Aripo Savannas Strict Nature Reserve - Environmental Management ...

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A variety of native plants of Trinidad and Tobago are found exclusively in the Aripo Savannas. (iii) Plants exclusive 1 to the Aripo Savannas (a) Lycopodiella caroliniana var meridionalis (b) Spagnum perichaetiale (moss) (c) Becquerelia teberculata (d) Lagenocarpus rigidus (e) Rhynchospora curvula (f) Abolboda americana (g) Xyris fallax (h) Xyris glabrata (i) Burmannia capitata (j) Cyrtopodium parviflorum (k) Epistephium subrepens (l) Epistephium parviflorum (m) Habenaria leprieurii (n) Habenaria leprieurii var. heptodactyla (o) Otostylis brachystalix (p) Cleistes rosea (q) Pogonia rosea (r) Cleistes tenuis (s) Pogonia tenuis (t) Cassytha filiformis (u) Drosera capillaris (v) Polygala adenophora (w) Polygala appressa (x) Polygala exserta (y) Polygala longicaulis (z) Polygala timoutou (aa) Sauvegesia sprengelii (bb) Genlisea pygmaea (cc) Utricularia adpressa (dd) Utricularia amethystina (ee) Utricularia. benjaminiana (ff) Utricularia gibba (gg) Utricularia guyanensis (hh) Utricularia hispida (ii) Utricularia juncea (jj) Utricularia myriocista (kk) Utricularia. pusilla (ll) Utricularia subulata (mm) Utricularia. viscosa (nn) Perama hirsuta 4.5 Threats to the Aripo Savannas 45 In their 2001 issues document, Sundew Tour Guiding Services compared aerial photographs of 1969 and 1994, which indicated that Marsh Forest and Palm Swamp in the ASSR have shown marked deteriorated from a number of human induced activities. In the 1994 air photos the Marsh Forest and Palm Swamp ecosystems appeared extensively disturbed. Only small patches of the Ecosystems appeared intact with a smooth and intact canopy. The majority of the Marsh Forest and Palm Swamp ecosystem had broken, lower canopies, which were interpreted as fire damaged. Extensive fires have disturbed much of the Forest and quarrying and clearing for agriculture have destroyed some areas. Fire appears to be a threat to all parts of the reserve while quarrying was concentrated to the SE of the reserve. Quarrying: Quarrying has disturbed approximately 2 - 5 % of Marsh Forest and Palm Swamp in the ASSR. Savanna IX was extensively disturbed in the 1994 air photo by quarrying operations and a WASA pipeline right of way The same WASA right of way cut through Savanna X disturbing the centre of it • Agricultural activities: Clearing for agriculture has taken place in the north of the reserve close to the Valencia town site and along the Eastern Main Road. Areas of clearing for agriculture have also been observed in the extreme SE of the reserve. In both cases clearing for agriculture is occurring fastest closest to established centres of population (Valencia and Guaico). Clearing for agriculture has disturbed approximately 5 – 10 % of Marsh Forest and Palm Swamp in the ASSR. 45 Sundew Tour Guiding Services 2001. Aripo Savannas Stakeholder Consultation Issues Document EMA: The Administrative Record for the Designation of Aripo Savannas as an Environmentally Sensitive Area
• Agricultural and residential Squatting: Clearing for agriculture and residential squatting has taken place mainly close to established population centres of Guaico and Valencia. • Fires: The Aripo Savannas ecosystems are not dependent on fire for their continued existence as is the case for many other savannas in the neotropics. The savannas in Aripo own their existence to the soil or edaphic factors found in the reserve. It is unlikely therefore that fire occurred with any great frequency in the reserve naturally. Fires in the recent past (most notably in 1987 & 2003) have been result of human carelessness and have damaged large areas of Palm Swamp and Marsh Forest. However, records from the 1930’s indicate that fires have been used by hunters to ‘flush game’, although this is an illegal practice. Despite the damage that it does, fire was probably not completely absent from the ASSR prior to human intervention, therefore the ecosystems in the ASSR are adapted to recover from fire damage. The natural fire regime was probably very infrequent however, meaning the ASSR should be protected from further fires for the foreseeable future to allow its ecosystems to recover. • Railway and road construction and drainage channels. The main human traces visible on the savannas from aerial photographs were the tracks and drainage channels constructed by the US Military prior to 1956 and affecting savannas I, II, V, VI, VII, VIII. • Establishment of pine plantations by the Forestry Division occurred after the lands were returned to the Government in 1956. 4.6 The Biological and Historical Significance of the Aripo Savannas Strict Nature Reserve Biologically the ASSR is a nationally important area that contains ecosystems with communities of plant and animal species that are found together nowhere else on the island. Indeed several species of plants and animals are found only in the ASSR. The types of ecosystems and their communities are represented outside the country in South America but at least some of the plants and animals are endemic to the ASSR meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. It is for these species that the ecosystems and plant and animal communities of the ASSR should be conserved as any country fortunate enough to have endemic species also has a responsibility for conserving those species. The ASSR is also significant for its value as an educational tool, a recreational resource and tourism draw-card. It is also important for the opportunities it offers for ecological and biological research. Historically the ASSR is important in its role of stimulating local and international researchers in their biological and ecological studies. The ASSR and particularly the savanna ecosystems have the distinction of being one of the most intensively studied areas in the neotropics. Many international and local biologists have studied aspects of the savannas. This level of interest increases the historical value of the ASSR in the field of biology. EMA: The Administrative Record for the Designation of Aripo Savannas as an Environmentally Sensitive Area
Page 1 and 2: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
Page 3 and 4: (l) Mayaro/ Rio Claro Regional Corp
Page 5 and 6: 1.0 SCHEDULE IV OF THE ENVIRONMENTA
Page 7 and 8: Chap. 16:02 Chap. 66:01 “Environm
Page 9 and 10: Aripo Savannas Strict Nature Reserv
Page 11 and 12: (F) Armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus)
Page 13 and 14: (h) introduction of any plant or an
Page 15 and 16: 2.0 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE A
Page 17 and 18: A brief history of action on the Ar
Page 19 and 20: The islands of Trinidad and Tobago
Page 21 and 22: 1765 The Main Ridge Reserve in Toba
Page 23 and 24: National Parks and other Protected
Page 25 and 26: threatened and endangered species,
Page 27 and 28: 3.3 The Role of NGOs The NGOs and C
Page 29 and 30: 4.2 Geomorphology and Soils 29 Old
Page 31: a. Rhynchospora aripoensis Bitton,
Page 35 and 36: An Aripo Savannas Bibliography Adam
Page 37 and 38: 3.0 THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE A
Page 39 and 40: Schedule I Schedule II Schedule III
Page 41 and 42: SCHEDULE II Rule 3 (1) ( c ) GUIDEL
Page 43 and 44: SCHEDULE IV THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAG

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