Environment Tobago Newsletter Sept-Dec 2018

E n viron men t TO BA GO n ewsl etter

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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 and 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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hat’s inside

ET’s 23rd AGM

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ET’s position on Sandals

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Environment Report

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Goodbye Dave Hardy

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Events!

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Articles

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Tobago’s Bird Life

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Ecology Notes

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What’s Happening @ ET

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Notes to contributors

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Environment TOBAGO

September—December 2018

ET’s 23rd AGM ET’s 23rd AGM took place on the 3rd October, 2018 at its office at #11 Cuyler Street, Scarborough, Tobago. The meeting was chaired by Patricia Turpin (Vice President) who welcomed all members to ET’s 23rd annual General meeting and led the members in ET’s Prayer. The chair stated that there would be a Q&A session of 15 minutes after each of the Presidents and Treasurers reports are delivered. The chair introduced the members to the President and invited him to deliver his report.

The President emphasised the role of Education in ET’s mission and elaborated on the program run by Barry Lovelace and the Education assistant-Kerton Jobe. He discussed the position of ET as the Caribbean Regional Focal Point for the GEF CSO Network, our role in this position and our continued role for 4 more years, spearheaded by the VP. P. Turpin. He described ET’s role as a partner in 2 EU funded programs- CSO’s 4 GOOD GOV and CSO’s for reporting on the extractive industries (led by Ryan Allard). The President elaborated on the role of ET as the Chair for COPE (Council of Presidents of the Environment-TT). He thanked all staff, partners and sponsors in the delivery of ET programs.

At the Q&A session that followed, Fitzherbert Phillips (member) discussed that there were serious issues dealing with the Sandals development, the Airport extension and a marina carded for Canoe Bay that ET needed to be in the forefront of. Where are we? ET is an advocacy group and no one hears from us. The Chair agreed that ET is not as visible as we should be. Who will be doing this? We had already been on television and submitted a position paper that was published. We are working closely with the EMA and are awaiting the plans for the development. The secrecy is the problem. The President stated that the quarrying taking place at Greenhill Estate-ET’s lease was closely connected to these developments and ET is currently seeking legal advice on the way forward. Geoffrey Lewis commented that ET needs to be more visible. Mr. Phillips suggested a meeting with the THA chief secretary to discuss these issues. Mr. McCoon stated that ET’s social media is working very well and reaching a large group of young people.

The minutes of the 22nd AGM were reviewed and adopted without changes by Greta Akili, seconded by Bertrand Bhikarry. Matters arising from Minutes included discussion of the status of the Green Fund in Tobago. The VP stated that after 12 years, the Green Fund has become available to Tobagonian CSO’s from February 2018 and ET would be reviewing proposals to submit.

Mr. Roberts (Treasurer) discussed ET’s financial status as relating to available and ongoing funding in a climate of tight corporate funding. He made an impassioned plea to the membership for help in raising funds. He also reviewed the audited report with the members- reading the current auditor’s opinion of the year 2017 under review. The membership adopted the report. The audited report adopted by Bertrand Bhikarry and seconded by Andy Roberts. The membership voted to reappoint Jalsa & Associates as ET’s auditors for the coming year.

This was followed by Barry Lovelace’s (Education Coordinator) visual report of ET’s education program for 2017 to the current time and projections for the coming year.

The final item on the agenda was the election of the board of directors for the period July 2018 to July 2020. Mr. Raymond Ottley served as officiating officer for the elections and the Chair as his assistant. The board of directors for the period (2018-2020) is as follows: Board of Directors (2018-2020)

President - Bertrand Bhikarry Vice President - Patricia Turpin Treasurer - Andy Roberts Secretary - Ryan Allard

Ordinary Directors (2018-2020)

Wendy Austin Nathaniel Licorish Dave Nelson Andrea Tuitt Aljoscha Wothke

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Sept-Dec 2018 Editor: Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Assistant Editor: Raymond Aaron Design & Layout: Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Technical Support: Enid Nobbee Contributors: Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Bertrand Bhikkary Anjani Mahase Patricia Turpin Environment TOBAGO Photographs: Renee Gift Matt Kelly Environment TOBAGO Wikipedia.com

Board of Directors 2018-2020 President: Bertrand Bhikkary Vice-President: Patricia Turpin Secretary: Ryan Allard Treasurer: Andy Roberts Other Directors: Wendy Austin Nathaniel Licorish Dave Nelson Andrea Tuitt Aljoscha Wothke

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Environment Tobago’s Sandals and Beaches Position: “Environment Tobago is for and supports sustainable development, however a hotel does not belong in the proposed site within a Marine Protected Area and considering its Ramsar designation and ecological sensitivity. Other sites are preferable. Taking into account the footprint and the social impacts, an EIA is essential. If the Sandals application proceeds, there needs to be proper supervision, oversight, and transparency in the development and management process.”

