Background
Trinidad and Tobago was one of the seven countries targeted for the third Regional Trialogue under BES-Net I, together with Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. The Caribbean Regional Trialogue was held on 4-6 September 2018 in Santo Domingo and hosted by the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, with the objective to raise awareness of the key messages of the IPBES Thematic Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production and promote policy/science/practice uptake of the report’s relevant recommendations in the Caribbean region. A total of six participants attended the Trialogue from Trinidad and Tobago, encompassing the representatives from the government, research institutes, agricultural/beekeepers associations, etc.
Given the tangible commitment in Trinidad and Tobago to uptake the relevant IPBES thematic assessment messages on pollinators protection, as illustrated by a series of the post-Trialogue voluntary efforts, the country was selected as a priority target country for BES-Net II Component 1. Catalytic financial support, or BES Solution Fund, will be allocated for a two-year period to help accelerate and upscale the harmonized implementation of the Caribbean Trialogue Action Plan and other emerging priority activities by policy, science and practice communities. The implement of the fund is expected to, as much as possible, align and contribute to BES-Net II’s overall outputs for Component 1.
Project Description
The Trinidad and Tobago component of BES-Net Phase II seeks to address the science, policy and practice of pollination and pollinator management in Trinidad and Tobago. Issues facing pollinators in Trinidad and Tobago largely stem from a lack of data, a lack of public awareness and a lack of pollinator-appropriate management.
This project aims to address these challenges by engaging a broad range of stakeholders through public awareness and citizen science initiatives, identifying knowledge gaps, encouraging and supporting scientific research, facilitating collaboration and improving livelihoods, and reviewing policy. It is expected that as a result of these activities, knowledge and understanding of pollinators and their threats and management options among the general public increases; management of pollinators improves, particularly among food producers; a number of tools are made available to present and future generations; relationships among stakeholders are improved; and policy options are highlighted.
Project Objective
To develop, enhance and promote policy, practice and science for the conservation and effective management of pollinators and pollination services in Trinidad and Tobago.
Project Outcomes
- Improving scientific knowledge of pollinators and pollination services in Trinidad and Tobago for improved decision making.
- Improving the conservation of pollinators and pollination services through improved plans and policies
- Providing education, tools, and support to improve the practice and application of pollinator and pollination science in multiple contexts.
Project Activities
Knowledge Building
- Compilation of local plant and pollination data
- Development of pollinator data collection protocols
- Research to update information on pollinators and pollination services
- Citizen Science engagement activities
Pollinator Conservation
- Recommendations for policy development
- Development of standards for stingless bee honey
Educational Material Development
- Development of pollinator/butterfly gardens
- Capacity building and information exchanges amongst beekeepers
- Training workshop series
- Public education materials
- Promotion of online applications for use in bee management
