Background Context and Related Work

MULTI-FOCAL AREA ENABLING ACTIVITY PROPOSAL FOR GEF FUNDING FOR NATIONAL CAPACITY NEEDS SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (NCSA)

FINANCING PLAN (US$) AGENCY’S PROJECT ID: GEF PROJECT/COMPONENT GEFSEC PROJECT ID: COUNTRY: Trinidad & Tobago Project 181,500 COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY: Trinidad and Tobago is PDF A 25,000 eligible for funding under paragraph 9 (b) of the Sub-Total GEF 206,500 instrument and meets all other eligibility requirements CO-FINANCING for GEF funding. GEF Agency 0 PROJECT TITLE: National Capacity Needs Gov’t Contribution 23,100 Assessment – Trinidad & Tobago Others - GEF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: UNEP Sub-Total Co-financing: 23,100 NATIONAL EXECUTING AGENCY: Environmental Total Project 229,600 Management Authority Financing: DURATION: 13 months GEF FOCAL AREA: MFA GEF OPERATIONAL PROGRAM: EA GEF STRATEGIC PRIORITY: CB-2 ESTIMATED STARTING DATE: September 2004 IA Fees: US $30,975

RECORD OF ENDORSEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT (OPERATIONAL FOCAL POINT): Mr Dave McIntosh, Managing Director, Date: 28 April 2004 Environmental Management Authority

CONVENTION PARTICIPATION CONVENTION DATE OF RATIFICATION (R) / NATIONAL FOCAL POINT ACCESSION (A) UNCBD August 1, 1996 (R) Anthony Bartholomew, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment UNFCCC June 24, 1994 (R) Anthony Bartholomew, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment UNCCD June 8, 2000 (A) Anthony Bartholomew, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment

1 This proposal has been prepared in accordance with GEF policies and procedures and meets the standards of the GEF Project Review Criteria for NCSA approval.

IA Co-ordinator IA Project Contact Person

Ahmed Djoghlaf Abdul-Majeid Haddad Division of GEF Co-ordination, UNEP NCSA Task Manager, UNEP Date: 29 April 2004 Tel. and email: +254 20 624088 [email protected]

2 List of Acronyms

BAC Biodiversity Advisory Council CARICOM Caribbean Community CCWG Climate Change Working Group CEPEP Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme CNIRD Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development CoP Conference of Parties COPE Council of Presidents of Environmental NGOs CPACC Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Global Climate Change Project EMA Environmental Management Authority GEF Global Environment Facility GHG Green House Gas GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms LMOs Living Modified Organisms MALMR Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Marine Resources MEAs Multilateral Environmental Agreements MPUE Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment NAPCC National Action Plan for Climate Change NAPCD National Action Plan to Combat Desertification NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NCCD National Committee to Combat Desertification NCSA National Capacity needs Self Assessment NEAP National Environmental Action Plan NGO Non-Governmental Organization NPC National Project Coordinator PPDE Policy and Planning Division (Environment) RIOD International NGOs Network on Desertification and Drought TAC Technical Advisory Committee TC Technical Consultants TCPD Town & Country Planning Division THA The Tobago House of Assembly UNCBD United Nations Convention on Biodiversity UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UWI University of the West Indies

3 Section I Background, Context and Related Work

Environmental and Socio-Economic Context

1. The twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has a combined surface area of about 5130 km2. These islands are part of the same bio-geographic region as tropical coastal South American because of their proximity to the South American mainland, (Trinidad is separated from Venezuela by about 12km of sea). However, especially in Tobago, some of the flora are identical with those found in the Antillean islands further to the north. The major terrestrial ecosystems are comprised of Evergreen Seasonal Forests, Semi-Evergreen Seasonal Forests, Deciduous Seasonal Forests, Dry Evergreen Forests, Seasonal Montane Forests, Montane Forests, Swamp Forests, Secondary Forests, Marshlands (mangroves and herbaceous swamp) and Savannas. The 2002 Annual Report of the Forestry Division reported that about 48.4% of the combined area of Trinidad and Tobago was covered by forests. The marine ecosystems are comprised of coral reefs, sea grass beds, sandy bottoms, mud bottoms, littoral mud flats, sandy beaches, rocky shores, and fresh water and estuarine systems.

