National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2001)
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) are the principal instruments for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the national level. The CBD requires countries to prepare a national biodiversity strategy and to ensure that this strategy is mainstreamed into the planning and activities of all those sectors whose activities can have an impact (positive and negative) on biodiversity.
Trinidad and Tobago's NBSAP, passed by Cabinet in 2001, addresses the issues affecting biodiversity locally in the context of sustainable use and conservation. It also calls for the implementation of the necessary legal framework in order to protect the country’s natural resources, recognizing the need for capacity building, research, conservation, wise-use of resources, education and public awareness.
Priority actions identified in the NBSAP related to protected areas include:
Development and update legislation for conservation of protected areas, landscapes and species, consistent with current international trends
Build on existing law enforcement initiatives for protection of species and ecosystems
Conduct regular programs to sensitize the Magistracy, Police and Coast Guard, to the long-term effects of detrimental activities on biodiversity
Expedite establishment of the Environmental Court or Commission to address biodiversity and environmental crimes
The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus
This institution collaborates with other agencies to support marine fisheries biological research and management-oriented studies. The University has expertise in the area of fauna identification and houses some collections, conducts DNA identification, tissue culture for ex situ plant conservation. As a training and research institution, it possesses untapped potential for the contribution it can make to the biodiversity knowledge base and conservation in Trinidad and Tobago and the region. To learn more about UWI St Augustine and its programmes,click here.
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
The UTT, through its Centre for Environmental Studies and Applied Life Sciences, offers an environmental programme designed to prepare professionals for continual learning, easy integration into industry, research careers, and other related careers in the areas of Environmental Science and Management that are vital to national, regional and international needs. The programme is expanding and deepening its coverage to meet the needs of the nation and region by the introduction of research concentrations such as marine studies, health and safety, and energy studies. To learn more about UTT and its programmes,click here.
Research
Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA)
The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) has assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with developing marine and environmental policy for over thirty years. Researchers, with the aid of support staff, have worked in almost every area of the marine and environmental field – from chemistry, geology, ecology, fisheries and aquaculture to marine and environmental law and policy.
Fundamental research on sponges and corals, comprehensive mapping of major coral reefs in Tobago, studies on sea turtles and the monitoring of coastal and oceanographic dynamics are all done by IMA researchers. The IMA has also contributed to the development of national legislation on marine pollution, and has addressed a wide range of marine and environmental issues through membership on the national committees dealing with wetlands, land reclamation, maritime delimitation, oil spills contingency and biodiversity. To learn more about the IMA,click here.
National Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago
The National Herbarium is accommodated at the University and houses a collection of over 50,000 specimens, with the earliest specimen being a Crueger collection dated 1842. It is the major institution for identification of native plant species in the country. The Herbarium seeks to maintain and expand the permanent museum collection of the flora of Trinidad and Tobago; to provide an accurate plant identification service; to actively promote interest in and disseminate information about the local flora; to develop its capabilities as a resource centre for botanical information; to provide facilities for local, regional and international researchers; and to pursue joint projects with researchers to further these objectives. To learn more about the National Herbarium,click here.
University of the West Indies Zoology Museum
The museum possesses collections of a wide range of specimens from all over Trinidad and Tobago, and the wider Caribbean and South American region. The museum also contains specimens from all the major animal groups and some geological and archaeological objects.To learn more about the UWI Zoology Museum, click here.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international open infrastructure, funded by governments. It allows anyone to access data about all types of life on Earth, shared across national boundaries via the internet. By encouraging and assisting institutions to publish data according to common standards, GBIF enables research not possible before and informs better decisions to conserve and sustainably use the biological resources of the planet. GBIF's vision: " A world in which biodiversity information is freely and universally available for science and a sustainable future."To learn more about the GBIF, click here.
