National Policy and Programmes on Wetland Conservation for Trinidad and Tobago (2002)
The National Wetlands Policy was developed to help manage the threats to wetlands and requires that the government protect, manage and restore wetlands in order to sustain and enhance their ecological and socio-economic values and function for current and future generations.
The major objectives related to protected areas include the:
Encouragement of public protection of outstanding examples of wetlands in private ownership
Inclusion of outstanding examples of each type of wetland in the national system of national parks and other protected areas
Encouragement of the management of all privately owned wetlands to promote the protection of their functions
Promotion of the use of publicly protected wetlands as demonstration examples for science, education and awareness
Integration of management of wetlands with watershed and catchment area management.
Closely linked with the National Forest Policy, this policy is aimed at producing a coherent management approach to protected areas and national parks by consolidating them under the auspices of one overarching Act and Authority. Specifically, the policy provides a course of action for programmes concerned with the protection of the country’s natural heritage and the provision of outdoor recreation activities. It incorporates and integrates the intent of Government policy in a number of related areas including environment, conservation, forestry, tourism and recreation as it relates to the adminsitration of national parks, heritage sites and protected areas. The policy identifies the deficiencies in the existing legislation to protect the country’s national resources and provides the basis for legislation necessary to provide a clear mandate to protect and properly use the outstanding natural heritage areas of the country.
The policy proposes the establishment of a System of National Parks and Protected Areas in Trinidad and Tobago within the context of the following six (6) categories of management:
Scientific Reserves
National Parks
Natural Landmarks
Nature Conservation Reserves
Scenic Landscapes
Recreation Parks
The units within the System are to be established by Presidential proclamation and be the property of the State with management plans, regulations and penalties to be established.
STRATEGIES
The two major strategies that have been developed in which policy direction is incorporated are the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the Draft Wildlife Strategic Plan.
This policy was formally approved by Cabinet in February 2011 after a comprehensive process of consultations with governmental divisions and public stakeholders, conducted during the preceding two years. The overall purpose of the policy is to ensure the maintenance of biodiversity, forest management for optimum combinations of productive, protective, recreational, aesthetic, scientific and educational benefits, and to contribute to the national economy and livelihoods. In terms of national parks and other protected areas, the policy requires the protection in perpetuity of those areas of the country which represent significant examples of the country’s natural heritage and encourage public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the heritage in ways which leave it unimpaired for future generations. The strategies identified include:
Provision of recreational and educational opportunities in forest areas
Construct amenity facilities to enhance the recreational experience
Enactment of legislation for parks and other protected areas
Conservation of unique and representative flora, fauna, geology, landscapes, archaeology and other intrinsic features
Promote participatory management of parks with local communities and interest groups.
In terms of wildlife management, the policy prescribes the facilitation of the development and adoption of appropriate wildlife habitat and species management plans to produce stable ecosystems and populations. The strategies identified include:
Conservation of natural habitats
Recover to a secure status all wildlife species threatened with extinction
Manage habitats and migratory wildlife species for their intrinsic, scientific and recreational value.
The formulation and adoption of a National Environmental Policy (NEP) is a stipulation of the Environmental Management Act 1995 (EM Act) and is an expression of the Government's recognition of the right to enjoy life and the enjoyment of property as enshrined under Section 4(a) of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago. Accordingly, the NEP was designed to promote the conservation and wise use of the environment of Trinidad and Tobago and to serve as a manifesto of goals, objectives and principles which would guide the management of natural resources so that the needs of present and future generations, as well as the enhancement of the quality of life, can be met.
The first policy, adopted in 1998, was subsequently revised in 2005 under Section 18 (5) of the EM Act which allows for the revision of the policy as the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) sees fit. Increasing industrialisation of the domestic economy, in conjunction with expanding urbanisation, has led to a revision of the NEP to reflect the new and amplified pressures the environment now faces. The latest revision of the NEP therefore, attempts to address concerns arising out of conflicting uses of ecosystem services and resources in the context of Trinidad and Tobago's commitments to Mulitlateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), as well as the need to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of natural capital.
The following highlights the main sections of the revised NEP which identify and delineate priority areas and proposed long term strategies for environmental management respectively:
1. Overview of the State of the Environment
Legislative, regulatory and practical policy implementation issues
2. Goals, Objectives and Basic Principles
3. Conservation of Natural Resources
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Environmentally Sensitive Species
Invasive Species
Coastal and Marine Areas
Forests
Wetlands
Water resources
Mineral resources
Energy
4. Pollution, Hazardous and Toxic Substances
Air and noise pollution
Motor vehicle emissions
Ozone depleting substances
Greenhouse gases
Wastes
Hazardous wastes
Hazardous substances and spills
Natural disasters and environmental emergencies
Contaminated land
5. Assessment of Impacts, Public Information and Environmental Education
National reports are usually required by international conventions as a means of providing information on measures taken for the national implementation of the Convention and the effectiveness of these measures. The following national reports were submitted by Trinidad and Tobago to biodiversity-related conventions:
