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:

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) tasked with the implementation and roll out of the National Hydrofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) continued its efforts to support the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector and the public to use alternatives and adopt ozone friendly practices. Over the period January - March, 2016, these activities included:  

•  Technology transfer: The NOU distributed hydrocarbon leak detectors to local air condition and refrigeration technicians. Hydrocarbon has been identified as a viable alternative to the ozone depleting refigerant; HCFCs in the RAC sector. 

•  Regulation of HCFCs: In accordance with the HPMP, quotas were given to eleven (11) local companies to import the R22, R123 refrigerants and their blends. By law, all imports of refrigerant and equipment containing refrigerant require a license from the Trade Licensing Unit of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

• Training: The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP ROLAC) conducted a mission to Trinidad and Tobago. This mission was to facilitate a project which included a training session designed to encourage the use of alternatives to methyl bromide (MB) in this country, and to strengthen the capacity of the fumigation sector to use these alternatives.

• School Awareness Programme: the NOU in an effort to sensitise the public about the ozone layer, its depletion and current initiatives of the NOU as well as how to protect themselves against UV rays, participated in environmental events in schools specifically the Bishop Anstey High School and Trinity East High School's Sustainability Fair and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Primary School's Materials and Energy Conservation Day. In addition, the NOU conducted sensitisation sessions at ASJA Girls and Bishop Anstey High School, Port of Spain.

 

 

NOU Staff engage with students at the Bishop Anstey and Trinity East  Sustainability Fair 

Children of the UWI Primary School thoroughly engrossed in with the presentation by the NOU/EPPD staff.

Ms. Neera Singh,  Ozone Assistant, with students of ASJA Girls after  her presentation on ozone depletion.

For more information on the NOU's activities, visit nou-tt.blogspot.com.

Monitoring and Evaluation Instrument Training Workshop

The Monitoring and Evaluation Instrument (MEI) Training Workshop - The Implementation Plan to the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change was held at the Civil Aviation Authority, Piarco during the period March 21-22, 2016.

The Workshop was facilitated by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) in collaboration with the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU) of the Ministry of Planning and Development. Ms. Heather Johnson of the CCCCC was the chief facilitator for the duration of the 2 day workshop. Attendees included officers from various Government Ministries and Agencies as well as NGOs (see pictures below).

 The Workshop comprised of:

• An open session: this set the stage for participants, providing them with a background and context as well as expected outcomes and areas to be covered over the duration of the Workshop. 
• Activity 1: this was facilitated by Ms. Johnson and dealt with validating the National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for Trinidad and Tobago. Therefore, participants had the opportunity to review the Framework developed. As part of the validation process, they were also able to revise, update or add/remove indicators as well as set/refine targets for all indicators developed. For all these, a baseline was sought, if possible.
• Activity 2: this began on Day 2 and its objective was to provide hands on training to stakeholders in using the M&E Instrument online tool. The training comprised of 2 modules "LimeSurvey" - a popular open source software to build online surveys and the "Report and Administrative Module" - a tool to design and build M&E reporting.  This helped participants get familiar with the online tool questionnaire and M&E reporting.
• Activity 3: this involved practical exercises using the tool and database including demonstration of the steps required for designing and building an online survey, mapping new indicators to the existing National M&E and compiling regional and national reports to be done.
• Activity 4: this was completed during the evening session of Day 2 and its objective was to guide national stakeholders on the effective application and management of the M&E Instrument. The session discussed the roles and responsibilities for implementation and management, in particular provided guidelines for National Climate Change Focal Points on how to complete their respective online surveys. Participants learned steps to expand and update the M&E Instrument taking into consideration changing contexts.