2. There is no comprehensive listing of the number of species of plants and animals in Trinidad and Tobago, however a rough estimate obtained during the preparation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), indicated that there were about 2160 species of vascular plants, 450 species of birds, 95 of mammals, 85 of reptiles, 55 of snakes, 30 of amphibians, 45 of freshwater fishes, 354 of marine fishes, 600 of butterflies and 200-300 nematodes. Rare, endangered or extirpated species have been noted by workers in the field, but there are no data or population studies to support these claims.

3. The key terrestrial protected areas (Wildlife Sanctuaries and Forest Reserves) in the country were designated under the Forests Act as prohibited areas, and include the Aripo Savannahs, Caroni Swamp, parts of the Northern Range, Bush Bush, Trinity Hills, Matura Beach, Fishing Pond, Nariva Swamp, Grand Riviere Beach, and 23 Forest Reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. The Buccoo Marine Park is the only marine park in the country and was designated under the Marine Ares (Preservation and Enhancement) Act.

4. In terms of climate change, the country is a small island developing state and is vulnerable to the range of potential impacts that have been predicted by experts. Future climate scenarios, contained in the Initial National Communication under the UNFCCC, focus on four main areas: temperature, rainfall, sea-level rise and extreme events. The projections provided by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change and other general climate models set the following scenario to the year 2100 for Trinidad and Tobago: a temperature rise of between 1o C and 3.5o C; sea-level rise of 15 to 95cm and a rainfall deficit of about 15%. Therefore the areas more vulnerable to climate change impacts will be coastal development, agriculture, and coastal ecosystems. Water planning/management and economic development linked to these areas will also be seriously affected.

5. Land degradation in Trinidad and Tobago is considered a major problem in several areas of the country. The First National Report to the UNCCD identified the causes of land degradation as due to squatter settlements, shifting agriculture, quarrying, deforestation, road construction, coastal erosion and pollution from industry and by solid wastes. A National Action Programme to address land degradation has not yet been developed, however the government has proposed that implementation of the UNCCD within the existing institutional framework for land management will be the best option for sustainability.

4 6. Key environmental concerns are related to the degradation and conversion of the ecosystems of the twin island republic, and are primarily through exploitation of natural resources caused by the quest for individual wealth and increasing consumption patterns. Unregulated deforestation and forest conversion, destruction/ conversion of wetlands, irresponsible quarrying activities, annual forest fires, fully or over-exploited coastal fishery, destructive near shore trawling, industrial/commercial pollution, and improper waste disposal are among the major environmental issues that require serious attention. Population growth and the increasing demand for housing, including unauthorised and regulated up-market settlements, are also considered key drivers of environmental degradation. All of these impacts further contribute to increased water demand, degradation of watersheds, accelerated soil erosion and increased seasonal flooding.

7. During 2003 the economy of Trinidad and Tobago continued to demonstrate strong growth that was based largely on developments in the energy sector (petroleum and liquefied natural gas), where real value added increased by 12.6%. The non-energy sector (distribution, transportation & communication, construction and manufacturing), was much weaker with an expansion of 0.6% recorded by the end of the third quarter of 2003. Inflation for the 12-month period ending in September 2003 was calculated at 2.98%, a significant decrease in comparison with 4.5% for the preceding period. The unemployment rate was 10.3% at the end of September 2003 and was expected to fall in 2004 due to the proposed expansion in low skilled government employment projects (CEPEP and Reforestation). The Government’s expenditure is expected to grow in 2004 by 19% especially on education, housing and health.

