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nvironment TOBAGO (ET) is a nongovernment, non-profit, volunteer organisation , not subsidized by any one group, corporation or government body. Founded in 1995, ET is a proactive, advocacy group that campaigns against negative environmental activities throughout Tobago. We achieve this through a variety of community an environmental outreach programmes.
Environment TOBAGO is funded mainly through grants and membership fees. These funds go back into implementing our projects. We are grateful to all our sponsors over the years and thank them for their continued support
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Charlotteville survey
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What is a Stabilimentum?
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Assault on our Marine Environment
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Keep a Clean School Competition
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Spider collecting in Grenada
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Environmental degradation in T&T (pt 4)
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Book Review
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Record Review
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Activities @ ET
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Notes to contributors
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CHARLOTTEVILLE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY REPORT Tobago Wastewater Disposal System Improvement Program Pilot Project: Conducted at Collette River in Charlotteville, Tobago Prepared by Environment TOBAGO In Small Island Developing States human settlement tend to gravitate and expand along coastal areas. People are inclined to live in these areas because of the various opportunities that exist such as viable fishing and tourist hotspots. However, settlements bring with them a myriad of issues, one of which is the management of domestic waste from land based activities. Where there is unplanned development the challenge is usually linked to social, economic and environmental issues. Waste disposal infrastructure has been proven to be inefficient and unable to deal with human waste. Sewage disposal has been recognized as a major environmental concern in Tobago , the resulting pollution negatively impacts human health, tourism, coastal fisheries and coral reefs. In a report produced by Environment Tobago in 1999, it was found that samples obtained from the mouth of the Collette River contained faecal coliform (FC) -high of 3,100 per 100 ml). United States Environmental Protection Agency (recreational waters) states that the Logarithmic Mean of FC bacteria counts should not exceed 200 per 100ml, nor should 10% of total samples exceed 400 per 100ml. The conclusions drawn from this survey suggested that such high levels of FC found in the storm drains and street gutters, which all empty into the Collette river indicated that sewage is coming from residential pit latrines and septic tank/soakaways and, at that time, an operational pig farm. [1] In 2000 Environment Tobago with the support of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Health Division and other agencies conducted the initial part of the Tobago Waste Water Disposal System Improvement Program (TWWDSIP): Pilot Project Charlotteville, Collette River and produced a survey Map Showing the Course of the Collette River report with their findings. The goal of this SURJUDP LV WR ´LPSURYH VDQLWDWLRQ DQG environmental quality in a rural coastal area by developing and implementing a sustainable waste water GLVSRVDO V\VWHP ::'6 WKDW FRQVLGHUV FRPPXQLW\ HFRQRPLF DQG WHFKQLFDO IDFWRUV¾ [2] Trinidad and Tobago is bound by our international obligation to protect marine ecosystems when the Government of Trinidad and Tobago signed and ratified the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean ( Cartagena , 1983).[3] The survey was again conducted by Environment Tobago with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
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(QYLURQPHQW 72%$*2 QHZVOHWWHU The Purpose of the Survey determine the sources of household water find out the household uses for water identify the existing systems which treat both gray and black water in households reasonably quantify the volume of effluent leaving each household and entering the river identify other possible sources of contamination record income and education levels of the residents JHW UHVLGHQWV¡ WKRXJKWV RQ SRVVLEOH VROXWLRQV The number of establishments which drain into the Collette River were 129 Number of establishments interviewed - 95 6XUYH\ $QDO\VLV DQG 'LVFXVVLRQ The residents of the Collette River region lived in low income houses with 53% living on less than 5000 square feet of land; however a large percentage (86%) owned the houses in which they lived. The majority of the residents have access to pipe born water, received via pipes connected to a dam or well in the village, in both the wet and dry season. At higher elevations there is still a problem of accessibility to a regular supply of water via pipes and some residents are still dependant on water from the rain which they store in tanks or collect water from the nearest standpipe or the river itself. Generally, the uses of water are largely confined to flushing toilets and other household uses. There are no gardens and only 2% of households keep a few animals. The number of chickens observed roaming in the area is a possible source of pollution by the sheer quantity. 6ROLG :DVWH 'LVSRVDO 100% of the population bag their garbage and utilize the services of garbage collection either at covered bins placed in strategic locations (for areas where garbage truck cannot access) or at their homes. This significantly reduces the chance that significant pollution is a result of leachate produced when garbage is left open to rainfall. %ODFN :DWHU 'LVSRVDO It is encouraging to note that 75% of households dispose of sewage waste using a septic tank and that the majority (71%) also have soakaways. The age of septic tanks ranged from under five years to over twenty years. 56 % of the households indicated that their septic tanks were indeed pumped, however, the frequency of pumping was limited to, in many cases, one time in 15 to 20 years. For those who had never had their septic tanks pumped there was the overriding belief that the tanks were not full. This is a source of pollution: 1) because the contours of the land being so steep runoff in heavy rainfall would not have the time to attenuate and percolate in the soil but would accelerate toward the nearest drains and then eventually drain into the river 2) there is no certainty that the septic tanks and soakaway system were built soundly in the first place and will function properly to degrade and purify sewage 3) the residents do not recognize that there is a sewage problem and therefore maintenance of the systems, as evidenced by their response to having the tanks pumped, is not a priority Twenty-five percent of the households use pit latrines which are located in very close proximity to either drains or the Collette River itself. The source of pollution arises in cases where the filtration systems have not been correctly built and therefore untreated sewage finds its way either into underground water or terrestrial drainage systems. *UH\ :DWHU 'LVSRVDO Treatment of grey water in the area surveyed is cause for concern. 98% of the households indicated that their water from laundry, kitchen and bathing flow into roadside canals, untreated. Grey water is most likely the largest source of waste water contamination of the Collette River and the Man-o-War Bay. The crucial consequence of this is the potential damage to the reef ecosystem from nutrient overload. Other areas of concern are the effects on the tourism industry and the vibrant fishing industry, Charlotteville is, after all a fishing village. The number of vehicles in the area and the washing of these in rivers and the roadside coupled with the frequency of washing is another source of grey water contamination which must be monitored. Further, whether the vehicles are washed near or in the river, at the roadside next to their
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home or at the fisheries building opposite the bay, the water which will inevitably contain oil residue beside the detergent composition, will be deposited in the bay. 6RFLR HFRQRPLF $VVHVVPHQW It is interesting to note that 70% of the households remain oblivious to the threat of sewage contamination. When asked what can be done to improve the sewage disposal in the area on 14% ofIHUHG VXJJHVWLRQV LQGLFDWHG WKDW WKH\ ´GLG QRW NQRZ¾ RI WKH KRXVHKROGV VXUYH\HG KDG D SUL mary school level of education. It is evident that more education is necessary to raise awareness. 59% of the households earn less than $3,000.00 per month. This consideration is necessary to determine the affordability of any recommended system.
