Aripo Savannas Strict Nature Reserve - Environmental Management ...

3.0 EXISTING LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ARIPO
SAVANNAS STRICT NATURE RESERVE
National legislation was enacted for the protection of Environmentally Sensitive Areas and
Species in 2001. Prior to this, the following laws have already been utilised to assist in the
protection of the natural ecosystems and biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago:
The Forests Act, Chapter 66:01;
The Conservation of Wildlife Act, Chapter 67:01;
The Marine Areas Preservation and Enhancement Act Chap 37:02.
The Aripo Savannas area was included in the Long Stretch Forest Reserve which was
declared on January 11, 1934 under the Forest Ordinance Chapter 141 of 1916. Under the
Forests Act Chapter 66:01, it was designated a Prohibited Area by Legal Notice No. 113 of
10 June 1987.
Being signatory to various international treaties and conventions confers upon Trinidad and
Tobago national obligations to develop and enact national policy guidelines and legislation. Some
of these treaties have been reflected in the ESA and ESS Rules of 2001. These actions assist the
country in fulfilling agreements for the protection of biodiversity.
3.1 International Agreements
3.1.1 CITES
Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and it entered into force in the country in 1984. Its
primary goal is to provide protection for plant and animal species that may become threatened
due to the activities of international trade by controlling the international trade of specimens of
certain species of wildlife. The species listed under the CITES Convention require a Licence for
export, import, re-export and introduction into a new area. The species of CITES are listed in
three Appendices:
Appendix I is inclusive of all species that that are threatened with extinction, and trade is
completely restricted and allowable only in exceptional circumstances;
Appendix II are those species that are vulnerable or rare and as such their trade is incompatible
with their survival; and
Appendix III covers the species that are protected in at least one country, the CITES Parties are
asked to help control their trade 20 .
The signatories to CITES are mandated to set up Management Agencies that administer the
licences needed for species trade, and Scientific Authorities to act as advisors on the effects of
trade on the status of certain species. Under this treaty, funding was provided for conservation
projects. Although the Forestry Division is the Management Agency for CITES, the designation
of protected species often requires the coordination of more than one governmental department.
Many of the species that warrant protection under CITES are yet to be safeguarded nationally.
The proposed Aripo Savannas ESA is the habitat for species that fall under the CITES listing of
20 CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 2001b. How CITES Works. Geneva,
Switzerland. Available at the Internet URL: http://www.CITES.org/eng/disc/how.shtml
EMA: The Administrative Record for the Designation of Aripo Savannas as an Environmentally Sensitive Area