Sonya

03 March 2015

11 September 2020

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Today, March 3rd, 2015 is Wold Wildlife Day (WWD)! It is dedicated to celebrating the diversity of wildlife and raising the awareness of threats to the world’s fauna and flora. March 3rd was assigned as World Wildlife Day on December 20th, 2013 at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). It was put forward by the Convention on the Convention on International Trade of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) after its 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-16) in Bangkok, Thailand, signifying the day of the adoption of the CITES.

Trinidad and Tobago comprises of a myriad of ecosystems and this enables it to possess the highest biodiversity level in the Caribbean. It contains over 420 species of birds, no less than 600 different butterfly species, more than 95 types of mammals, 85 varying reptiles, 30 amphibians and 54 freshwater fish species. Furthermore, there are more than 2,100 flowering plants with 2% of these being endemic (native to Trinidad and Tobago).

In light of the importance of our local wildlife, the first National Wildlife Policy for Trinidad and Tobago was approved in December, 2013. The Policy recognises that wild species contribute significantly to national development, livelihoods and human well-being. It focuses on issues related to endangerment, and provides guidance on the management of threatened species. Key policy issues on the management of game species, wildlife habitat and the engagement of civil society in the management of wildlife are also addressed.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago will continue to do its part in the preservation and sustainable management of the country's wildlife resources!

For further information on WWD, please visit:

http://www.wildlifeday.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V8DbbqKYDQ

https://www.facebook.com/MEWRtt?fref=nf

See also messages from the Secretary Generals of CITES and of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on the occasion of World Wildlife Day below:

http://www.cbd.int/doc/speech/2015/sp-2015-03-03-wwd-en.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFiSjuXI4K4&t=13

Sonya

17 July 2012

11 September 2020

Hits: 5713

Policy

Policy is generally a plan, principled guide or course of action adopted and pursued by the state on a class of issues, in a manner consistent with national law. Policies are intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters.

Legislation

Legislation, or statutory law, is a system of rules and guidelines which which has been enacted by a governing body and are enforced through social institutions. Prior to becoming law, it may be known as a bill. Legislation can have many purposes: to regulate, to authorize, to prescribe, to provide (funds), to sanction, to grant, to declare or to restrict.

Sonya

17 July 2012

11 September 2020

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National Plans

National action plans and programmes are key instruments in implementing a convention at the national level. Most plans are developed through a participatory approach involving various stakeholders, including relevant governmental offices, scientific institutions and local communities.

Action plans spell out the practical steps and measures to be taken to effectuate the principles of the convention within a country. They also ensure that the overall strategy of the convention is mainstreamed into the planning and activities of all local sectors whose activities can have an impact on the area covered by the convention.

National Reports

National reporting is done to provide information on measures taken by a country for the implementation of a convention, and the effectiveness of these measures. Reports usually contain information on national circumstances, vulnerability assessments, financial resources and transfer of technology, education, training and public awareness and policies and measures employed. These measures usually take into account specific national circumstances.

An effective system of national reporting can assist the Conference of the Parties (decision making body) of a convention to:

• Consider the lessons learned by Parties in the implementation of the convention
• Identify gaps in capacity for policy research and analysis at the national, regional and global levels, including technical and financial requirements
• Formulate appropriate requests and guidance to Parties and to its subsidiary bodies, the Secretariat of the convention, the financial mechanism, and other organizations with expertise relevant to the implementation of the convention

Public availability of national reports also assists relevant stakeholders (e.g. intergovernmental agencies, specialist non-governmental organizations and scientific bodies) to formulate focused strategies and programmes to assist their country with implementation. This would help in identifying common issues to be addressed and facilitating the development of cost-effective and mutually-supportive initiatives for implementation.

Sonya

16 July 2012

11 September 2020

Hits: 6998

Action Plan for Implementing the CBD's Programme of Work on Protected Areas (2012)

The Action Plan for the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) was formulated for the primary reason of establishing protected areas (PAs) in Trinidad and Tobago for the conservation of genetic diversity, species, ecosystems and natural habitats. It will also be a tool for the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of rare or threatened species in their natural environment. Furthermore, the elaboration of this Plan supports the national implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) under the CBD.

The PoWPA Action Plan thus seeks to create an integrated system of PAs that ensures conservation of the full diversity of natural ecosystems in Trinidad and Tobago whilst allowing for the sustainable use of these resources and providing equitable access to opportunities for their recreational, educational, research, cultural, spiritual/religious and sustainable livelihoods.

In Trinidad, the lead agency for the PoWPA is the Forestry Division under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. In Tobago, the lead agency is the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

» Click here to view the Action Plan for the CBD PoWPA.

Importance of Ecosystem Goods and Services to Humans

PAs support the ability of ecosystems to provide a wide range of goods and services. Goods include food (such as game animals, fish and plant products), timber, craft materials, medicinal plants and other forms of biodiversity directly used by people.

Ecosystem services include wildlife habitats, the formation, conservation and stabilisation of soil, removal of carbon dioxide from the air, watershed and coastline protection, provision of water, maintenance of natural processes such as pollination that are important to agricultural systems, climate regulation, and maintenance of physical buffers to natural disasters. PAs also support a variety of valuable non-consumptive uses including tourism, recreation, education, non-destructive scientific research and spiritual activities. In addition, PAs also protect biodiversity for its intrinsic value. The following table gives a summary of the functions provided by ecosystems services. Ecosystem goods are included under 'Provisioning.'

Benefits of PAs for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in SIDS

Small island developing states (SIDS) such as Trinidad and Tobago particularly benefit from PAs through increased resilience to climate change. SIDS are especially vulnerable to the impacts of global climate change, and in this regard, PAs can function as buffers against the impacts of catastrophic weather events and in protecting water resources in the face of changing weather patterns, including rainfall reduction.

Mitigation measures enable the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere since PAs function as natural greenhouse gas sinks, particularly protected forests and wetlands. PAs therefore can be used to secure well functioning and robust ecosystems that are resilient to climate change impacts such as temperature changes and changes in rainfall patterns, and thereby continue to provide necessary ecosystem services in spite of climatic change.

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