Report on survey for ESS in Tobago

The White-tailed Sabrewing Hummingbird is listed locally as an Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) and is globally near threatened.  The bird has been recorded at two locations in Venezuela and also in the Mian Ridge Forest Reserve, Tobago.  Over the three month period December 2018 - February 2019, a survey on the presence and distribution of the bird was done in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve with the assistance of data loggers and tour guides.  The information gathered makes a key contribution to the development of  a management plan for the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, a key deliverable of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project.  The report is available at this link.

Week Two at P3DM – Cumana Village, Trinidad

Week two of the Participatory 3-Dimensional Model (P3DM) building exercise at the Cumana Agro-Tourism Centre featured the ‘smoothing’ process, painting of the model and information “population” occurred during the period Monday July 11 - Saturday July 16, 2016.  The co-ordinating team of the Environmental management Authority (EMA) was once again joined by the mixed group of facilitators, including members of the “Improving Forest and Protected Areas Management in Trinidad and Tobago”  Project Coordination Unit of the Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO).

Click here to access the full report.

Raising the profile of the IFPAM Project

The FAO Improving Forest and Protect Area Management (IFPAM) Project Team submitted an article entitled "New Project tackles protection of our environment" which was published in the Tobago Today Newspaper in their June 1st 2016 edition. The article gives background into the IFPAM Project and an overview into its key objectives being pursued such as participatory management,to ensure that the Project's main objective is attained, i.e. improving the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

Nariva Swamp and coastal zone Sub-Committee team member conducting a familiarisation field trip at the pilot protected area.

Click here to read the full article.

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 

 

Biodiversity Public Awareness Series

The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) designated as May 22 is dedicated to increasing the awareness of biodiversity issues worldwide. This year’s theme highlighted the significance of biodiversity for sustainable development and human well-being. 

In commemoration of IDB 2015, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) conducted a week series of public awareness programmes at four select secondary schools. The aim was to educate students on the importance of biodiversity and current initiatives being undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to conserve biodiversity.

The schools included:

• Preysal High School: May 22, 2015 
• Northgate College: May 25, 2015
• Lakshmi Girls High School: May 26, 2015 
• Bishop Anstey High School: May 29, 2015 

The lectures were conducted by representatives from the Ministry's Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD): Ms. Candace Amoroso (Biodiversity Specialist), Ms. Anastasia Gordon (Environmental Policy Analyst), Mr. Javed Lakhan (Environmental Policy Analyst) and Ms. Aditi Thanoo (Associate Professional).

Ms. Thanoo asking the girls of Lakshmi Girls to identify species they were familiar with

Ms. Gordon (left) presenting a teacher of Lakshmi Girls (right) a Biodiversity poster produced by the EPPD

Mr. Lakhan facilitating the Q&A session with the students of Preysal High School

Lakshmi High School Girls enjoying the presentation on Biodiversity

Bishop Anstey High School Girls fully engrossed in the biodiversity awareness  session facilitated by the EPPD