CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996

CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996: Status of Protected Area Systems in the Wider Caribbean Region
Country Profiles

IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY	No. of Protected Areas (PAs)	PAs with Marine or Coastal Zones	Extension
Category I	3	2	2,650
Category II	0	0	0
Category III	0	0	0
Category IV	9	5	22,098
Category V	0	0	0
Categories VI-VIII	0	0	0
Biosphere Reserves	0	0	0
World Heritage Sites	0	0	0
Ramsar Sites	1	1	6,234
Total (1)	12	7	24,748

(1) Totals have been adjusted to avoid double counting areas that are classified in 2 or more categories.

Trinidad was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. Trinidad and Tobago unified in 1889, becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 31 August 1962. A Republican Constitution was adopted on 1 August 1976.

A policy paper for the establishment and management of a national park network was developed in 1979/1980 in conjunction with the Organisation of American States (OAS). It was concluded that the existing legislation governing protected areas was not adequate to ensure proper protection. The report set out a detailed policy which could be used in the development of future legislation. This policy is relatively comprehensive, covering legislation, government policy, objectives and categories, together with procedures for establishment and management of a national park system. The government has agreed in principal with the proposals, but legislation was not enacted (Bacchus and Vorran 1990, Thelen and Faizool 1980).

The first wildlife sanctuary in Trinidad and Tobago was created in 1928 (Bacchus and Vorran 1990), although no information is available concerning the legislation under which this was established. An Ordinance to afford protection to wildlife was passed in 1933. Under this, areas of existing forest reserves were set aside as game reserves in which all forms of hunting were prohibited (Cooper and Bacon 1981).

This Ordinance has subsequently been superseded by the Conservation of Wildlife Ordinance No.16, 1958, which makes provision for the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries (Annex I). The Chief Game Warden, with the approval of the Minister, may modify sanctuary boundaries. All forest officers are wildlife wardens. The Conservation of Wildlife legislation has proven very weak with respect to protection of plants, invertebrates and Amphibia, while its general structure has made implementation of various international treaties difficult (Cross, pers. comm., 1992).

The Forest Ordinance, 1950 makes provision for the establishment of forest reserves, but is basically concerned with the sale of timber. The legislation is limited in providing for protection of the environment, for example, a forest officer may charge a squatter for removing trees within a forest reserve but does not have the power to evict squatters from reserves. Land within forest reserves, or other Crown land, can also be designated as prohibited areas by the President.

The Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, 1970 provides for marine areas to be protected as restricted areas. These areas can be established to preserve natural beauty, to protect flora and fauna, to promote the enjoyment of the area, and to promote scientific research. However, the Act makes no provision for institutional structures necessary for the effective management of any areas designated.

Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention, 1983)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, 1973)

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Migratory Species, 1972)

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, 1971)

Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere (Western Hemisphere Convention, 1940)

Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP, 1981) and its Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol, (SPAW, 1990)

Latin America Network for Technical Co-operation in National Parks, Protected Areas & Wildlife (LAN-NPPAW)

Responsibility for certain areas of conservation and the environment lies with the Ministry of the Environment and National Service (1991), but prior to March 1989 was with the Ministry of Food Production, Marine Exploitation, Forestry and the Environment. In 1991, the budget for parks and protected areas was TT$500,000. Personnel responsible for management of national parks totalled nineteen, comprising: an assistant conservator of forests, seven diploma level foresters and eleven forest rangers (Cross, pers. Comm., 1991).

Since inception the Minister has been attempting to set up a National Environmental Authority to co-ordinate environmental management. The Forestry Division within the Ministry is responsible for management of wildlife sanctuaries, forest reserves, and declared prohibited areas through its wildlife section. The Game and Wildlife Section was actually set up in 1950. Forest officers are also designated as wildlife wardens under the Conservation of Wildlife Ordinance, 1958.

By 1980, under the Policy for the Establishment and Management of a National Park System in Trinidad and Tobago (Thelen and Faizool 1980), 61 areas worthy of being protected were identified, covering approximately 69,000 ha, and were classified under six different categories. These comprised: thirteen scientific reserves; eight national parks; eight natural landmarks; thirteen nature conservation reserves; six scenic landscapes and thirteen recreation parks. The eight proposed national parks, Caroni Swamp, Chaguaramas, Madamas, Maracas, Matura, and Nariva Swamp in Trinidad; and in Tobago, Bucco Reef and Eastern Tobago, cover almost half the proposed protected areas system.

