Trails in Paradise

Trees at the Gilpin Trail in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, Tobago

The third module of the Interpretive Trail Design and Maintenance Course (for the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project) was held in Tobago over the period March 28th - 29th 2017.

Follow the experiences of the intrepid group at this link.

Results of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey in Tobago

During the month of August 2016, a team of survey enumerators visited the villages surrounding the two pilot protected areas in Tobago, in order to carry out a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices

(KAP) survey.  The information was collected from over 400 respondents generally in the northeastern half of the island.

The results of the survey were presented to the stakeholders representing various organizations on the Tobago Subcommittee for the two pilot sites – the Main Ridge Forest and the proposed North East Tobago Marine pilot protected areas.

These stakeholders then took part in a facilitated discussion of the results, to propose strategies for public communication to improve on areas where knowledge is lacking, where positive attitudes and behaviours need to be stimulated and to support existing programmes where positive actions with successful impacts are already underway.

Please click here for a summary of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey results.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey underway in Tobago

What does the average person know about forests and protected areas?  What value if any is attached to them?  Do people play a part in protecting and managing these natural resources?  In an effort to investigate the answers to these and other questions that are relevant to the six pilot protected areas, a “Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices” survey was initiated in Tobago at the end of July 2016. 

This activity was kicked off by a training session held with staff and interns of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) and the Fisheries Division. 

The survey will capture views of people living in the general area of the two pilot protected areas in Tobago and will advise a communication strategy for the project. 

Click here for a full report on the training activity and the first day of field work.

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 

 

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.