8. The key environmental concerns identified above are considered national priorities. Specific actions to provide some redress in the short term have been proposed by the Government through the Social and Economic Policy Framework 2004. The following environmental activities were proposed for priority action:

 Expedite development of the National Biosafety Framework (for GMOs and LMOs)  Establishment of Water Resources Management and Meteorological Authority for integrated water resource management  National Reforestation Programme, for socio-economic and ecological benefits, through NGOs Reforestation of degraded forest areas for watershed protection; 1000 acres to be planted in year 1 (33,000 acres over 10 years). New forest plantations for sustainable lumber production  Development and implementation of National Action Programme for Land Degradation  Development of National Solid Waste Management System  Conservation of energy and natural resources  Plan for reduction of waste generation. Environmentally sound treatment of municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural and medical waste using best available technology  Protection of human health and environment from hazards of waste disposal  Green Fund – table legislation to effect changes to the management of the fund to facilitate operation and administration of Fund, similar to Road Improvement Fund and Unemployment Levy  CEPEP (Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme) – to be expanded by 50% due to the demand for participation from society and the benefits (improvement to the state of the environment, small business development, employment creation).

5 Environmental Institutions

9. There are several government Ministries, Departments or Divisions within other Ministries, Statutory Authorities (State Enterprises) and Municipal Corporations that have jurisdiction in different aspects of the environment. Below is a listing of the key agencies and an outline of their major environmental responsibilities:

10. Town & Country Planning Division (TCPD): Under the Ministry of Planning and Development, the TCDP’s mandate includes making provision for the orderly and progressive development of land, and granting permission to develop land. These functions involve the allocation of land for parks and game and bird sanctuaries; preservation of trees and forests; and control of waste disposal. The major focus of the TCPD has been the preparation of the National Physical Development Plan and lower-order regional and local area plans, and the grant of planning permission for development proposals.

11. Interim National Physical Planning Commission (INPPC): The INPPC under the Ministry of Planning and Development was established to manage the implementation of physical planning legislative and institutional reform. The INPPC manages selected projects aimed at transforming the physical planning and land development regulatory regimes.

12. Ministry of Health: This Ministry has some environmentally related responsibilities, particularly in terms of environmental health where investigation of public health complaints, pollution of water and management of domestic wastes are within this Ministry’s jurisdiction.

13. Ministry of Local Government: Management of City and Regional Corporations is the prime mandate, however some focus has been on the management of many environmental areas, particularly in reference to solid waste. The Regional Corporations in particular are responsible for the maintenance, control and enhancement of the physical environment, including monitoring water courses, beaches, and water-front areas, swamps, forests, game sanctuaries, savannahs, parks and other open areas.

14. Ministry of Public Utilities and Environment: This Ministry includes most of the agencies that are responsible for major aspects of the environment. These agencies are the:-

Policy and Planning Division (Environment) - responsible for reporting on and coordinating the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, as well as inputs to budgeting and planning of the Public Sector Investment Programme.

Environmental Management Authority – operations are governed by the Environmental Management Act 2000 with a focus on developing and implementation of policies and programmes for the effective management and wise use of the environment; streamlining and coordination of environmental management; implementation of the National Environmental Policy; enactment of legislation; and the coordination of implementation of national plans.

Water and Sewage Authority and the Water Resources Agency – Primary focus is on the abstraction, treatment and distribution of pipe borne water; provision of sewerage services; water resources surveying, monitoring, research and development; planning and demand analysis; issues of water allocation; and licensing of private abstractors.

6 Water Resources Management Unit – set up to oversee the development of the National Water Resources Management Policy and Strategy and to coordinate implementation of National Water Resources Management Strategy, as well as to develop new legislation and institutional arrangements.

Forestry Division – the designation and management of Forest Reserves, Prohibited Areas, National Parks, Nature Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries, management of forest resources and wildlife (for multiple use), timber forest plantation management on State Lands, enforcement of the Forest Act and related legislation, watershed management and soil conservation, forest fire protection, technical assistance and support for private forestry (Incentive Programme) and public awareness.