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New treatment systems must be assessed and approved before construction and commissioning.
Yearly inspection and monitoring of treatment systems must be put in place. It is recommended that a geological survey be conducted to determine ground water levels and soil composition, permeability, factors affecting groundwater flow and if in fact pathogens, consistent with sewage contamination, exist in the groundwater. 5. Grey water disposal is the major challenge and therefore these should be treated using the septic tanks and soakaways with grease trap systems in place. 6. The sewage treatment system chosen for this area must be one that is affordable to the residents and also the best practicable environmental option. 7. Finally and probably the most important part of this assessment is the need for an education programme which will raise awareness in this community. There is a blatant need to encourage a behavioural change so that residents can find the link between the protection and conservation of their environment and their social and economic well being.
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Since domestic wastewater impacts so many areas, it shows that its management cannot be isolated. It must be done within a larger context of Integrated Coastal Zone Management which suggests that the management of human activities must also simultaneously be done. Based on the analysis and discussion given in the previous section the following are our recommendations: 1. The individual assessment of existing sewage treatment facilities at every household must be undertaken. This is necessary to determine whether systems are fully functional or not. If necessary malfunctioning systems must be repaired, rebuilt or relocated.
2. 3. 4.
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Tobago Community Water Watch Network: Final Water Quality Survey Report July 1999. Proposal: Tobago Wastewater Disposal Improvement Program. Environment Tobago : February 2000.
:KDW LV D 6WDELOLPHQWXP" -R $QQH 1LQD 6HZODO 'HSW RI /LIH 6FLHQFHV 8QLYHUVLW\ RI WKH :HVW ,QGLHV First of all, not all spiders build webs with the intent of using it to catch prey. Some spiders like jumping spiders or wandering spiders and tarantulas physically attack and subdue their prey then wrap them up in silk. Spiders that build webs for the sole purpose of catching prey are mostly orb-weaving spiders. They are the ones responsible for constructing that characteristic web that we see in storybooks. These orb webs comprised of a concentric series of circles confined by lines of silk called frame threads, and divided into sectors. A stabilimentum is a structure usually composed of thick strands of silk that are woven into a patter by spiders in particular spiders that spin orb webs. I say usually because
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(QYLURQPHQW 72%$*2 QHZVOHWWHU other material such as detritus and egg sacs are also used by some species to construct stabilimenta. In Trinidad an Tobago species that construct stabilimenta are Argiope agentata and Gasteracantha cancriformis. The pattern of the stabilimentum varies and can be in the shape of an X or a straight line, usually in the centre of the web. They also need not be confined to being built in the centre of the web. Those built by G. cancriformis are short thick lines placed at intervals along the frame threads. So from a distance, the web appears to be bordered by dashed lines. This structure is first and foremost very visual and draws attention to the web. This has led arachnologists to formulate theories on the function of this web feature. However, the best supported hypotheses include attracting prey, providing camouflage and as a form of web advertisement to warn off large animals that might damage the webs. Other possible functions of the stabilimentum that have been hypothesized is providing shade for the spider, providing physical stabilization to the web, as a deposit of excess silk and as a path for the male to find the female (since some spider species are close to blind by human standards). However, little evidence to support these has been found. To many spider webs are a nuisance but there is order and function in what we perceive to be a chaos of threads.
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Sharks are our marine predators. There is no excuse for catching Manta rays, known as the ´JHQWOH *LDQWV¾ also come to these waters at this time of year for mating.