State of the Environment Report 2018 Environment TOBAGO While we agree that sustainability is not always easy, it’s a slow grind to keep developmental activity in Tobago on a sustainable path. In 2018 Tobago faces the multiple realities of reduced tourism - its bread and butter, threats to the food supply chain - with adverse weather affecting crops, fishermen catching everything except enough fish, and little respite expected from the annual allocation of money from the treasury, national oil and gas revenues not allowing the usual great expectations.

Hard times notwithstanding, Tobago's current administrators have a duty to the public - present and future, to ensure this small patch of geography is passed on with minimal if any damage to ecosystems or coastal infrastructures. This, and again we agree it is not the easiest of tasks, is passing strange that in areas where the 'correct moves' are easy to identify (and therefore implement) nothing is being done.

We speak directly of poor waste management. The landfill at Studley Park is still the only repository for all of this island's solid waste despite limitations which were proven and documented over two decades ago. We speak too of poor land use in general. Good agricultural land is repeatedly being converted to housing acreage. Important forests and mangroves are being decimated with scant regard for preserving water catchment - either for potable use or for natural biodiversity.

The reference to waste management in context of a “State of The Environment Report” is not trivial. The broad solution to almost every problem Tobago face depends on a pristine environment. This is the logical almost intuitive deduction. So, the unwillingness or lack acceptance to own or work towards it is a mystifying thing to say the least. Yet in 2018 Tobago presses on as if decades old conversations about incineration or desalination plants is enough.

Which is not to say that's all which is spoken these days. We've heard first rumours, and now find it confirmed that there will be a large hotel planted in the vicinity of the Buccoo Marine Park; with its effluent sanitised (to the best levels that tax dollars can buy); with its (concrete) footprint minimised to the point where no piece of coral will feel the stress. This of course is mere promise to deflect from what has been the historic norm; mismanagement of Trinidad and Tobago's natural resources for some private parties’ personal gain. The problem we foresee for 2018

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

and beyond is even more degradation of the Buccoo Reef complex, suffering as it is from toxic overexposure and chronic undermanagement and soon to come the Sandals.

We've heard too that in order for Tobago to move past these hard times the Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson International Airport will be extended to accommodate even larger aircraft than those that already do not come here. Fine. If it weren't at the cost of losing Kilgywn; one of Tobago key wetlands and probably its second largest fish nursery. The sad thing is once more we see the State, erstwhile steward of the Commons, playing the major part of destroyer, sustainability be damned.

A modern State of the Environment Report will be irrelevant if it were to overlook this country's implementation of the SDGs. Remember the Sustainable Development Goals to which Trinidad and Tobago is committed? They cover much more than the 'treehugging' measures Environment Tobago once employed. Which it naively viewed back then as the only advocacy measure needed for our people to change ways. We will now leave Trinidad out of the conversation. Implicit to Tobago begin able to tick off its share of the targets attending the SDGs is a general acceptance that behaviours have to be changed.

We at Environment Tobago sometimes, probably because people are prone to think everyone is on the same page, understands that the world as we know it has changed - is changing. Into a more hostile environment than anyone anywhere at any time have ever had to face. The fact of the matter ladies and gentlemen is even though Tobago does have that tourism slash economic problem in the near term, Climate Change and all that comes with it is an immensely greater threat. It is that threat which drives this NGO to once more pen a state of the environment report. Hopefully you dear reader will make grasp the difference between taking care of the environment and living happily within it or.... not

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ET bids farewell to Dave Hardy

Tobago has lost an environmental stalwart—Dave Hardy Dave visited Tobago religiously each year for at least the past 45 years, documenting the island’s great biodiversity.

Environment TOBAGO extends condolences to the family and friends of Dave.

J. David Hardy in front of a laboratory at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Maryland, where he once worked. The laboratory is named for his mentor in herpetology, the late Romeo Mansuetti.

