2013 Cabinet officially approved the National Wildlife Policy for Trinidad and Tobago. The document will provide the policy framework for the sustainable management of the wildlife resources of the country. 

Click to download a copy of the official National Wildlife Policy

 

The Draft Wildlife Policy was made available to the public, public consultations were held throughout Trinidad and Tobago and special meetings were held with major stakeholders for comments and review. These comments were then collated, reviewed and used to amend the Draft by the Technical Advisory Committee who was charged with the role of guiding the development of the policy.  

Once final adjustments were made, the Draft Policy was sent to Cabinet and on December 19, 2013 Cabinet officially adopted the National Wildlife Policy for Trinidad and Tobago. The Wildlife Policy provides the necessary guidance to begin to develop the appropriate legislative and administrative framework for its implementation.

>> For more information about the National Wildlife Policy, visit the National Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism website.

Consultants Needed for Forest and Protected Area Management Project in Trinidad and Tobago!

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources as the National Focal Point for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification was assisted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to develop a project proposal entitled “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago”.

The four (4) year project is intended to conserve biodiversity in the country by setting up a protected areas system and enhancing capacity and finance for conservation management. It will also assist in the implementation of the new National Forest Policy and the National Protected Areas Policy.

The FAO is inviting suitable candidates to submit their applications for consultancy positions to provide baseline data on technical aspects of the project and inputs into the design of the project components to be used for completion of the full project proposal. 

Deadline for applications is Thursday 24^th January, 2013.

Consultancy positions include:

• Biodiversity Specialist (Team Leader)
• Expert, Legal and Institutional Reform 
• Environmental Economist
• Socio-Economic Specialist 
• Expert, Monitoring and Evaluation of Protected Areas

>> For more information, visit http://coin.fao.org/cms/world/trinidadandtobago/Vacancies.html

The Draft Wildlife Policy is out for comments!

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, in collaboration with the Forestry Division, has recently developed a Draft Wildlife Policy for Trinidad and Tobago. 

The Draft Policy seeks to provide guidance on the sustainable management of wild animals and plants, whether migratory or found locally. 

Sustainable management also applies to wildlife body parts and/or products derived from wildlife as well as their habitats. The Policy addresses issues related to the endangerment and management of threatened species. It also focuses on key policy issues related to the management of game species and the engagement of civil society in wildlife management.

We welcome the public to review and provide comments on the Draft National Wildlife Policy and/or attend one (or more) of the four public consultations to be held across Trinidad and Tobago during  January and February 2013:

SOUTH (South Academy of Performing Arts)	January 28, 2013; 1-6 p.m.
EAST (Sangre Grande Civic Centre)	January 30, 2013; 1-6 p.m.
NORTH (Centre of Excellence)	February 20, 2013; 1-6 p.m.
TOBAGO (Works Division, Shaw Park)	February 27, 2013; 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

 

» For more information on how to review and submit your comments, attend public consultations or locate distribution centres for hard copies of the Draft Wildlife Policy,  please click here or visit www.biodiversity.gov.tt.

Wildlife is We Ting!