In September 2007, there were reports/complaints from Scuba divers and Fishermen in Speyside. In October/ November, complaints from Scuba divers and fishermen in Charlotteville, and in December, there were complaints from Scuba divers and fishermen off Bloody Bay the Brothers and Sisters islands. A boat ( blue with cabin) stationed at Buccoo, RZQHU 7ULQLGDGLDQ NQRZQ E\ WKH ORFDOV DV ´%$6+¾ LV ILVK ing out the sharks of all sizes- particularly the Hammerhead and Tiger which are endangered species. Hammerheads come to these waters around the Brothers and sisters Islands when the sea temperatures cool down in the ´ZLQWHU Man holding shark PRQWKV¾ ,Q 'H Photo by: Mark Tolcher cember it was reported that they are also fishing Manta Rays. The method of fishing is not by line but by Shark Net. This method according to our Fisheries Division in Tobago is illegal. It shows no discrimination in the size of the shark FDXJKW 7KH TXHVWLRQ EURXJKW WR PLQG LV ´GR ZH KDYH DQ\ FRQ cept about the effect of this removal of sharks on the ecology of Shark in back of truck the Reef systems? I am sure that we have all heard about the Photo by: Mark Tolcher ´IRRG FKDLQ¾ DQG WKH HIIHFWV WKDW WKH UHPRYDO RI RQH VSHFLHV ZLOO have on the marine biodiversity. Sharks are our marine predators. There is no excuse for catching Manta rays, known as the ´JHQWOH *LDQWV¾ DOVR FRPH WR WKHVH ZDWHUV DW WKLV WLme of year for mating. We have heard inane remarks VXFK DV ´ZH JODG LI WKH\ ILVK RXW WKHP VKDUNV¾ 7KH UHDVRQ JLYHQ ´:H GRQ¡W OLNH WKHP¾ DQG ´ZH DUH WLUHG RI FDWFKLQJ KDOI RI D ILVK ILVK FXW LQ KDOI E\ VKDUNV ¾ ,W LV FOHDU WKDW ZH QHHG VRPH VHULRXV HGXFDWLRQ where marine ecology is concerned. In the meanwhile, the Fisheries division is understaffed, and the work of monitoring is falling to a few officers. So what are we to do? Is the ecologically minded citizen VXSSRVHG WR PDNH D ´FLWL]HQV DUUHVW¾" 6RPHWKLQJ PXVW EH GRQH WR VWRS WKLV ,00(',$7(/<
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.HHS $ &OHDQ 6FKRRO &RPSHWLWLRQ $ 3URJUDPPH IRU ZDVWH UHGXFWLRQ DQG SROOXWLRQ SUHYHQWLRQ LQ 7REDJR VFKRROV The ´.HHS D &OHDQ 6FKRRO &RPSHWLWLRQ¾ is a programme for waste reduction and pollution prevention in Tobago schools run by Environment TOBAGO in partnership with BHP Billiton. Students are required to identify, design, plan and implement solid waste reduction and management programmes within their school with teachers and other educators acting as a facilitator. The project involves positive action by students that would contribute to solving existing solid waste generation and disposal problems; change negative environmental practices among the school population and by extension their community. The Objectives and elements of the programme include: Increased awareness for the need to reduce solid waste pollution in Tobago. Improved knowledge of ways to reduce solid waste generation and proper disposal of such waste. Facilitate the development of positive attitudes for a pollution free Tobago. Actions that reduce the generation of solid waste and practice appropriate waste disposal techniques. An appreciation for the environment. Reduction in generation of solid waste: reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink principles. Demonstration of proper waste disposal techniques to reduce solid waste pollution. The competition will see students involved in activities and practices to reduce waste generation and pollution in schools, while engaging in classroom and field activities about waste reduction and proper disposal. The competition is open to all primary and secondary schools in Tobago. Schools will be divided into two categories (a) Primary and (b) Secondary. 352-(&7 /$81&+ The project was officially launched on September 28th at the PRDI conference facility. There was a short ceremony with remarks given on behalf of Environment TOBAGO, BHP Billiton, THA Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, and THA Department of Education. Schools atWHQGLQJ WKH ODXQFK WRRN SDUW LQ D SURMHFW EULHILQJ ZKHUH WHDFKHUV¡ SDFNV ZHUH GLVWULEXWHG DQG WKH DFWLYL ties involved were discussed in more detail. Participating schools had until October 5th 2007 to submit their entries. Once submitted schools will have to complete and implement activities that meet the objectives of the competition by November 30th. It is expected that between 15-25 schools will participate. The launch was covered by local media and was featured on both Radio Tambrin and Tobago Channel 5. 3267(5 &203(7,7,21 The Keep A Clean School Competition also includes a poster competition. This creative conWHVW DLPV WR SURPRWH VROLG ZDVWH PDQDJHPHQW DQG SROOXWLRQ SUHYHQWLRQ LQ 7REDJR¡V VFKRROV DQG FRPPX nities and their important link to a human health, quality of life and the natural environment. The theme was : ´.HHSLQJ 7REDJR &OHDQ 0\ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ \RXU UHVSRQVLELOLW\ RXU UHVSRQVLELOLW\ ¾ RULES Schools have approximately ten (10) weeks after the launch to complete their programmes. Judging is based on the following criteria: x The amount of litter in the school grounds x The amount of litter in the classrooms x The general management of solid waste by the school x The reduction in generation of solid waste in the school (demonstrating reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink principles).