EVENTS

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

What the Sandals development will mean for the Bon Accord Lagoon/Buccoo Reef Complex

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ARTICLES Picking Sense out of Nonsense Dr. Anjani Ganase Dr Anjani Ganase, marine scientist, wonders about the wisdom of destroying a protected marine ecosystem, the only one in Trinidad and Tobago, with a strategy to recreate it sometime in the future. She responds to the press conference of the Minister Stuart Young, and representatives of Sandals, the Government’s business partner, which was held on November 26.

“Nature refers to all the animals, plants, rocks, in the world and all the features, forces and processes that happen and exist independently of people, such as the weather, the sea, mountains, the production of young animals or plants, and growth” (Cambridge Dictionary).

There is a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning of nature.

Despite humankind’s infiltration into nearly every ecosystem and eco-space on earth, there is need to preserve as much of the natural world. Our air, our climate, our food and everything needed to advance us, comes from nature.

With nature comes biodiversity; the number of organisms - plants, animals, bacteria and viruses – all branches of the tree of life are our key for survival and evolution. Framework ecosystems – coral reefs, mangroves, forests and seagrasses - aren’t built in one day; rather their location, arrangements and their construction have evolved over eons, providing homes and resources for thousands of different communities of organisms. These complex architectures have never been replicated by humans. We benefit by our lack of influence, as nature preserves the future of possibilities. “…the project to protect the environment and do more than protect the environment … to enhance the environment,…” – Stuart Young You can no more enhance the environment than “gild a lily.” To construct the Sandals they speak of, we are seeking to change natural assets.

There is no other ecosystem conglomerate like this; for this reason, the Buccoo Reef and lagoon area is the only coastal protected area in Trinidad and Tobago. The only way to enhance this environment would be through active protection and management. Leave nature alone, No Man’s Land, Bon Accord Lagoon. she can heal herself. This includes Photo by Renee Gift managing all upstream disturbances, mangrove loss and

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water pollution. It’s necessary to monitor and regulate ecologically important species, so that biodiversity and habitat have the opportunity to be enriched without human intervention. Construction will only reduce biodiversity.

CONSERVATION “The protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity” (Cambridge Dictionary) We have picked and selected the traits of plants, animals and marine life that we enjoy and this always comes with a cost to biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity results in the loss of options and buffering capacity against disturbances such as disease and hurricanes. When we consider our uncertain future under climate change, we need all the help that nature affords. We have selected landscapes for our homes, selected food choices, and even selected nature as entertainment; these are only supported by the vast reservoir of untouched ecosystems as resources, which can buffer changes in environmental conditions and sustain livelihoods.

The main strategies for conservation of coral reefs and coastal communities in the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, are governments’ declaring marine protected areas and forming policies to support coral reef and marine management.

According to the respected experts, as documented in “Towards Reef Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods: A handbook for Caribbean coral reef managers” - developed by over twenty institutions, governing bodies and over 100 collaborating scientists and reef manager -, protection must include: “ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . ”

(1) “All structured ecosystems: coral reefs and adjacent habitats - mangroves and seagrass beds which provide essential habitat to reef fishes at different stages of their life cycle.”

(2) “Water quality - sediment, excess nutrients and other pollutants in the water can all damage the natural functioning of coral reef.”

Mangrove forests of Bon Accord Lagoon Photo by Renee Gift

(3) “Ecosystem function and integrity: this includes maintaining biodiversity. In practice this should translate into management actions including: protection of key herbivore populations; protection of nursery habitats (e.g. mangroves, seagrass beds); protection of spawning aggregation sites and population sources of both corals and fishes.” (Mumby et al 2014).

It should be noted that strategies mentioned by Sandals representative Adam Stewart and Minister Young are absent from this book and are at odds with the consensus of scientists around the Caribbean. A super hotel and ecologically

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thriving marine ecosystem are mutually exclusive. They cannot co-exist.

RESTORATION “The act or process of returning something to its earlier good condition or position.” (Cambridge Dictionary).

Coral reef conservation aims to restore coral reef ecosystems. To restore coral reefs you first need to return it to the physical conditions – water quality, light, temperature - in which they thrive. In a virtuous cycle, coral recruitment and growth and replenishment of fish stocks reseed and encourage coral growth. Artificial reefs and coral gardens do not “live” without actively fixing the physical condition of the environment. Putting down non-indigenous materials alters the natural habitat and impacts the marine communities that utilise the habitat in ways that are not obvious to humans, The only suitable conservation strategy for our marine park, so far neglected by our governments, is active protection and management of the marine area, including upstream clearing and degradation; and a managed fishing plan.