Institute of Marine Affairs – Primarily to advise the Government on various aspects of the marine environment, and focus on research, inventory and monitoring of coastal ecosystems and water quality, as well as project assessments.

15. Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Marine Resources (MALMR): This Ministry also has several agencies that have responsibility for key aspects of environmental management. These agencies include the:-

Agriculture Division – the management of agricultural development, pest and disease control, pesticide regulation and crop research.

Fisheries Division – Management of living marine and aquatic resources, particularly conservation, stock assessment and management, extension and support to fisherfolk and marketers, international fishing agreements, administering aquaculture, inland fisheries and ornamental fish farming, and the protection of turtles in coastal waters, turtle eggs and nesting beaches.

16. The Tobago House of Assembly (THA): This island government has responsibility for the management of affairs in the island of Tobago. It has several departments with parallel functions of several Divisions in Central Government, for example the THA Department of Marines Resources and Fisheries.

17. The University of the West Indies: Primarily research and teaching, with undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in environmental science, various aspects of ecology, natural resource economics, and environmental engineering. A new undergraduate course on climate change and impact assessment is being developed for the next academic year.

18. Environmental NGOs: There are several environmental NGOs in operation in the country, such as the Point-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, T&T Field Naturalist Club, Caribbean Forest Conservation Association, The Buccoo Reef Trust and Environment Tobago, and the coordinating body for many environmental NGOs called Council of Presidents of Environmental NGOs (COPE). The main strength of these NGOs has been in the promotion of awareness on environmental issues and educational activities targeted mainly at schools and local communities. Although there is little documentation in the public domain, there are Village Councils, Youth Groups, and service organisations that fund and implement environmental activities from time-to-time.

19. The Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) is a development NGO based in Trinidad that has an environment programme which helps build CBO capacity for advocacy, to develop informed positions on sustainable development especially for interactions with

7 senior decision makers. CNIRD also promotes civil society involvement in all environmental issues and has a community based natural resources management project focusing on solid waste management, marine debris and conservation of turtles (Matelot and Plymouth).

20. UNDP Global Environmental Facility/Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP): The GEF/SGP launched in 1992, is currently administered through the UNDP Country Office and provides grants to NGOs and CBOs in support of community-based initiatives that contribute to conserving global biological diversity, mitigating climate change or protecting international waters. Activities addressing land degradation --primarily desertification and deforestation-- may also be supported when they relate to the three focal areas. The first SGP project in Trinidad and Tobago was started in 1995 during the Pilot Phase and by January 2004, there were 41 projects in the portfolio with a total approved allocation of about US$569,000.

Institutional Conflicts

21. The resolution of jurisdictional overlaps among governmental departments or Ministries will be discussed through inter-departmental meetings. In some cases there are formalised agreements, such as the Memorandum of Understanding between the Environmental Management Authority and the Tobago House of Assembly at the national level. At the local level there is a Coordinating Committee with THA representation and representatives from the Air and Sea Port Authorities. There is also a Clearing House mechanism with bimonthly meetings that is utilised as a forum for discussing issues at a high level among the relevant Ministry, the EMA and the THA.

22. Deficiencies in institutional capacity to implement the relevant mandates are related to the following issues: regulatory weakness, lack of or inadequate policy, inadequate vision for environmental protection, limited public education programmes, inadequate resources, unclear jurisdiction and inadequate cooperation, lack of punitive sanctions, and delays in the justice systems.

8 Environmental Legislation and Policies

Legislation:

23. There are over 100 pieces of legislation that offer some degree of environmental protection. However the key pieces of environmental legislation directly related to the MEAs being considered include the Environmental Management Act, Town & Country Planning Act, Forests Act, Conservation of Wildlife Act, Fisheries Act, and the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement Act).

24. The Environmental Management Act (2000): This Act was designed to: promote better understanding of the environment; encourage the integration of environmental concerns into public and private decisions; facilitate coordination among government entities to harmonise activities to protect, enhance and conserve the environment; develop and implement policies, laws and programmes for the conservation and wise use of the environment; ensure economic growth with sound environmental practices; implement international commitments; and enhance the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for environmental management.