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First Prize $1,500.00 Second Prize $1,000.00 Third Prize $800.00
SPECIAL PRIZES 6SHFLDO 3UL]H Tidiest School (School Award) $1,500.00 Best Beautification Initiative (School Award) $500.00 Most Effective Management of Student Participation (School Award) $500.00 Best Recycling Initiative (School Award) $500.00 Best Composting Initiative (School Award) $500.00 Best Vegetable/ Herb Garden (School Award) $500.00 Most innovative Use of Recycled Materials (Individual Student Award) $500.00 3267(5 &203(7,7,21 35,=(6
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How are we to do this? Are we going to abandon the Environment in the process? It appears that the current status quo gives only lip service to the environment. Committees have been set up to put together a master plan of action in every aspect of our lives. This plan will tell us what needs to be done in order to become ´$ ILUVW ZRUOG¾ FRXQWU\ in the governance and maintenance of Trinidad and Tobago. Environmental NGO's have been asked to come up with a list of major and minor environmental problems facing Trinidad and Tobago in the year 2003. Environment TOBAGO first put together a list of concerns in 1998. In 2002, we sent the same list to the Minister of the Environment under the umbrella of COPE (Council of Presidents of the Environment) Council of Environmental President. The result was increased action from CEPEP, that group of government employees, who may mean well - but due to ignorance, lack of training, (skills, attitude, environmental awareness) and lack of knowledgeable supervision have increased our problems tenfold. Yet we are hearing from those in charge "words of praise" as they systematically destroy the coastline and road sides and hill-sides by removing grass cover, trees, sea grapes and the list goes on. The money spent so far needs to be re-channeled into Agriculture, Forestry, Marine and Environmental divisions of both islands, with the coming budget. In order for more trained staff to be assigned to these divisions. The CEPEP people can be trained and supervised by them. Environment Tobago developed a list of major dangers and concerns to Tobago 's environment as follows; x Littering - illegal, solid waste dumping. x Dangerous, situation at Studley Park dump-expansion with functioning equipment is needed. x Loss of wetlands due to resort development and solid waste dumping. x Loss of vegetation due to construction with no mitigating measures taken. x Wildlife depletion due to over hunting, illegal ´FORVHG VHDVRQ ´KXQWLQJ KDELWDW GHVWUXFWLRQ x Soil erosion due to poor agricultural and land development practices. x Soil erosion causing subsequent reef pollution due to illegal and legal logging in Watershed areas. x Sewage pollution to rivers and seas from households, resorts, yachts. x Loss of coral reefs and marine life due to sewage, siltation and reef walking. x Coastal erosion due to the removal of protective vegetation and sand mining x Lowering of riverbeds and contamination due to gravel mining, erosion, loss of tree cover. x Over fishing/over harvesting of marine life. x Threats to biodiversity removal of endemic and exotic species. x Non- enforcement of hunting, fishing, lumbering and fire laws. x Loss of habitat and forest cover due to fires and slash and burn agriculture.
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:LWK D OLVW OLNH WKLV ZKHUH GR ZH VWDUW" ,W LV WR EH OHIW WR HQYLURQPHQWDO 1*2¡6 WR GHDO with restoration, reclamation, education, the lack of law enforcement, crying out about what needs to be done, and the wrongs we are doing to our environment in the name of sustainable development? This seems to be a depressing exhausting mind boggling exercise in futility for the few who care. This vision 20/20 will fail. In order to prevail, the commitment and finances to deal with the myriad of problems and total change of attitude of this government and government agencies is required.
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Page 8
Environment TOBAGO newsletter
Grenada—A New Spider Collecting Experience Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Dept of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies
Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus mona) at Grand Etang
“Known throughout the Caribbean as the “Spice Island” because of it proliferate nutmeg crops, this tiny island supplied up to 15% of the world’s supply of nutmeg. “
In late September Jo-Anne Sewlal was allowed the opportunity to visit the island of Grenada to conduct a two-week survey on the spider fauna of the island. Grenada is actually a tri-island state made up of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. As is evident from the names of the last two islands the French influence is quite dominant in the names of places on the islands. The islands that make up the Caribbean are of two types; oceanic and continental. Oceanic islands have formed due to volcanic activity and as a result all the fauna on them have either been brought in by humans or have found their way there via wind or water. Continental islands have broken away from a larger land mass. Grenada is located between the oceanic islands of the Lesser Antilles and the continental island of Trinidad It is expected that Grenada to have fauna typical of an oceanic island as well as some continental elements. Grenada may only have an area of 344 km2 but it is by no means small as it houses 11 habitats, including rainforest, dry forest, elfin woodland and littoral woodland. I collected spiders from the main vegetation types on the island including those influenced by human activities. Species from around homes were also included in the survey. By comparing Grenada’s size with Cuba whose area and spider fauna is known, it is estimated that Grenada should contain approximately 80 species. Currently 24 species belonging to 9 families have been identified. However, no species collected thus far are fatal to humans or pose any health threat. Some of the data will also be included in my doctoral thesis. My first day there was by no means dull. I visited Grand Etang close to 610 m above sea level. This crater lake like other such lakes was formed when the dormant craters left behind by volcanic activity fill with water. It is also said to be bottom less. This lake acts as one of the main reservoirs of fresh water for the island. However, it has not been dredged for the past 12 years and as a result mush of the sides have filled in with dirt and plants that would have been short and succulent like lilies have grown to over 2 m and developed wooden stems. The island is home to many old buildings, one of which I visited was a 300 year old Great House on a cocoa estate in Hermitage. Grenada is also the most southerly isle of the Lilies surrounding Grand Etang Lesser Antilles (12o07’N 61o40’W) and this location makes it vulnerable to hurricanes. It has been the target of violent hurricanes throughout history, the most recent being Hurricanes Ivan and Emily that hit the island in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Although it has been three years since Hurricane Ivan hit the island, it is still fresh in the minds of many Grenadians. My host Dr. James DeVere Pitt who whose achievements in his long career in biology include the position of former principal of the TA Marryshow Community College and director of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), filled me in on some of the theories associated as to the cause of the severity of the hurricane. Some people speculate that it was a collection of several tornadoes that struck the island dumping seawater far inland. This is because most people saw debris being blown up and not sideways. Also most people complained about appliances becoming rusty which would not have happened if it was fresh water (rainwater) that was pouring down. The composition of the flora and fauna also changed after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, for example, in some of the ecosystems I visited for instance carpets of razor grass have replaced the sparse understory vegetation under forests that once possessed closed canopies. There are also many stumps of trees that had their tops blown off by the recent hurricanes. Although some of them have sprouted some small green leaves they would most likely never regain the healthy green crown they once possessed. There were even some stumps that were a result of Hurricane Janet which struck the island in 1955. Also, coral vine (Antigonon leptopus) has replaced much of the grass as roadside vegetation in some areas. Grenada is a perfect example as very few biodiversity studies were done before the hurricane and as a result we do not know if any species in particular endemics became extinct. Besides the destruction to human dwellings and loss of life, Hurricane Ivan was devastating to the nutmeg industry on the island. Known throughout the Caribbean as the “Spice Island” because of it proliferate nutmeg crops, this tiny island supplied up to 15% of the world’s supply of nutmeg. Therefore it comes as no surprise that the industry suffered greatly as a result of the Hurricanes that hit the island. I was able to visit one of the nutmeg processing stations and had a chat with one of the workers,
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during which they told me that it was one of the major stations on the island employing over 100 persons but now only 8 people work there. Not all of the nutmeg trees on the island were affected and those mostly on the west of the island were damaged while those on the east were spared. Some small nutmeg farmers have resulted to planting short term crops like bananas to keep the soil together while the nutmeg saplings develop. When most of us think of nutmeg we think of the seed and the red mace surrounding it used as a spice. But a variety of products can be made from the fleshy part of the fruit, such as nutmeg jam, jelly and syrup. Unlike the other islands I have visited like Nevis and Anguilla, feral livestock like goats and donkeys are not a problem. Many people who have not visited the island since the hurricanes or never visited might think that most of the buildings are still in shambles but the island is working hard to rebuild and although some buildings remain without roofs many businesses and industries are operating. Also, during my visit I was fortunate to collaborate with the Grenada National Museum and left a small synoptic collection of the common species found throughout the island. I also became somewhat of a local celebrity appearing on television on two morning programmes talking about my project. I was also featured in the local newspapers. I would encourage anybody to visit this island. $FNQRZOHGJPHQWV: I would like to thank my host, the National Science and Technology Council. Thanks go out to the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture for all of their assistance. The following persons and organisations assisted in facilitation, transport, and assistance in the field; the staff at NSTC for use of their office, Peter Thomas, Dwayne Mitchell, Rafael James, Anthony Jeremiah, Grenada Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Department and the Courtenay family.
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Let us conclude this four-part series of articles on Environmental Degradation by making a few suggestions. We start with the human resource input which with a collective state of positive thinking will improve the physical environmental degradation if we unanimously agree to:
1. 2. 3.
Subsidize childcare for the working poor. Expand the earnable income tax credit bracket. Vigorously enforce child support obligations of delinquent irresponsible fathers and parents by appointing
retired local and foreign magistrates and judges on contract.
4. 5.
Insist on a compulsory completion of High School Diplomas.
Include ethics conservation, Hindi and Spanish curriculum Raise the academic standards for the labour force. Introduce an environment court with emergency powers to retroactively penalize all environmental criminal matters. Justice must be swift because the perpetrator has never been able to distinguish between their own responsibility, their public responsibility or the parameWHUV IRU RWKHU SHRSOH·V ULJKWV $W SUHVHQW LQ REVHUYLQJ the behaviour of the masses our future seems to be dictated by intellectuals and moral vagrants and any attempt by teachers to correct the potential threat is frowned upon by parents and guardians. The few outstanding role models are ridiculed because they march to higher intellectual and moral drum roll. Declare a state of emergency for all environmental matters and get foreign help to finance personnel and donate equipment. It is obvious that the end result of our educational systems as practiced today disqualifies the average human animal for honest work. Note that the old Biological chart rightly categorizes living things as animals, plants, viruses and fungi. Humans have called themselves Homo sapiens, right! That is really hilarious. They even place themselves at the pinnacle of the animal kingdom, much to the mirth and amusement of apes, chimpanzees, baboons and monkeys, thus my use of the word human animal. Most of us seem to be sitting on RXU FROOHFWLYH EUDLQV :K\ GRQ·W WKH DXWKRULWLHV VZDOORw their collective false prides and seek help from the metropolitan countries at least in the area of environment degradation. Our forests, rivers, seas, coral reefs, swamps, garbage disposal and pollution, industrial waste all need foreign hands-on help. Along with health inspectors, school psychologists, industrial psychologists, and aptitude tests, continued adult education re T.V., registered day care centres school psychologists, teacher aptitude examinations, compulsory teachers continued education certificates to practice, along with all other professionals using T.V. and retired qualified personnel from foreign countries, all housed in government controlled dormitories supervised by an expanded regimental corps. At present we seem to have two choices. These are doing nothing or doing something and doing
systems as practiced today disqualifies the average human animal for KRQHVW ZRUN µ
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The third review in this series treated William Henry Hudson's memoir about the Pampa region of Argentina. The title of the present piece is blithely and appropriately ripped off from Hudson's (1923) magnificent autobiography. The ParanĂĄ River is one of the three great river systems of South America. It comprises two arms, the ParanĂĄ and the Paraguay, which are joined for about the last 820 km on their mouth at the RĂo de la Plata estuary. Despite the names, one would not call the Paraguay a tributary of the ParanĂĄ, as the two are about equal. The Paraguay bisects the country of Paraguay as it runs south. To the east lies the originally forested where lives almost the entire population of the country. To the west is the virtually unpopulated Gran Chaco region. The Chaco, which also occupies a large piece of northern Argentina, is a very different sort of biome from the Pampa to the south, and the transition between the two is strikingly abrupt. The Pampa is a fertile grassy plain covering an area about 150 times the size of Trinidad & Tobago. It is warm, constantly windy, humid to semi-arid, analogous to the prairie of North America and the steppe of Eurasia. We would call it a savanna. The Chaco is a similarly flat area of about the same size. The greater part of it is covered with wetlands and dense, thorny forest, although it is far from uniform. The part with which I am