Buccoo Reef is already a marine protected area – the only marine protected area in Trinidad and Tobago – and no one with a sustainable development approach should push for building in protected areas. To seek to build in an MPA and then devise a plan to restore it later is contradictory, and may be construed as devious.

As always, construction concerns and strategies come to the fore in projects of this nature. But before there is a construction plan, it is necessary to have clearance from experts in the field of marine ecology and conservation where ecologically sensitive areas or marine protected areas are concerned. In the time of climate change, the research done by hundreds of marine ecologists should not be ignored.

The public of Trinidad and Tobago – who must pay for this extravagance – should educate itself on the broader science and understand the importance of an unaltered mangrove, lagoon and reef system to health and wellbeing.

Moving forward with or without Sandals Bertrand Bhikarry

Environment Tobago (ET) finds itself once in the unenviable position of speaking for the welfare of the natural environment (Nature has no voice though it can and does retaliate when stressed). However, the definition of good or effective environmental stewardship has broadened over the last decade to include Social Impact - which can be fluid, hard to pin and if severe enough, redounds to the detriment of ‘environment’.

Given the above ET has adopted the position that while nature can be exploited for its services - which in the Tobago economic context means tourism, nature should also be recognized as a finite resource, one vitally linked to the sustainability of the sector. To the extent and allowing that there may be arguments that tourism, ecotourism, nature-based tourism is a key window for educating the general public, ET deplores and is openly against the ‘excuse’ of allowing built facilities to compete with natures services to the local community, especially when it conflicts with the well-being of the resident population, the ecosystem and ultimately and ironically, the economy.

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Outcomes of the development Politically

The current administration led by Tobago born Dr. Keith Rowley has identified tourism as a key pillar for diversifying the national economy away from its dependency on the energy sector. Dr Rowley perceives this as the strategic move that will secure the People National Movement a mandate going forward to the general elections in 2022.

This may indeed prove effective if it were not for even a higher rise in crime fuelled no doubt by a shortage of once staple government make-work schemes, closure of Petrotrin, summary termination of its workers and soon, the restructuring of WASA and TSTT. This particular gambit is also subject to perpetually adverse weather; brought on by a rapidly changing climate. Indeed, all or any of the above affects productivity and the average Trinidad and Tobago homeowner’s well-being. No doubt as the country experiences unprecedented escalation on all fronts, our culture of blame will hold Dr Rowley and the PNM as the one responsible. It would seem in this light that Dr Rowley will want to hold Tobago tourism as the beacon of national hope. And given its projected cost he would need to justify that, in rhetoric and by repetition.

He’d also want to sell the idea that the scale of expenditure proposed will benefit the entire country.

It is fifty-fifty proposition that the public will swallow Keith Rowley’s promises.

The record for Tobago tourism initiatives run bleak; from way back to government’s first foray into the sector with the Radisson Crown, to that latest white elephant the Magdalena Grand.. Other Tobago ‘elephants’ include the Dwight Yorke Stadium, the Shaw Park Cultural Center, the Buccoo Integrated or Goat Racing Center, the Cove Industrial Estate and so many others.

Political strategies to offset Dr Rowley’s soon to come mistakes, at least in the Tobago sphere, may require advising the entire political spectrum that this game is far from over. Specifically, we would want to advise the following bodies; PNM that this is risky (for all the reasons that follow). That it’s a time bomb for their 2020 prospects.

Tobago Fowards, TOP, PEP, PNP and the Opposition over in Trinidad that the government’s project is high risk - not safe, not bullet proof, and is political opportunity for them. the public that they will have another government incurred bill to pay within 24 month and again with very little to show (reasons follow) all groups everywhere including the three above, that government is playing fast and loose with its mandate.

That it’s being autocratic, cares little for the tenets of the Open Governance Partnership and well you get the idea.

Economically

The Buccoo Golden - Grove project is a government funded initiative that after completion will be farmed out to a preferred contractor who will add value through its own brand and its client base. Other benefits to be expected are improved airlift which in turn will catalyse the nation’s downstream brick and mortar businesses. In the short term, after the project is rolled out, reef tour operators, taxi drivers, hotel school graduates and farmers can expect sustainable revenue.