25. The Town & Country Planning Act (Chap. 35:01): This Act was intended to plan and control development in the country and has some provisions directly related to ecosystem protection, particularly in the 2nd Schedule, Pt. IV, Sect.5: preservation of forests, wood, trees; 2nd Schedule, Pt. IV, Clause 8: Prohibition of pollution of rivers; and Class IV(2): provisions for regulating the deposit of waste material.

26. The Forests Act (Chap. 66:01 and amendments in Act #23 of 1999) prescribe activities to regulate use of state forests, especially for cutting, fires, removal of forest products, and entry of protected/prohibited areas. Under this Act a prohibited area is defined as a specified area being part of a Forest Reserve or State lands declared by the Minister by Order to be a prohibited area.

27. The Conservation of Wildlife Act (Chap. 67:01) provides the legal framework for the establishment of Game Sanctuaries in which it is unlawful to hunt, and for the regulation of hunting in other areas. Schedules allow for the regulation of capture of named species of animals and birds. The Act has no other provision for the protection and management of wildlife habitat, or to prevent activities that can lead to habitat loss.

28. The Fisheries Act (Chap. 67:51) provides for the regulation of living marine and aquatic resources, especially setting the size and dimensions of nets, determining the size of harvested stocks, and prohibiting the sale of undersized catch. The Act also provides for jurisdiction over rivers and the territorial sea and allows for the declaration of prohibited marine areas and prescribing permitted activities.

29. The Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act (Chap. 37:01) authorises the Minister to designate any portion of the marine area of the country as a restricted area for the preservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the area, the protection of flora and fauna, the promotion of the enjoyment by the public of such areas, and the promotion of scientific study and research.

30. Deficiencies in the existing legislation and institutional administration of the relevant Acts include the following: failure to use regulatory power, antiquated and outdated regulations, failure to assent laws, and vagueness or absence of specific standards.

9 Policies:

31. The National Environmental Policy, adopted in 1998, is the major policy that offers guidance on all aspects of environmental management. The goal of this policy is the conservation and wise use of the environment of Trinidad and Tobago to provide adequately for meeting the needs of present and future generations and for enhancing the quality of life. The specific objectives are to:  Prevent, reduce or eliminate various forms of pollution to ensure adequate protection of the environment, and consequently the health and well-being of humans;  Conserve the biological diversity of the country and the stability and resilience of the ecosystems;  Undertake retrospective analysis or evaluations to correct past development decisions that might be inimical to the continued environmental health of the country.

32. The National Policy on Wetland Conservation was approved by the Government in 2002 and prescribes 29 objectives for the protection, management and restoration of wetlands in order to sustain and enhance their ecological and socio-economic values, and functions, for current and future generations.

33. The draft Forest Policy of Trinidad and Tobago was produced in 1998 in recognition of the increasing contribution of the forestry sector to national development, and the Forestry Division’s role as both a provider of goods and services and as a facilitator to its stakeholders. This policy was intended to promote ecosystem integrity, efficient use of forest resources, integrated decision- making, continuous improvement and innovation, partnership and consultation, and accountability and equity. There were 14 policy objectives each with specific actions that address: land use planning and forest reservation, legislation, forest management, forest production, forest protection, utilisation and forest industry development, national parks and other protected areas, wildlife management, watershed management, forest engineering, forest research, private forestry/ agroforestry/forest assistance, forest publicity and awareness, and forestry training and human resource development.

34. The draft National Water Resources Management Policy was produced in 2002 but has not yet been approved by Cabinet. The policy document, which is expected to form the basis for Integrated Water Resources Management in the country, provides an overview of the status of the country’s water resources, outlines the goals and objectives of water resources management as well as the principles which guide the policy, and the priorities for the allocation of water. The document also includes guidance on the following aspects:  Direction for the various water-related issues of land-use planning, water resources assessment, water resources planning, abstraction licensing, designating uses of water bodies, ambient water quality, public water supply, agricultural water management, seasonal variation in water availability, water-related emergencies, flooding, watershed management, water-related ecology, wetlands, coastal zone management, climate change and variability, wastewater, water for national security, pricing and cost recovery, public participation and access to information, water infrastructure, water supply reliability criteria;  Outline of instruments for policy implementation;  Outline of the process for review and revision of the policy; and  Provision of direction for the assignment of responsibilities for implementation of the policy.

