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

KAP surveys soon to get underway

In 2016-2017, the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project undertook a series of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices surveys in communities surrounding six protected areas of the project's focus.  The data gathered in these surveys, supplied information about people's knowledge and interaction or lack therefore with these protected areas, and advised communication plans for the six sites.

Now, towards the end of this four-year project, these surveys are being repeated, to determine whether areas of positive feedback are sustained and if areas of lack of awareness or knowledge have improved.  The surveys are preceded by training/re-training of enumerators in a series of training workshops, the first of which took place in the village of Plum Mitan today. 

Surveys will begin in communities surrounding the Nariva Swamp, Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and Tobago's NE marine area and Main Ridge Forest Reserve next week.

Surveys in communities surrounding Caroni Swamp and Matura National Park will begin on 25 November 2019.

Vacancy Announcements - Drafting of PA Management Plans

IMPROVING FOREST AND PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PROJECT

- Vacancy Announcements: 

(1) Lead Protected Area Management Specialist to draft management plans for 6 pilot protected areas 

(2) Junior Protected Area Management Specialist to draft management plans for 6 pilot protected areas 

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is a full scale project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Planning and Development, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  The project’s overarching objective is to improve the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is issuing this Call for consultants to apply for a short-term consultancy to work with a team to develop feasible and practical plans for the management of the protected areas.

Please click the links below to see further details of these vacancies:

(1) Lead Protected Area Management Specialist

(2) Junior Protected Area Management Specialist

Applications should be submitted to:

Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Friday 13th April 2018.

On a trail of prepositions

Dwelling house at Wa Sakami Ecosystems project

The Interpretive Trail Design and Maintenance Workshop is a training exercise which has taken place in six modules over the past eight months in the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" project.

Raynaldo Phillip, Forestry Officer assigned to the Forest and Protected Area Management team provides a reflection on one of the modules in a short blog.

Enjoy reading at this link.

Managing rivers, Sustaining life

Over a six-week period of the school vacation (July/August), the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago project hosted a young intern of the Forestry Division, Mr. Bryce Orr.

While assisting the project team on various activities of the project, Bryce undertook a research activity on the topic of clearing of rivers, particularly after floods.  The project team is happy to post a short article prepared by Bryce on this key issue.  Enjoy reading the article at this link.

(Photographs in Bryce's article were contributed by Raynaldo Phillips of the Forestry Division)

National Website for Forest and Protected Areas

Trinidad and Tobago now has a national website for forest and protected areas: www.protectedareastt.org.tt.  

The website was formally launched at a brief ceremony on August 4^th 2017, at the Conference Room of the Environmental Management Authority in St. Clair.  Senator the Hon. Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries delivered brief remarks at the launch. 

Read more about the new website at this link

New issue of ProtectEd is available

Welcome back to ProtectEd, the newsletter produced by stakeholders involved in the project "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago".

In this issue you can learn about developing a new Protected Areas System Plan and steps underway in approving a National Ecotourism Policy.  Find out also about how the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices surveys have progressed at the six pilot protected areas.

Enjoy reading and please be sure to share with your networks, from this link.

Call for proposals: Concept for Design of a Management Information System

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management Project

- Call for Proposals: Concept for design of a Management Information System

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is a full scale project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Planning and Development, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  The project’s overarching objective is to improve the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is issuing this Call for the preparation of a concept for the design of a management information system for forest and protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Please click the link below to see further details of this call:

Terms of Reference: Call for Proposals - Concept for Design of a Management Information System

Applications should be submitted to:

Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Tuesday 4th July 2017.

Call for Proposals: Graphic Design Services

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management Project

- Call for Proposals: Graphic Design Services

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is a full scale project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Planning and Development, the European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  The project’s overarching objective is to improve the sustainability of protected areas systems in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (GCP/TRI/003/GFF) is issuing a Call for Proposals to undertake Graphic Design Services.

Please click the link below to see further details of this call:

Terms of Reference: Call for Proposals for Graphic Design Services

Applications should be submitted to:

Mrs. Neila Bobb-Prescott, Chief Technical Advisor at Neila.BobbPrescott@fao.org.

Deadline for submission of applications is: Monday 3^rd April 2017.

Protected Area Stakeholders learn value of Monitoring and Evaluation

Over the three day period February 6^th – 8^th 2017, a team of 14 stakeholders participating in the “Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago” project took part in a workshop entitled “An Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation”.  The workshop was deemed to be a very enlightening experience by participants.  

Learn more about the workshop 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.

Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project Newsletter

The Project Coordination Unit for the project entitled "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago"  (GCP/TRI/003/GFF IFPAMTT) welcomes you back to Protected - the second issue of the project newsletter - ProtectEd​.

This second issue shares the perspective of a few of the stakeholders that are involved in various Pilot Protected Area Subcommittees and other project updates. We encourage you to read, share with others in your network and share with us your feedback.

We also take this opportunity to wish you the very best for the Christmas Season and the New Year 2017.

Communication Workshop to improve reporting on forest and protected areas

Where do people get their information about Forest and Protected Areas?  What are the best means of communicating with people that impact on and are impacted by these natural sites?  These questions were part of the key focus of participants in a communication workshop that was jointly hosted by the Project Coordination Unit for the IFPAM project and Nature Seekers a leading
environmental NGO. 

The main aim of the workshop was to improve reporting on forest and protected areas, to influence more positive public attitudes and behaviours towards these resources. 

Attendees gained useful tips on working with the media, using social media and adopting interactive methods in communicating with key target audiences, and also gained insight into the work of an active and successful NGO at this event. 

Click here to learn more about this workshop activity.

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.

Looking at Nariva swamp through new spectacles: Reflections of the first site visit of the Nariva Pilot Protected Area Committee

“The hill was steep but all of us made it to the top of Brigand Hill.  The panoramic view on the tower quickly removed any regret over the arduous trek to the top of the tower.  Laid out before us was the beauty of the Nariva Swamp.  Laid out before us were scenes from history. Block A – Leased out for agriculture; Block B – once under rice cultivation and now covered in wetland marsh grasses.  The green of hardwood species and the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary peaking in the distance. The coast line in the distance beckoning memories of the large flood event and destruction of infrastructure in 2014.”

 

These could be the memories of any of the 13 member team of the Nariva Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee on 4^th March, 2015. The establishment of sub-committees comprising of key stakeholders for six pilot protected areas sites is a key strategy for guiding the implementation of the "Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago" Project. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO/UN) is implementing this four year project on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to ensure sustainable management of the nation's forests and protected areas. 

 

The Subcommittee commenced work on their work plan with a visit to the pilot protected area site to gather information on land use, hydrology, ecology and threats to improve their contextual understanding of issues related to the management of the site.The Subcommittee intends to use the information from this site visit to make recommendations on the boundaries and level of protection required for this pilot protected area.

Snapshots of the Nariva Pilot Protected Area Sub-Committee's site visit: