Celebrating the International Day of Forests 2018

March 21st marks the global annual observance of the International Day of Forests.  This year, the theme of the observance is: Forests and Sustainable Cities.

Locally, attention has been paid to the value of forest
cover for the role it plays in maintaining our watersheds, reducing erosion, filtering the air, producing oxygen, creating habitats for our wildlife and in general... sustaining life!

Forest management and propagation come into focus in these two blog articles, prepared by Ms Khadija Bourne of the Forestry Division.  Enjoy reading Championship Trees and Tree Hazard Ratings and remember to keep loving our forests and our TT trees!

#iloveTTtrees 

International Day for Biological Diversity 2015!

 

Today May 22nd, 2015 we join the rest of the world in observing International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). The United Nations General Assembly declared 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the Convention of Biological Diversity and to promote and increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

This year's IDB theme “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” reflects the importance of efforts made at all levels to establish a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda and the relevance of biodiversity to the achievement of sustainable development.  

Trinidad and Tobago comprises of a myriad of ecosystems and as such we possess one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the Caribbean. This country’s biological resources are of paramount importance to all sectors of society. Nowhere is this more relevant, than in our rural communities where fishing, hunting, craft, tour guiding and other nature-based activities contribute significantly to local economies.

In light of the importance of our biodiversity towards the sustainable development of our nation, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is currently pursuing various activities to ensure the conservation of biodiversity. 

These include, among others, the drafting of Legislation such as the Forest, Protected Areas and Wildlife Conservation Bill necessary for the implementation of the three (3) recently approved National Policies (Forest, Protected Areas and Wildlife Policies) and the initiation of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" Project which will ensure the sustainable management of our forests and protected areas.

 

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago will continue to do its part to conserve the country's biological resources in its pursuit of sustainable development!

 

AOSIS website goes live!

The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is a coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the adverse effects of global climate change. The group functions primarily as an a lobby and negotiating voice for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within the United Nations (UN) system. 

A meeting of 20 UN ambassadors from small island states at Port of Spain, Trinidad

AOSIS has a membership of 42 States and observers, drawn from all oceans and regions of the world: Africa, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Pacific and South China Sea. Thirty-seven are members of the UN, close to 28% of developing countries, and 20% of the UN’s total membership. Together, SIDS communities constitute some 5% of the global population.

The AOSIS group functions on the basis of consultation and consensus, and work together primarily through their New York diplomatic Missions to the United Nations. The Alliance does not have a formal charter, nor do they have a regular budget and a secretariat. The current chairman of the AOSIS group is the Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia.

“One point five to stay alive" - AOSIS' slogan

These island states, aka  “the conscience of the UN climate change convention” are calling upon the international community to limit greenhouse gases to well below 350 parts per million, to limit temperature rises to below 1.5 degrees Celsius and to enter into a legally binding agreement in order to achieve these targets. The impacts of climate change, they assert, are already being felt and therefore even a two degree target is too high.

For example, the future of one of the low-lying Pacific islands called Kiribati is currently being threatened by rising seas, and the situation is so dire that the government is contemplating relocating the entire population to man-made islands resembling giant oil rigs, at a cost of US$2 billion. Beachside villages in Kiribati have already had to move to escape the encroaching waves. Water supplies have been contaminated by salt water, and crops destroyed. Erosion, caused partly by storms and flooding, is increasingly serious.

Climate change impacts are already being felt in some islands like the Pacific island of Kiribati

The world therefore desperately needs to act to reduce carbon emissions, and the engagement of multilateral agencies with the smallest and most vulnerable nations sends a powerful message regarding commitment to the global climate challenge. In order to enhance communication among the islands, as well to inform and involve stakeholders, the AOSIS website has been recently revitalised. Visit the AOSIS website to follow all the latest happenings in negotiations.