Data Collection and Monitoring of National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators Workshop

On September 17th, 2014, the Multilateral Environmental Agreement Unit (MEAU) of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) held a Workshop with key stakeholders charged with assisting in the management of the country’s biological resources, and discharging the Government’s obligations under the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).

Ms. Candace Amoroso chairing the Data Collection and Monitoring of  National Biodiversity

Targets  and Indicators Workshop in September, 2014.

The key stakeholders included representatives from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) of the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development, Fisheries, Agricultural Planning and Research Divisions and Aquaculture Unit of the Ministry of Food  Production, the Environmental Management Authority, Forestry Division of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources as well as the Department of the Natural Resources and the Environment, Tobago House of Assembly.

 

Through a consultative process with key stakeholders held during the period April–June, 2014 draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators were developed. The Targets and Indicators will allow Trinidad and Tobago to more efficiently monitor the status of and guide management and conservation interventions of the country’s biological resources and as such would greatly  contribute to the country in achieving the objectives of the CBD.

As a follow-up, the Workshop in September was undertaken to discuss and determine responsibilities for data collection and monitoring of the proposed draft National Biodiversity, which were previously refined via consultations with stakeholders in April– June, 2014.

The stakeholders were also informed that the finalised list of National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators along with the proposed list of data collectors were to be submitted to the   Cabinet of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as the National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators of the country.

Participants discussing and determining their roles in  data collection and monitoring of

 the proposed National Biodiversity targets and indicators.

National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators Setting Workshops

Through a consultative process with key stakeholders, draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators were developed in alignment with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Strategic Plan and its twenty (20) Aichi Biodiversity Targets. 

Snapshots of the Biodiversity Targets and Indicators Workshops

The Targets and Indicators will allow Trinidad and Tobago to more efficiently monitor the status of and guide management and conservation interventions of the country’s biological resources  and as such would greatly contribute to the country, as a signatory to the Convention, in achieving the objectives of the CBD.

The Multilateral Environmental Agreement Unit (MEAU) of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) conducted three (3) Workshops to refine draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators. These Workshops were conducted on:

• April 30^th, 2014;  MEWR Head Office, Port-of-Spain - with an initial set of key stakeholders with the aim of refining the draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators at the 
• May 27^th, 2014; Works Conference Room, Old Government Farm Road, Tobago – with key Tobago stakeholders, to further refine the draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators; and on
• June 24^th, 2014; Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, Macoya – with a wider pool of Biodiversity Focal Point Network members, to come to a consensus on the draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators.

This exercise was necessary to receive the input of the differing stakeholder groups on the draft National Targets as many of the Biodiversity related Agencies and Institutions would be relied on for provision of the necessary information. This would then facilitate our country’s ability to report to the CBD’s Secretariat on our achievement of the Aichi Targets. The final document that arose from these Workshops will be presented to the Cabinet as the National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators for Trinidad and Tobago.