familiar, toward its southern limits, is mostly a tight dry forest, and the region as a whole is notably drier and hotter than the Pampa. It slopes gently toward the southeast and is crossed in the same direction by the Pilcomayo, a tributary of the Paraguay at the border between Argentina and Paraguay. Because of the land's overall flatness, the rivers meander a great deal. Even today, the Chaco in Paraguay remains relatively unexplored. John Kerr (1869-1957) was an english embryologist who became Professor of Zoology at Glasgow. He made two visits to the Gran Chaco, in 1889-91 and 1896-97. The first visit was as the naturalist on an exploring expedition. The second served mainly his own research on the south-american lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa in the area around the Pilcomayo River. However, he started with a stay at Buenos Aires, which allowed him to explore the Pampa. There is nothing special in his description of this region, but the Pampa is such a fine topic for natural history that it is a pleasure to read his impressions. As with Hudson, there is a great deal about the lives of the gauchos, birds and mammals. This is not one of the more sedate naturalist-in books, as the expeditions were accompanied by great danger and difficulties. There are problems with scarcity of food and water, ill health, disaffection and desertion of crew members, and hostile Indians. At one point, Kerr's group was rescued by argentinian cavalry just as the men were almost dead of hunger and expect-
9ROXPH , ,VVXH ing an imminent attack by hostiles. Several men died in the course of the expedition. As an adventure story, A Naturalist in the Gran Chaco rivals Gordon MacCreagh (1926) great book about the Amazon. The Indians from whom an attack was expected were the Toba, or GuayacurĂş. Being surrounded by enemies, this tribe was almost cut off from the outside world. Kerr later became acquainted with them, lived with them for a time, and made extensive linguistic and ethnographic notes. He also came to know the Nakatoi, a closely-related tribe in constant hostility with the Toba. Kerr had two advantages in understanding these people. For one, he shared their interest in observing wild animals. More importantly, he did not come to sell them anything and so was not subject to the same suspicion as traders and missionaries. At the extreme of the expedition up the Pilcomayo was a habitat known as the "palmar", a level plain of coarse tall grass studded with tall Copernicia cerifera palms. This savanna is occasionally flooded over very large areas, and Kerr remarked that "The scenery of the palmar when first viewed produces a powerful impression, a certain weirdness and loneliness peculiarly its own." That place is very high on my own list of ecotourist priorities. There are plenty of details about particular species of land vertebrates, identified by both scientific and local names. Among my favourites is the giant anteater, Myrmecophaga jubata, which I regret never having seen in the wild. Kerr had a good sense of life habits as they relate to the form of an animal and made extensive use of dissections. His sense of the relationship between form and function is illustrated in his comment that the cream-headed eagle, Busarellus nigricollis, usually feeds on crabs, "although its long, sharp talons and the very rough under surface of its feet suggest rather a purely fish diet." There are also frequent comments on arthropods and other invertebrates, but he didn't usually bother to identify these more than vaguely. A welcome exception has to do with the honeystoring habits of the social wasp Brachygastra lecheguana, an important source of honey for the Toba. The book has a long concluding section on the south-american lungfish, which Kerr studied both in the field and laboratory. At that time, nothing was known of its reproduction or development. During much of the year, many Chaco fishes cannot breathe enough oxygen by means of their gills. The lungfish is one of several species with adaptations to survive seasonal drying of the swamps. Each fish spends the dry season in a burrow in the mud, without feeding, breaking out when the rains come. Kerr reached its habitat (during the second expedition) just at the onset of the wet season, which was also the lungfish's breeding season. They breed in burrows at the bottom of the swamp, shallower than their dry-season burrows. He first sight of a lungfish came as it was being cooked by some Indians. Kerr ate some and pronounced it "most tasty". Kerr had some success in keeping the fish in field aquaria and directly observing their development and behaviour, in addition to examing a great many captured specimens. His later research career focused on the comparative embryology of the three living species of lungfishes. Reference Hudson, W.H. 1923. Far Away and Long Ago. London: J.M. Dent 353 pp. MaCreagh, G. 1926. White Waters and Black. New York: Century 404 pp.
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Music with a message is not a novelty in these islands. The two best-known forms of music to come out of the English-speaking Caribbean -- calypso and reggae -- are based on messages of social consciousness. Cultural Transformation, however, stands apart as a collection of songs built around nature conservation and environmental ethics. Stated like that, it sounds rather stodgy, but it is nothing of the sort. Under the leadership of Jajah Ogo Onilu (musical director and lead drummer) and Ras Shango Alamu (composer and lead vocals), the Jewels of Nature combine righteous ideas with a fine musicality. The record starts with a driving song, "Too Nasty", that decries the uglification of the countryside through thoughtless dumping. This is sung from the heart, as some of the players live in the upper part of Trinidad's Caura Valley, and the others are frequent visitors to this place that many outsiders use as an informal dump. Of the six songs that follow, all but two are sharply focused on particular environmental questions, with such titles as "Eco-Vibe" and "Bush Fire". Of the two exceptions, "Racial Harmony", is a celebration of diversity and a call to repudiate all who would divide the "rainbow people". It is also the most musical song on the record, an eight-minute feast for the ears. This is rastafarian music, but it is not reggae. Aside from its different format, the snaredrum fills and hypnotic backbeat that are essential to the roots reggae signature are replaced by a backbone of westafrican style drumming and percussion. There is also an indian element, especially heart in the tassa drums and decidedly eastern rhythm in "Concrete, Steel and Galvanize". Cultural Transformation represents a departure in another, less obvious way. As far as I &RYHU RI &XOWXUDO 7UDQVIRUPDWLRQ &' know, no current in rastafarianism has explicitly set aside the back-toAfrica demand, even as it has lost a great deal of force over the decades. Many Rastafarians implicitly regard the West Indies as home, not a part of Babylon from which they must escape, and the Jewels of Nature are among these. The environment that they aim to protect is their own, their homeland. This is best seen in "Racial Harmony", an openly, patriotic song with a refrain that says "Let we rally round the red, the white, rally round the black, because there is no turning back." It would be hard to make it any plainer than that. .In striking contrast to much of today's mind-numbingingly repetitive popular music, the Jewels of Nature pack a great deal of text into their songs Arguably, this wealth of unrepetitive lyrics is too much, so that it distracts from the main message at times. Perhaps more to the point, the lyrics are really rather unrelenting. In their next album maybe they will take a page from jazz and make room for solos, in particular to let JaJah show what he can do.