The project carries an estimated cost of just over TT$3bn which does not

“Nature has no voice though it can and does retaliate when stressed" “ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . ”

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“The BuccooGolden Grove development is similar to the 2004 Angostura proposal for a hotel and villa complex on the same ‘Estate’

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

factor the additional amounts which will be required to rebuild, retrofit or build from scratch ancillaries for specifics required by the preferred contractor. Indeed, the recent newspaper report of a statement made by Emile Elias of NH International indicates that government may have erred in its estimate of what it would cost to build the hotel villa complex. Mr Elias seems to think the true cost in closer to TT$8bn.

The timeline for the delivery of the Buccoo - Golden Grove project, along with the ancillaries, is given as 2020 - 24 months away. This is an optimistic projection and disallows for bad weather, shipping issues, payment problems indeed any of the entire raft of troubles that has plagued every other Tobago based project in the last twenty years. As a consequence, we have framed a few questions in order to determine the feasibility of the concept knowing there will be overrruns, and which must be seen as merely part of a larger exercise. The determination of the feasibility of the Buccoo Golden - Grove hotel idea is an imperative; as the dollar cost to the taxpayer is in reality a whole.

Q: What is the exact amount of money required to fund the Buccoo - Golden Grove project itself including the cost of borrowing?

Q: What are the payback terms and are they matched by the projected payments from the preferred contractor?

Q: What is the aggregate sum of the Buccoo Golden - Grove project along with the parts of other infrastructural improvements that will service the hotel villa complex?

Q: What is the entire sum required along with the cost of borrowing it for the airport expansion, the port and the Buccoo - Golden Grove sewerage system?

Q: Not unrelated is the cost of the proposed desalination plant. What is the estimated cost including interest of this project?

Q: Who pays for the cost of moving municipal solid waste and treated waste to Studley Park?

Q: How much will the Toco port cost?

Socially

The social effects of the Buccoo Golden - Grove project should be seen as occurring ‘during construction’ and ‘post construction’ because they will differ.

Drawing from the experience of the similarly scaled Tobago Plantations hotel (now Magdalena) and villa complex, the expected benefits did not accrue to any great extent to the local population. Rather the cost of housing raised - to accommodate imported workforce. The local cost of building also escalated; as supply stores sought only to satisfy the TPL contractors who had a more forgiving budget. This also drove up the price of goods to the Tobago House of Assembly who had no choice but to buy at the asking price.

After the hotel was built the price of Tobago land rose - as many contractors in the interim who had established bases for construction material, housing or parking began to provide design-build-realty services. Even further post-TPL, the incidence of Tobago crime rose. This was attributed to the scores of Trinidadian criminals who found Tobago a safe haven, as they took on the various job openings left by the shredded Tobago workforce.

In sum, the Tobago landscape changed after the Tobago Plantations was built.

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Everything, even the inter-island shipping and airbridge required workovers. Indeed, even the most cursory of examinations may suggest that neither ferry service nor Caribbean Airlines has managed to cope with the traffic.

So where will that leave Tobago socially after the Buccoo Golden - Grove deal? More crime? Less goods on the shelves. Or if there is, will it be higher priced?

Harder cross island commuting? (Which will impact students, business people, elderly, the infirm, the legal system for example). More so, should the Tobago business community try to anticipate, to match the expected demand that will come from the Buccoo Golden-Grove project, once that wave is past they will be left with higher demand loan payments; incurred by money borrowed to purchase goods for their shelves. The same might not apply to Trinidad businesses who pop across for the duration - they could always go back to the bigger island to access the larger customer base.

The traveling public; whether inter-island tourists, connecting tourists or business people will no doubt suffer as the seemingly endemic issues to port and airport continue. On a less dramatic scale but no less damaging, will be the cost to Tobago (and to the tourism sector also) coming from pollution. We can expect more noise air and water woes especially in the Crown Point area. Already the ‘strip’ as its called is rife with vermin (rats and pigeons) brought on by the improper management of waste - which Public Health has not been able to address allegedly due to long running budget and staff shortfall.

Then there are the cumulative social considerations. Outside of the Buccoo GoldenGrove project; which if it were a singular project at a particular point in time our local workforce may have been able to service even as they supplied the needs of the general population - there is the proposed airport expansion, a port at Canoe Bay, multiple THA contracts and not least, private construction projects.

