THE TRUST FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
#23 Mc Inroy Street, Curepe, Trinidad & Tobago

www.sustrust.org

 

 

ACTIVITIES DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY-DECEMBER 2007

Wise Use of Natural Resources

Sustaining the Northern Range and its Agriculture - Trinidad

We participated as co-sponsors in the First and Second Planning Workshop entitled ‘Sustaining the Northern Range and its Agriculture’ led by The Cropper Foundation. The baseline assessments that were required included: ecological, geophysical, socio-economic, governance and capacity, crop selection and agronomic practices, land tenure, farmer health and micro-economic analyses. A process for selecting watersheds for the preliminary assessments was outlined and terms of reference for the baseline assessments were being prepared.

Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment – Trinidad & Tobago
SUSTRUST was contracted by the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment to prepare the national report on Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy which was adopted by most Governments in 2005. The Mauritius Strategy endorsed the Barbados Programme of Action as the “blueprint” for the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and recognized that the vulnerabilities of SIDS will require strengthened cooperation and partnership at the national, regional and international levels. The Mauritius Strategy outlined a range of actions under 20 broad headings: climate change and sea-level rise; natural and environmental disasters; management of wastes; coastal and marine resources; freshwater resources; land resources; energy resources; tourism resources; biodiversity resources; transport and communication; science and technology; graduation from least developed country status; trade: globalization and trade liberalization; sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development; sustainable production and consumption; national and regional enabling environments; health; knowledge management; culture; and implementation.
Mitigating The Threats of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular Caribbean

Mitigating The Threats of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in the Insular Caribbean – PDF A, an International Stakeholder Planning Workshop, led by CABI. We assisted in the development of a project proposal that should then lead to a project preparation grant for a Global Environment Facility (GEF) full size project. The proposed GEF project aims to establish an extensive framework addressing IAS that threaten aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and their biodiversity. It will build on existing national measures in the plant and animal health sector to strengthen capacity to address biodiversity concerns and to link to national and regional stakeholders. It will provide participating countries (Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, St Lucia, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica) with tools and technical assistance to address key IAS issues. SUSTRUST is listed in the proposal as a co-executing partner along with 23 other governmental agencies and NGOs.

 

Awareness Building

Forest trees as Shade Crops Seminar, Forestry Division - Trinidad

We conducted a survey of tree use in Trinidad with the assistance of staff of the Forest Incentive Unit, Forestry Division. The purpose of the survey was to determine which trees are used on farms/estates (estates not set up for commercial timber production), why such trees were planted and why that particular site on the farm was selected for planting that particular tree or trees. The results of the survey contributed to our understanding of farmers’ use of trees and identified areas for further research on trees in support of farmers needs.  The results of the survey were presented at a seminar organized by the Forestry Division (Trinidad & Tobago), entitled “Forest Trees as Shade Crops”.

GWP-Caribbean Country Dialogue - Trinidad

We assisted in the planning of the Global Water Partnership- Caribbean Country Dialogue for Trinidad. The purpose of this event was to encourage NGOs and community groups to actively participate in integrated water resources management (IWRM). F. Homer representing SUSTRUST, presented a summary of the policy objectives and actions needed for IWRM in Trinidad and Tobago.

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan – Anguilla

Discussions were initiated with the Government of Anguilla for the preparation of awareness materials in support of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. The details of SUSTRUST’s input will be worked out in early 2008.

 

Environmental Governance

GEF SGP Country Programme Strategy Preparation – UNDP, Barbados

SUSTRUST partnered with the UNDP Global Environment Facility (GEF), Small Grants Programme (SGP) and co-sponsored the preparation of the Country Programme Strategy for St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. The Country Programme Strategy (CPS) is the primary document which articulated the platform for the GEF SGP in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.  It is a guide to programme and project development, lays the basis for project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and is a vehicle for developing and maintaining a results oriented programme. The CPS identified the project impacts, outcomes and outputs and gives a general idea of which projects will be funded if the impacts are to be achieved.  The CPS also identified basic project eligibility criteria and delineates the indicators that will be used in determining the success of the programme and the lessons learned.

IUCN Caribbean Programme – IUCN Switzerland

We facilitated the visit to Trinidad & Tobago of Dr Daniele Perrot-Maitre, Senior Programme Officer at the IUCN who was leading the development of a proposal for an IUCN Caribbean Programme as mandated by resolution at the World Conservation Congress in 2004. Meetings with key government agencies and NGOs were arranged. Ideas and issues for inclusion in the draft programme were noted as well as potential collaborators for implementation of the programme.

 

Training

No training activities were carried out during this period.

 

Participation in Meetings/Workshops

We continue to be involved in the Sustainable Development Network (SDN), coordinated through the Cropper Foundation. The purpose of this Network is to create a mechanism through which civic society would seek to influence the process for planning for sustainable development and its implementation in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as to contribute to the approach and content of particular development proposals.  The goal of the Network is to achieve an approach to planning for the economic, environmental and social development of Trinidad and Tobago, that is holistic, inter-sectoral, inter-disciplinary, participatory and inclusive of a wide range of citizen interests.

We were active in several meetings of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C), which were held during this period. The GWP-C is a working partnership among all stakeholders in water management in the archipelagic states and overseas territories of the Caribbean region including the countries of Belize, Guyana and Suriname. It is a network of partners for achieving an integrated approach to water resources management at the community, national and regional levels and it is the regional arm of the Global Water Partnership. The GWP-C is devoted to supporting Caribbean countries in the sustainable management of their water resources through the establishment of strategic alliances and the implementation of the appropriate actions.

We contributed to or attended several national and international meetings and workshops. Below are a few of the key activities in which we participated:

• IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Steering Committee Meeting, USA. Sponsored by the IUCN.
• Annual General Meeting of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean, St Vincent & the Grenadines.
• Inter-Ministerial Seminar, People and the Northern Range, Trinidad
• Review of Water Pollution Rules, Environmental Management Authority, Trinidad.