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ACTIVITIES @ ET x
November 14th- Buccoo Reef Management Committee Field Trip. Meeting at Gibsons Jetty. 10 am. Attending so far, Gian Lalsingh, Pat Turpin and Bertrand Bhikarry.
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November 15th- COPE monthly meeting 5.30 pm.
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November 16th.- WASA consultancy on the Development of the Water and Waste Water Plan- Dwight Yorke Stadium- VIP Lounge- 9 am. Bertrand Bhikarry and Pat Turpin attending.
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NPA-Consultation- National Programme of Action for Land based sources of pollution to the Marine Environment- Tobago. November 20th- Mt. Irvine Bay Hotel\
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EIA/CEC- COPE Graduation Ceremony- November 24thNormandie Hotel, 11.30 AM. Graduating- Gian Lalsingh, Hema Singh and Bertrand Bhikarry
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UNEP/ Workshop to promote environmentally sound Water and Waste Water Provision at the Community Level. Kingston , Jamaica , November 28th and 29th. Attending , Pat Turpin
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Event carded for November 20th- IMA /NPAVenue Mt. Irvine Hotel. Time 8am to 1.30pm.
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The Tobago Hotel and Tourism First Annual Hotel and Tourism Trade Show Hilton Tobago Golf & Spa Resort, 27 November, 2007 10 am- 8pm
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As Secretariat for the Global Programme of Action (GPA), the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) has been charged with the responsibility for facilitating and catalyzing its implementation. UNEP has engaged the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) to develop a National programme of Action (NPA) for Trinidad and Tobago and an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) was appointed by the Cabinet to coordinate the exercise. The United States Department of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is collaborating with UNEP in this regard. NOAA has been working with countries in the region utilizing a phased approach involving the assessment of the areas where gaps in management exist. The NPA is being developed in two phases: Phase One- A comprehensive examination of national issues relating to land-based sources and activities. Phase two of the NPA will cover the identification of suitable locations or issues for pilot projects in Trinidad & Tobago. UNEP recommends projects selected for implementation have a clear demonstra
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tion value, are highly visible or have significant impact on a site or cause of degradation, and are both viable and financially feasible, not implying a large financial outlay. In Trinidad the Caura/Tacarigua Valley has been considered to be representative of the activities and extent of pollution in Caroni River Basin . In Tobago , however, consideration is being given to the following four projects put forward by stakeholder agencies; the Tobago House of Assembly, Environment TOBAGO, Buccoo Reef Trust and Save Our Sea Turtles: 1)
Kilgwyn Swamp Management
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Tobago Waste Water Disposal System (WWDS) Improvement Programme
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Water Quality Monitoring- Speyside Marine Park
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Public Education and Training with Respect to Sediment Management
Each of the projects was assessed against the criteria initially set out. An average of the scores will be computed and the figures will be summed to arrive at the overall ranking for each of the projects and hence, to determine the project receiving the highest score. *UHHQ *OREH &RPSDQ\ 6WDQGDUG 7UDLQLQJ :RUNVKRS Green Globe is the global benchmarking, certification and improvement system for sustainable travel and tourism. It is based on Agenda 21 and principles for sustainable development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. It provides companies, communities and consumers with a path to sustainable travel and tourism. There are now participants in all continents and over 50 countries. The course provides an in-depth review of the enhanced *UHHQ *OREH &RPSDQ\ 6WDQGDUG as well as the practical dimensions of Benchmarking and Certification. Practical examples of sustainability initiatives and current industry best practices will be illustrated with case studies from around the world. The course will include a field trip to the Asa Wright Nature Centre in Arima, team exercises and group discussions to ensure a focus on the practical application of the enhanced Company Standard. The course is sponsored by the Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Development Company. %HQHILWV RI WKLV *UHHQ *OREH 7UDLQLQJ &RXUVH The course will inform and update auditors and participants about the enhanced Green Globe Company Standard and its significance for the travel and tourism sector. It will provide learning opportunities for developing and applying environmental principles and strategies to manage impacts. The Company Standard Training Course is relevant for: Â&#x2021; 7RXULVP HQWHUSULVHV LQWHUHVWHG LQ VWDUWLQJ *UHHQ *OREH SURJUDPPHV DQG OHDUQLQJ KRZ WR navigate the Benchmarking and Certification processes Â&#x2021; (QYLURQPHQWDO PDQDJHPHQW SURIHVVLRQDOV WUDYHO and tourism staff (e.g. hotels, attractions, restaurants, bars, departments of tourism etc.), and other professional staff (e.g. protected area managers) interested in setting and achieving environmental objectives. The course is also suitable for industry professionals seeking to obtain Green Globe Company Standard Assessor or Auditor accreditation