More so, at the simplest of levels even the commercial banks will need to add staff. Taxi owners especially the ‘maxis’ will need more vehicles especially if they are to retain the existing school drop-off trade twice a day. In short, there will be a much higher demand on the everyday support system within Tobago - which if it is not addressed in a timely manner will most surely reduce quality of life. This in turn will manifest in domestic dramas, depression, road rage - the usual. Can this be planned for? Has any of it been catered to?

Technologically

Technological constraints may be the best chance of ‘picking fault’ and therefore modifying the approach of Government at Buccoo Golden - Grove. Stay with us: The ancillary services pegged to the establishment of the proposed hotel complex comprise a huge water sewerage system - that reportedly must also serve the villages of Buccoo, the Mt. Irvine settlements, the Black Rock and Turtle Beach community and their surrounds. The weakness here has to do with the quality of the sewerage plant in entirety - given the budget the contractors are working with are a fraction of what it was supposed to cost 20 years ago.

Q: Insurance? Mitigation measures?

Legally

The site of the proposed development is soon to be declared state land. If that assumption is correct, the laws that govern development for private citizens do not apply; State can do with Buccoo Golden Grove land as it wants. Similarly, jetty and pier development may be moot arguments. As under the State Lands Act government can

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“Where will that leave Tobago socially after the Buccoo Golden Grove deal?” “ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . ”

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cede the shoreside between low and high water to anyone it chooses. There is hope though. The proximity of the proposed Buccoo Golden-Grove development to the Buccoo Bon Accord Lagoon complex may offer room to expand the protectionist argument - As the reef and surrounds cannot be protected if the factors that exacerbate its stress are left untouched or multiplied which is more likely the case.

And as would occur as by the placement of a large (holiday) housing complex.

If it seems no law can actually be brought against anyone building a hotel adjacent the Bon Accord wetland complex. There are cogent arguments to be made too, of government’s long-standing intention to protect Buccoo - Bon Accord and other wetlands. The 1998 National Environmental Policy and the 2001 National Wetland Policy clearly signals this. However, to reiterate it we do need to realise that aside from those laws which will ‘guide or inform’ the proposed Buccoo - Golden Grove project, existing laws and institutional arrangements seem inadequate for protecting the wider area in question. And even where the town and country class of legislation (weak as it is) may be of value, proper implementation is missing. To wit, the legality of building a hotel/ villa complex in an area already determined as ‘sensitive’ (though which has not yet completed the process to attain full Ramsar ESA status) is a matter of interpretation.

Q: Is it proper developmental approach to modify the outlying area of a key global asset. A known host to many ‘under-represented’ species?

“There is hope."

There is something else: We refer to the THA commission 2009 of Ivan Laughlin and Co. who were asked to determine the optimal boundary for the Buccoo Reef Marine Park (BRMP). The terms of reference that guided the Laughlin team sought to create a catchment for management. This so that all users of the Marine Park including those whose waste could potentially hurt the ‘asset’ would fall inside its new boundaries and could therefore be legislated against (or helped) The BRMP was supposed to be the big deliverable of this expensive and extended exercise involving the Institute of Marine Affairs, Environment Tobago and many others.

Looking at the above it seems there is room to argue the sense of State (Corporation Sole) building a hotel and golf course in the same space another State body (THA) had already identified (and paid upward of $12M for). In plain speak, if the bigger boundary was good enough for the THA in 2009 it should still be good enough now considering. Indeed, the application of common sense is even more critical now for the survival of this major Tobago wetland.

Environmentally The Buccoo-Golden Grove development is similar to the 2004 Angostura proposal for a hotel and villa complex on the same ‘Estate’. The threat to the natural environment there largely depends on ground water pollution - should the built systems fail, a compromised shoreline - which will manifest when sea level rise or tidal surges appear, and stressed biodiversity - which may not give warning until the surrounding ecosystem fails.

The implications are that any or all of the three can occur and not necessarily due to any hotel or villa complex or sewerage system. The area in question is already under extreme duress, due in part to manmade pollution from the hinterland, oceanic stress such as storms and a combination of both; such as bleaching events. In light of this Environment Tobago recommends that every precaution be taken with this project including strengthening of existing law, bolstering of enforcement and reduced usage or ‘take’ from the locality itself.

