English version (PDF) - Convention on Biological Diversity

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Abbreviations used in the text CARICOM CBD CBO CITES EE EMA GoRTT IMA IUCN MALMR MFAU NBSAP NEP NGO TAC TFAP THA TIDCO UNDP UNEP UWI Caribbean Community <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity Community Based Organization <strong>Convention</strong> on International Trade of Endangered Species Environmental Education Environmental Management Authority Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Marine Affairs World Conservation Union Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources Marine Fishery Analysis Unit National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan National Environment Policy Non-Governmental Organization Tourism Action Committee Tropical Forestry Action Plan Tobago House of Assembly Tourism and Industrial Development Cooperation United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme University of the West Indies Layout, design and photographs by Robyn Cross Photographs on pages 19 and 22 courtesy Carol James UNDP.
Executive Summary The context of the NBSAP is established. The main findings and recommendations of the NBSAP are presented. INTRODUCTION The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) project was formulated to provide support to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) to plan for the conservation and sustainable use of the country’s biodiversity, within the context of its socio-economic development programmes. Biodiversity or biological diversity refers to the variety of all living things and the habitats in which they live. Although the NBSAP specifically addresses the biodiversity of Trinidad and Tobago, much of what is discussed and included in this report is relevant and is linked to broader environmental issues. It is almost impossible to alienate the two, as it is to conceive of life without breath, or forests without water; they are inseparable. Trinidad & Tobago signed the <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity at the Earth Summit in 1992, and ratified it in August 1996. Ratification indicates Government approval of the spirit and aims of the convention, and agrees that the country will be guided by these ideas, and contribute to their development. Today, every action we take in our lives, affects biodiversity either positively or negatively, directly or indirectly. This occurs at individual, community, national and international levels. The economic and development choices we make as a nation, our legal framework and our individual lifestyles all affect the individual and collective constituents of what is termed biodiversity. And in turn, the loss of biodiversity reduces our choices for future development. A NATIONAL CONTEXT This report highlights the key issues and contextual framework for development and management of the natural living resources of the country. It notes that every citizen has experienced in his or her lifetime a creeping deterioration of our natural environment and a steady decrease in the abundance of plants and animals that make up the biodiversity of Trinidad and Tobago. Biodiversity planning has become a critical need, because this country, like others, falls victim to the global phenomenon of extinction of species which is at its highest rate in geological history. This time, however, the cause of these depletions and extinctions is our rapidly growing human populations and our unsustainable use of natural resources. The continued depletion of biodiversity will lead to the increasing poverty of sectors of the population that depend economically on these resources for a livelihood and to supplement income and diets. Severe depletion of fishing stocks, destruction and impoverishment of our tropical forests, erosion of our topsoil, degeneration of our water supplies, i
Page 1 and 2: Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan
Page 3 and 4: Acknowledgements Coordinating the N
Page 5 and 6: Climate 12 Orinoco Influence 12 Cur
Page 7: List of Tables Page Table I Terrest
Page 11 and 12: PARTICIPATION IN THE NBSAP Hundreds
Page 13 and 14: Commitment and capacity: Commitment
Page 15 and 16: A discussion paper developed for th
Page 18 and 19: The priority Strategies and Actions
Page 20 and 21: • Introduce a mandatory basic env
Page 22 and 23: particular should be involved) •
Page 24 and 25: 1. Convention on B
Page 26 and 27: this national strategy and action p
Page 28 and 29: Pollution control The impact of DDT
Page 30: iodiversity sectoral studies on agr

English version (PDF) - Convention on Biological Diversity

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