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'R \RX ZDQW WR EH D :KDOH 'ROSKLQ &RQVHUYDWLRQ 9ROXQWHHU" If interested please read on, if not, it would be appreciated if you pass this on to anyone who may be interested. Volunteers are wanted in the following areas to help in a whale and dolphin conservation project in Trinidad and Tobago run by the Cetacean Conservation and Research Organization (CCARO), a local, non-profit company. This work is purely voluntary and we regret that no monetary compensation can be given for work done. You will however be trained in relevant areas and will be exposed to basic information on cetacean physiology, ecology, threats to the animals and what individuals can do to help. You may also gain experience in your field of study as this project encompasses PDQ\ DUHDV LQFOXGLQJ EXVLQHVV ELRORJ\ FRQVHUYDWLRQ SV\FRORJ\ HGXFDWLRQ DUWÂŤ If you are interested in playing a part in protecting the wildlife of this country and would like to become a volunteer or you would like further information, please contact AlĂŤsha Naranjit at cetacean.conservation.tt@gmail.com. If volunteering, remember to include your name and the area(s) in which you would like to volunteer. Please note that you may be able to volunteer in several areas so do feel free to put more than one area (see attachment). If you are interested in volunteering but are unsure if you can fit this into your schedule do contact us to see if it may be possible. This is an ongoing project which depends on volunteer help and as such will be somewhat flexible in terms of accommodating volunteers. Be one of the few people privileged to work in whale and dolphin conservation. Help us to learn more about and to protect Trinidad and Tobago's whales and dolphins. Get first hand experience in conservation activities while using knowledge gained in your field of study
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V2/817((5 AREAS I17(59,(: 92/817((56 'HVFULSWLRQ Semi-structured interviews will be conducted around Trinidad (and possibly Tobago) to collect information from the crossection of people who, due to the nature of their work or recreation, come into contact with whales and dolphins much more regularly than the average citizen (eg: fishermen, water taxies, coastguard officers, offshore island home owners, yachties, divers and offshore workers). The questionnaires focus on basic information such as whether individuals have seen whales or dolphins, what was seen, the location of the sighting, a rough idea of numbers, time of day and year and an idea of threats posed to these animals. This work will be done within the months of January and February 2008. 'XWLHV Interview volunteers will be in charge of carrying out these questionnaires along the coast and entering the information into the relevant database. You will be working in pairs. You will not be expected to work on all interview days but will be rotated over the 2 months with other volunteers, ensuring that at least 2 people are out on each interview day. Be prepared for travelling across the country, a lot of walking and speaking to a variety of people. 7UDLQLQJ Training will be done for several days in January 2008 and will include: interview skills, communication skills and use of access/ excel databases.
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C(7$&($1 SURVEY 92/817((56 'HVFULSWLRQ Visual, boat-based surveys will be done in areas around Trinidad (and if possible, Tobago) in which whales and dolphins have been known to frequent. Information will be collected on dolphin numbers, location, presence of calves, general behaviour and environmental conditions. Photographs will also be taken to enable identification of individuals which will be useful in studies of population size, individual movement, residency and group dynamics. Surveys will be done from March to October 2008. 'XWLHV You will be one of at least 3 people who will be searching for cetaceans, collecting environmental and cetacean data, taking id photographs and entering field data into the relevant databases. Although surveys will run for eight months, with several surveys per month, volunteers will not be expected to be on every boat survey; you will be rotated over that time with other volunteers, ensuring that at least 3 people are on each survey. Be prepared for long hours on the water, possibly in the sun. You will need to pass a very simple swim test to work on the boat. 7UDLQLQJ Training will take place in January and February 2008 and will include use of survey related equipment, cetacean surveying skills, collection of behavioural data, use of access/ excel databases and boat safety. E'8&$7,21 $1' $:$5(1(66 92/817((56 'HVFULSWLRQ This area addresses the need for public education and awareness on cetaceans in the country by increasing the ease with which the public can access information on whales and dolphins of Trinidad & Tobago (website, donation of cetacean literature to libraries, creation of educational material) and through a small public awareness campaign (displays in public areas such as malls and community centres; as lectures, talks or workshops with interested groups and through newspaper articles and radio or television programmes). Education and Awareness is continuous from January 2008 to February 2009. 'XWLHV You will either be asked to help create educational materials, write articles, give talks (which are pre-prepared) or help manage public displays where you will be talking about whales and dolphins and how people can help protect them. This is a diverse section where you may be able to do a bit of everything or fit into an area that suits you. Although education will be ongoing for 14 months, you will not be expected to work for the entire time period, but for shorter sections of time during this time period. 7UDLQLQJ Training will occur in January 2008 and will include communication skills, teaching skills, public relations and use of relevant equipment/ materials. F81' 5$,6,1* 92/817((56 'HVFULSWLRQ A project like this cannot be run without funding. Fundraising will be done through grant writing, donations and the sale of fundraising items such as t-shirts etc. 'XWLHV You will mainly be handling the sale of fundraising items, donation booths and you can also be involved in the creation of items for sale or new methods of generating funds. If interested, you may also be asked to manage one of our small fundraising projects. 7UDLQLQJ public relation skills, marketing conservation to the public, brainstorming for ideas, project management.
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Office:
Mailing address:
11 Cuyler Street Scarborough, Tobago, W.I. P.O. Box 503, Scarborough, Tobago, W.I.
Phone: 1-868-660-7462 Fax: 1-868-660-7467 E-mail: envirtob@tstt.net.tt
*8,'(/,1(6 72 &2175,%87256 Articles on the natural history and environment are welcome especially those on Trinidad and Tobago. Articles should not exceed approximately 1200 words (2 pages) and the editors reserve the right to edit the length. Images should be submitted as separate files. Submit material to any of the following: 1) jo_annesewlal@yahoo.com 2) envirtob@tstt.net.tt 'HDGOLQH IRU VXEPLVVLRQ RI PDWHULDO IRU WKH VW 4XDUWHU LVVXH RI WKH %XOOHWLQ LV 0DUFK VW :H DUH RQ WKH ZHE KWWS ZZZ (QYLURQPHQWWREDJR QHW
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