10 35. There is no clearly established or nationally adopted sustainable development strategy. However, the Tobago Sustainable Development Council had proposed a strategy in relationship to implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action for Small Island Developing States. At this time it is unclear if or how that strategy is being utilized by state agencies or civil society organisations.

11 Environmental Programmes and Projects under the Rio Conventions

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

36. The Initial National Communication of Trinidad and Tobago was completed and submitted in 2001. This exercise was coordinated by the Climate Change Working Group, comprised of representatives from several government agencies, NGOs and the private sector. The document provided the first

inventory of CO2, CH4, and N20 production, as well as an estimation of indirect green house gases (GHGs) NOx, CO, NMVOCs and SO2. HFCs, PFCs and SF6 were not inventoried due to lack of data. Also included in the report were time series data on temperature, rainfall, projections for temperature, sea-level and rainfall for up to 2100.

37. The key issues identified in that report were:  Grappling with environmental problems while striving to achieve economic goals.

 GHG emissions are expected to grow; 95% of total emissions was CO2, of which 66% came from energy production and 34% from other industries.  While the contribution of the country’s GHG emissions is small on the global scale, the impact of climate change on the country will be significant; the priority should be adapting to climate change impacts, notwithstanding the importance of GHG abatement.

 Forests remove about 10% of CO2 emissions; ameliorating effect would be diminished as forest cover is reduced.  The relative cheapness of non-renewable sources of energy mitigates any serious attention to renewable sources.  Vulnerable sectors include terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, especially coral reefs; rural population that is more dependent on the environment; infrastructure; water resources for domestic, industry and agricultural use; coastal areas with high population density; health and tourism.  Poor land use choices will make the impact of climatic effects worse; the Caroni Basin already under threat from poor land use practices, pollution from small industry and agro- chemicals, and annual flooding.

38. There is no specific legal instrument to regulate activities that contribute to climate change, however, bits of existing legislation do provide for some measure of control in terms of land use and environmental pollution. Policies were being developed by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for major solid, liquid and gaseous emissions. The EMA serves as the technical focal point for local UNFCCC activities and are guided by the Climate Change Working Group chaired by the EMA. A 3 year Public Awareness Strategy and Action Plan was prepared by the Working Group and is being implemented through the public awareness programme of EMA. It targets mainly the youth through schools, coastal communities and other stakeholders.

39. Trinidad and Tobago also participated in the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Global Climate Change Project (CPACC), between 1999 and 2001. The country benefited from technical assistance and the provision of training and awareness materials as well as some equipment. Three major outcomes were the setting up of a national repository for climate change data and information, including the Coastal Resources Information System; a pilot study on the economic valuation of resources in selected coastal ecosystems at risk from sea level rise; and three automated sea-level and meteorological monitoring stations linked by satellite that provided ready and free access to the data at any time.

12 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

40. The National Biological Diversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was developed in 2001 through several rounds of broad-based consultations, and was coordinated by a multi-sectoral NBSAP Task Force with administrative support from the EMA. This Task Force however, ceased to function after the NBSAP was accepted by the Government. The NBSAP provided a review of the status and issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of the country’s biodiversity. The document also proposed several recommendations for the conservation of biological diversity; sustainable use of its components; and for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.