Projects and Programmes
Improving Forest and Protected Areas Management in Trinidad and Tobago
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 and the European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The 4 year project is intended to conserve biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago by setting up a protected areas system and enhancing capacity building and finance for conservation management.It will also assist in the implementation of the National Forest and Protected Areas Policies. The project establishes 6 pilot protected areas to model participatory approaches to sustainable natural resource management. These pilot sites include Caroni Swamp, Nariva Swamp, Matura Forest and coastal zone, Trinity Hills and eastern extension, Main Ridge Forest Reserve and North-East Tobago Marine Protected Area.ÂÂÂ
Key components of the project include:
Improvements to the legal and institutional arrangements for protected area management.
Improvements to infrastructure for biodiversity conservation and forest restoration.
Development and testing of sustainable financing system.
Monitoring and evaluation, and information dissemination.
To learn more about the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago (IFPAM) Project, click here.
Protected Areas Gateway
The Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Programme (BIOPAMA) is a four (4) year initiative (2012-2016) that aims to address threats to biodiversity in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, while reducing poverty in communities in and around protected areas. Specifically, the programme will enhance existing institutions and networks by making the best available science and knowledge available for building capacity to improve policies and better decision-making on biodiversity conservation, protected areas management, and access and benefit sharing.
BIOPAMA consists of two (2) main parts:
A protected areas component, jointly implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Commission - Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC), that includes (i) capacity building for regional and national institutions, technical personnel, and protected areas manager; (ii) improved access and availability of biodiversity data through the establishment of regional observatories and information systems to improve decision making.
An Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) component implemented by the Multi-donor ABS Capacity Development Initiative managed by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
There are also provisions within other laws that serve to protect the environment, determine authority for enforcement, delimit boundaries of national sovereignty and prohibit the import and export of biological materials. These are:
The Town and Country Planning Act, Ch. 35:01, Tobago House of Assembly Act, No. 40 of 1996, Customs Act Ch. 78:01, Archipelagic Waters and Exclusive Economic Zone Act No 24 of 1986, Plant Protection Act of 1975, the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act Ch. 37:02, Sawmills Act Ch. 66:02, the Summary Offences Act Ch. 11:02, State Lands Act Ch. 57:01 and the Municipal Corporations Act 1990.
Administrator
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Public Sector
The Ministry of Planning and Development is the National Focal Point (NFP) for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), with primary responsibility for the conservation of the biological resources of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Ministry implements its biodiversity-related policies and programmes through the following agencies and divisions:
The EPPD is a division within the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources that helps to facilitate sound environmental management through developing, monitoring and coordinating the implementation of national policies, programmes and obligations under the multilateral environmental agreements. The Division also assists in ensuring that there is a balance between Government’s efforts to increase the pace of socio-economic development and the need to ensure conservation of Trinidad and Tobago’s natural resources. The EPPD has one sub-unit, the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU), which focuses mainly on issues relating to the implementation of the MEAs and other international obligations of Trinidad and Tobago. Click here to visit the EPPD's blogsite.
Green Fund Executing Unit
The Green Fund Executing Unit is the enabling unit through which grants are made to community groups and organisations primarily engaged in activities related the remediation, reforestation and conservation of the environment.
Environmental Management Authority (EMA)
The EMA is responsible for the enforcement of the Environmental Management Act and its subsidiary legislation, which includes the Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Species Rules. The Environmental Management Authority to date has designated three areas in Trinidad and Tobago as environmentally sensitive, which are the Matura National Park, the Nariva Swamp Managed Resource Protected Area and the Aripo Savannas Strict Nature Reserve. Click here to visit the EMA's website.
Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA)
The IMA is a multi-disciplinary organisation which is mandated to collect, analyse and disseminate data relating to the economic, technological, environmental, social and legal developments in marine affairs generally and to formulate and implement specific programmes/ projects to achieve the overall objectives both locally and regionally. Click here to visit the IMA's website.