The latest proposal for a national parks and protected areas system was made by the National Co-ordinating Committee of FAO's Tropical Forestry Action Plan. Based on the Thelen and Faizool document, a five year development programme for a system of national parks, scenic landscapes and nature conservation reserves, which encompasses thirteen areas, is described (CARICOM/FAO/ODA 1993). In the case of the proposed Matura and Madamas National Parks management plans have been prepared by the Forestry Division and the OAS (Forestry Division/OAS 1990).

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have long been involved in nature protection; in the 1970's private reserves included such areas as the Asa Wright Nature Center and Reserve, and two private bird sanctuaries (Daradine 1977). Bodies interested in nature conservation include the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club and the University of the West Indies Biological Society, the latter of which seeks to address environmental protection by implementing public awareness programmes and reforestation projects (Homer, pers. comm., 1988). The Crusoe Reef Society was set up in 1986 to monitor, conserve, and protect the marine and coastal environment resources of Tobago. In 1986 its work included concentrating on halting the damage to Buccoo Reef Protected Area (Kenny, pers. comm., 1986).

Situated in the Caribbean Sea, Trinidad is the most southerly of the West Indian Islands, and lies 11.3 km north of the Venezuelan coast of South America. The island of Tobago is mountainous, 80.5 km long and 59.5 km wide, and lies 30.4 km to the north-east of Trinidad. On Tobago, four major vegetation communities have been described: littoral woodland, deciduous seasonal woodland, rain forest and swamp forests. The rain forest is restrict to sheltered mountain valleys of the Main Ridge. Lower montane forest, xerophytic rain forest, evergreen formations and some elfin woodland also occurs. At the foot of the Northern Range are marsh grasslands of the Aripo savannah. Mangroves occur in patches on the coast (Beard 1944, Davis et al 1986, Thelen and Faizool 1980).

In 1993, just over 250,000 ha, or approximately 50% of the land surface could still be classified as forest land, although much of this is under severe pressure for alternative uses. In Trinidad and Tobago it is estimated that the annual rate of loss of forest cover is approximately 300-600 ha as a result of squatting and agricultural and forest industrial activities (CARICOM/FAO/ODA 1993).

Offshore, the Buccoo Reef/Bon Accord area represents the most outstanding example of coral reefs and beaches in the country (Thelen and Faizool 1980, UNEP/IUCN 1988). The waters surrounding the islands are strongly influenced by ocean currents. Between June to December low salinity water from the Orinoco washes the region.

Trinidad has approximately 2,200 species of flowering plant, 110 of which are endemic to the island. There are also reported to be over 400 species of bird, 25 species of amphibians and 55 species of reptiles (Huber and Meganck 1987). A summary of the natural resources has been published by Cooper and Bacon (1981).

Trinidad and Tobago's protected areas cover 24,748 ha, approximately 5% of the country's land area. Seven areas contain marine or coastal resources, including the Nariva Swamp Ramsar Wetland.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s it was widely agreed that the level of conservation management being undertaken throughout all protected areas was minimal: in wildlife sanctuaries, including the Bush and Caroni Swamp, exploitation of timber was the principal activity (Chalmers 1981). A decade later the indications were that very little had changed. Patrolling was reported to be inadequate in all wildlife sanctuaries, and only Caroni had active habitat management and a warden system (Homer, pers. comm., 1988). In general, management is inadequate, except in Caroni Swamp and Little Tobago Wildlife Sanctuary.

In December 1991, four areas, Aripo and Caroni Swamp, Matura Bay and Fishing Pond, were listed as gazetted forest reserve prohibited areas under the Forest Ordinance. By 1988 there were reported to be 13 wildlife sanctuaries totalling 16,000 ha (Bacon, pers. comm., 1988; Cross, pers. comm., 1989, 1992). In 1993 Nariva Swamp was declared a prohibited area.

Management effectiveness in the Buccoo/Bon Accord Reef Complex is considered partially effective. Limiting factors include inadequate staffing, need to rectify legislation concerning boundaries and establishment as a marine park, and lack of public support for resource protection. Impacts in the area included diver and snorkler activity, sewage and agricultural runoff, and coastal development (van't Hof 1993).

Environmental concerns include those areas that are extensively mined with the associated loss of top soil, vegetation and fauna. Legislation is inadequate to prevent excavation, forestry, squatting and other potentially environmentally harmful activities (Homer, pers. comm., 1988). All the sanctuaries and many of the forest reserves have been invaded by squatters. The former Kronstadt Island, Morne L'Enfer and Valencia wildlife sanctuaries have been mined, quarried or logged to such an extent that by 1988 they were degazetted (Cross, pers. comm., 1989). In 1987 significant fire damage affected Northern Range Wildlife Sanctuary (Bacon, pers. comm., 1988).

Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources, Private Bag 30, Long Circular Road, St. James PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad Tel: (809) 622-3217 (809) 622-4521 (809) 622-7476

Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club, c/o Zoological Society , Port of Spain, Trinidad Fax: (809) 622-7808

Caribbean Forest Conservation Association, PO Box 679, Port of Spain, Trinidad Tel: (809) 624-5439 Fax: (809) 624-5439

Ministry of Planning and Development, Eric Williams Finance Building, 14th Level, Independence Square, Port of Spain, Trinidad Tel: (809) 627-9700 Fax: (809) 624-8715

Bacchus, C.F. and Vorran, G.M.C. (1990) The role of forestry in biological diversity conservation in Trinidad and Tobago. Unpublished document. 21 pp.

Bacon, P.R. and Ffrench, R.P. (1972) The wildlife sanctuaries of Trinidad and Tobago. Wildlife Conservation Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries. 80 pp.

CARICOM/FAO/ODA (1993) National Forestry Action Programme Trinidad and Tobago. Port of Spain.

Chalmers, W.S. (1981) Forests. In: Cooper, St. G. C. and Bacon, P.R. (Eds.) The Natural Resources of Trinidad and Tobago. Edward Arnold, London. p.78-p.105

Cooper, St. G.C. and Bacon, P.R. (Eds.) (1981) The natural resources of Trinidad and Tobago. Edward Arnold, London. 223 pp.

Dardaine, S. (1977) National parks. In: Ramdial, B.S. (Ed.) Questions and answers on forestry and wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago. Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture. 36 pp.

Davis, S.D., Droop, S.J.M., Gregerson, P., Henson, L., Leon, C.J., Lamlein Villa-Lobos, J., Synge, H. and Zantovska, J. (1986) Plants in danger: what do we know? IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 461 pp.

Forestry Division, OAS (1990) Management and Development Plan for the Madamas and Matura National Park. The Eastern Northern Range Plan in Trinidad (1991-95). Phase II Report.

Meganck, R.A. and Ramdial, A.S. (1984) Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Parks: an idea whose time has come. Parks 9(1):15.

Reddock, R. (1974) Survey of private nature parks existing and potential. National Environment and Conservation Council Research Paper No. 2/74. 65 pp.

Thelen, K.D. and S. Faizool (1980) Policy for the Establishment and Management of a National Park System in Trinidad and Tobago. Technical Document Forest Division/OAS Project on the establishment of a system of national parks and protected areas. Forest Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Port of Spain, Trinidad. 26 pp.

UNEP/IUCN (1988) Coral Reefs of the World. Volume 1: Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. UNEP Regional Seas Directories and Bibliographies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK/UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya. 373 pp.

Definitions of protected area designations, as legislated, together with authorities responsible for their administration.

Brief description: The Conservation of Wildlife Ordinance No. 16, 1958 makes provision for the establishment of wildlife (or game) sanctuaries. This ordinance did not become law until 1963.

Wildlife (or Game) Sanctuary Makes provision for the establishment of this category of protected area. Hunting is prohibited, although other activities such as timber exploitation or quarrying may take place. The Chief Game Warden, with the approval of the Minister, may modify the boundaries of the sanctuaries.

Brief description: The ordinance makes provision for the establishment of forest reserves and prohibited areas.

Forest Reserve (Prohibited Area) Areas which are part of a forest reserve or Crown land may be declared by the President to be a "prohibited area". Regulations under this ordinance prohibit any unauthorised entry.

Brief description: Provides for marine areas to be protected as restricted areas.

Marine Area Provisions for marine areas to be protected as restricted areas. Can be established to preserve natural beauty, to protect flora and fauna, to promote the enjoyment of the area, and to promote scientific research. The Act makes no provision for institutional structures necessary for the effective management of any areas designated.

Name of area	IUCN & National Mgmt. Categories		Presence of Marine or Coastal Zones	Area ha	Year Established
Buccoo Reef	I	NR	YES	650	1973
Aripo Savannas	I	PA		1,800	1987
Caroni Swamp	I	PA	YES	200	1987
Subtotal	3		2	2,650
Bush Bush	IV	GS		1,154	1968
Central Range	IV	GS		2,153	1934
Eastern Tobago	IV	GS	YES	100	not available
Little Tobago	IV	GS	YES	101	1928
Maracas	IV	GS		900	not available
Northern Range	IV	GS		936	1935
Nariva Swamp	IV	GS	YES	6,234	1993
Southern Watershed	IV	GS	YES	1,874	1934
Trinity Hill	IV	GS	YES	8,246	1934
Subtotal	9		5	22,098
Nariva Swamp	XI	RW	YES	6,234	1992
Subtotal	1		1	6,234