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Tobago's bird life

The Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) (Photo by Matt Kelly)

The Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) is a very rare visitor to T&T. Note the large shovel-like bill that gives this dabbling duck its name. This is a drake (male duck) in "eclipse" plumage. "Eclipse" plumage is the plumage a bird, especially a duck, assumes after the "breeding plumage" has gone, and breeding season is over till the next one. Note the blue colour on the shoulder of the wing. This photo was taken in Lowlands, Tobago on December 4, 2018.

ECOLOGY NOTES

What are Trade-offs?

Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal

People don’t’ like to hear the word “trade-off” because it often means that you have to compromise, take something that is less than what you want. But, as we will see, this is not the case in nature.

To better understand the concept of trade-offs from an ecological viewpoint, think of the phrase, “Jack of all trades, master of none”. It is viewed that organisms cannot be good at everything, but good at one thing which enables them to survive in an ecosystem. For example, male Fiddler Crabs have one claw that is very large which they use to display and fight with each other to attract females. However, these claws make it easier for predators to spot them, also they are heavy so that the crabs cannot move very fast.

Then why have trade-offs? The reason is that it gives the species an advantage over generalist species. A good example would be getting food. So that than animal with short, muscular forelimbs with large claws can dig easily but not be very mobile.

However, they have access to a steady food supply in that ecosystem which a generalist species cannot access.

It is expected that trade-offs occur in nature for four main reasons. The first is Allocation, which can be of time, energy, or materials, for example, the time taken to build a defensive structure cannot be used to attract a mate and reproduce.

Antagonistic Pleiotropy is another. This is a mutation that improves one ability but often degrades another. Then there is Mutational Decay which is a mutation that degrades an unused function. Finally, there is the laws of physics, which in terms of the rate of efficiency with which a physical system can work. So, the species can be either fast and inefficient or slow and efficient.

“ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . ”

“Jack of all trades, master of none."

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WHAT’S HAPPENING @ ET

ET is now on Facebook and Twitter We invite everyone on Facebook to join. Here we will post upcoming events, links, photos and videos on ET matters and other environmental issues.

ET group link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/ group.php?gid=53362888661&ref=ts And keep up to date on what we are up to by following us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/environ_tobago

Environment TOBAGO Environmental and Services Map of Tobago They are excellent and will be published every two years.

Published in January 2008. Requests for these maps can be made to ET office.

Volunteers needed!

Persons who are interested in helping with cataloguing and filing of ET’s educational, research and operational material and archiving.

New Members

ET has a membership of 433 worldwide, ET welcomes the following member:

Derek Dickenson

Literature Available

The Tropical Rainforest of Tobago — The Main Ridge Graham Wellfare and Hema Singh Published by Environment TOBAGO pp 37 Price: TT120.

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Page 15

Environment TOBAGO t-shirts and caps now available

Type: Polos Size: Small, Medium & Large Price: TT$150.00 Colours: Kelly green, royal blue, red, gold and ash grey Description: ET logo embroidered on left breast, sponsor’s logo printed on the back.

Type: Regular tees Size: Small, Medium & Large Price: TT$100.00 Colours: Kelly green, red, black, navy blue, ash, purple, royal blue and black forest Description: ET logo printed on front and sponsor logos on sleeves at the back centre

Type: Lady’s tees Size: Small & Medium Price: TT$100.00 Colours: Lime green, red and black Description: ET logo printed on front and sponsor logo at the back centre

Price: TT$120.00

Orders can be made through the office.

Products featuring artwork from Rainforest Education & Awareness Programme

Tote bags-TT$120

Burlap bags -TT$120

Postcards TT$15 per card or TT$100 for a pack of Drawstring bags-TT$130

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Page 16

READERS’ FORUM Dear ET Newsletter Readers, Office:

11 Cuyler Street Scarborough, Tobago, W.I.

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 503, Scarborough, Tobago, W.I.

Phone: 1-868-660-7462 Fax: 1-868-660-7467 E-mail: envir@tobago.net

We want to hear from YOU! Comments may be edited for length and clarity.

Send your comments to: joannesewlal@gmail.com or envir@tobago.net

GUIDELINES TO CONTRIBUTORS 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) joannesewlal@gmail.com 2) envir@tobago.net

We are on the web http:// www.Environmenttobago.net

Deadline for submission of material for the 1st Quarter 2019 issue of the Bulletin is March 10, 2019.