Other Institutions
Forestry Division
The Forestry Division has responsibility for managing the Forest Reserves, Prohibited Areas and Game Sanctuaries as well as the exploitation of timber and game resources under the Forests Act and the Conservation of Wildlife Act. The Division also functions as the country’s technical focal point for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). As technical focal point the Division is responsible for ensuring that the country meets its international mandate under these two conventions.
Management and administration of the Forest Reserves are carried out within six (6) Forest Conservancies which are the regional geographical units established for the purpose of forest administration and watershed management on state lands. The Division also has two specialized sections that are responsible for wildlife and national parks management.
Wildlife Section (under Forestry Division)
The Wildlife Section was developed in 1981 from a sub-unit of the Forestry Division in the 1950s consisting of Game Wardens, supervised by a Forester. Since its inception the role and function of the Section have expanded to include:
enforcement of the Conservation of Wildlife Act
management activities in game sanctuaries
research
management of game and controlling over abundant wildlife
invasive species management
wildlife farming
managing the exploitation of species collected and kept for research, breeding, education and as pets in Trinidad
evaluating the impact of activities on the habitats and ecosystems
evaluating the socioeconomic contribution of wildlife to the national community
management of wildlife trade
implementation of CITES and Ramsar Conventions
The Wildlife Section has also pioneered work in community co-management of wildlife resources in Trinidad and Tobago through its marine turtle protection and Honorary Game Warden programmes.
National Parks Section (under Forestry Division)
The National Parks Section has responsibility for protecting in perpetuity those areas of the country which represent significant examples of the country’s natural heritage in such judicious ways and means which will leave it unimpaired for the benefit of future generations. A primary focus of the Section has been environmental education and sensitization in schools and communities particularly in the north east region, and the development of interpretive centers in the areas under its direct management. These areas include:
San Fernando Hill National Landmark
Caura Recreation Site
Quinam Recreation Site
Cleaver Woods Recreation Park
Aripo Savannas Scientific Reserve
It is to be noted that the only area recognized legally is the Aripo Savannas, which is a Prohibited Area. The Forests Act does not provide for the designation of areas of the country as national parks or recreation areas.
Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA)
The Chaguaramas Development Authority is responsible for the management development of the North-West Peninsula of Trinidad. Click here to visit CDA's website.
Emperor Valley Zoo
The mission of this institution states that it is committed to excellence in conservation and the promotion of positive community attitudes toward wildlife and the environment. The Emperor Valley Zoo provides and manages a zoological park and allied facilities for education, research, captive breeding and recreation. The Emperor Valley Zoo has approximately 221 species of animals. Click here to visit the Emperor Valley Zoo's website.
Fisheries Division (under the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs)
This is the central agency responsible for national fisheries development policy and planning, via Ministerial mandates and legislative authority under the Fisheries Act. The Division carries out the following functions to fulfill its mandate:
Providing extension and support services
conserving, stock assessing and managing living marine resources
administering fisheries regulations
negotiating bilateral and international fisheries agreements
advising the Minister and giving technical advice regarding issues related to marine fisheries
administering aquaculture, inland fisheries and ornamental fish farming programmes
Horticultural Division(under the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs)
This Division seeks to facilitate, support and ensure the sustainable utilization of botanic landscapes and plant biodiversity for the development of agriculture, forestry, fishery and eco-tourism. The Division aims at ensuring that ex-situ conservation and survival of our indigenous plant species and more so, the rare, threatened, endangered or endemic wild species. The activities of the Division can be classified under the broad categories of:
Conservation and Introduction Programmes
Public awareness, Education and Training Activities
Landscape Management Programmes and Plant Propagation
Tobago House of Assembly: Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (DNRE) of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is primarily responsible for environmental management, watershed management and forest industries, parks and protected areas and wildlife management. Click here to visit THA's website.
Tobago House of Assembly: Marine Resources and Fisheries Department
This Department is responsible for the sustainable management of Tobago’s marine resources from the coastline to a distance of 6 nautical miles off shore. This division is subdivided into the Fisheries and Aquaculture Unit and the Marine Area Unit. Click here to visit THA's website.