41. The major issues identified in the NBSAP were:  Over exploitation of many biological resources  Habitat destruction in key ecosystems  Habitat conversion and fragmentation  Cascading effects of environmental stress from different sources  Loss of livelihoods by some sectors of the populations  Inactivity in biodiversity conservation will lead to greater costs in future  Lack of implementation of mechanisms that encourage sustainable use  Lack of studies to document the financial and social contribution of biodiversity

42. There are several pieces of existing legislation that can be used to regulate practices that contribute to loss of biodiversity, such as the Environmental Management Act, Town & Country Planning Act, Forest Act, Conservation of Wildlife Act, Fisheries Act, and the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act. Consistent enforcement of these Acts and outdated sections of some of them, have been major weaknesses.

43. The First Year programme of implementation for the NBSAP gave priority to the following activities: i. Awareness/Inclusion of the NBSAP in all Ministries ii. Identifying specific interventions in sectoral policies iii. Public awareness programme for NGOs, CBOs, private sector iv. Economic evaluation of biodiversity through data collection and analysis v. Implementation of some of the listed actions vi. Identification of funding sources for programme development vii. Planning and establishment of Clearing House Mechanism to make information accessible viii. Identification of priority data and research projects ix. Elaborating commitment from agencies, NGOs, CBOs and identification of areas of action x. Evolve the mechanism for continued collaboration and coordination of NBSAP xi. Continue political sensitisation process xii. Articulate legal mechanisms for implementation of strategies and actions.

44. Some of the education and awareness activities were being implemented through the public awareness programme of the EMA. However, it was unclear if any of the other activities listed above were given any priority attention following adoption of the NBSAP by the Government.

13 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD)

45. The First National Report of Trinidad and Tobago to the CCD was submitted in 2002. The major issues identified in the document related to land degradation and included: . Degradation of watersheds due to urbanisation, squatting, agriculture, quarrying and logging resulting in deforestation, erosion, water quality deterioration, and flooding. . Road construction in hilly rural areas contributing to erosion and opening of areas for secondary and sometimes unauthorised developments. . Oil spills, seepages and clearing of vegetation for drilling and oil industry infrastructure . Disruption of ecosystem functions of the Nariva Swamp for rice production, fishing, hunting (similar reclamation projects for many other wetlands). . Soil acidification from fertiliser use; loss of organic content. . Coastal erosion due to removal of vegetation for built/tourism development and agriculture. . Sand mining in rivers and along beaches. . Impact on marine /coastal ecosystems from sewage disposal and solid waste dumps. . Pollution from industry especially in the west. . Regulatory framework does not discourage/penalise inappropriate site preparation. . Threats to Biodiversity linked to changing land use and habitat destruction.

46. The National Report was intended to lead to the establishment of an implementation framework in 2002, including a plan to strengthen the capacity of the national focal point to deliver on the government’s obligations under the CCD; to convene a 2nd National Consultation; establish and convene a National Co-ordinating body for the CCD as well as Land Management; and to develop a National Action Programme. None of these activities have as yet been implemented.

47. CNIRD is the RIOD Caribbean Focal Point for land degradation, and Advisor to the Government on the UNCCD. CNIRD in collaboration with the government, CARICOM, the UN and other international agencies hosted a regional workshop on land degradation in the Caribbean (3-6th February, 2004). The workshop was essentially a planning session to develop ideas for National Action Programmes and a Sub-regional Action Programme on land degradation. Additionally, participants were exposed to several aspects of land degradation assessment.

14 Capacity for Environmental Management

48. Capacity constraints exist at the individual, institutional and systemic levels. These have been identified in varying detail as outputs of several workshops and consultations over the past decade. For example, the National Consultation on Sustainable Development in Trinidad and Tobago was held in February 1997. This consultation was organized by the Caribbean Forest Conservation Association and the Sustainable Economic Development Unit and identified 15 capacity constraints with 11 recommendations to deal with these constraints. The NBSAP and National Communications to the CCD and UNFCCC, all identified a range of capacity needs and actions to address these needs. These needs were not based on thorough assessment of the situation nor it provided guidance on priority sequencing of actions. Nevertheless, little has been done to improve the situation.

49. All of the key agencies identified in the preceding section do have some staff that undertake limited activities related to the MEAs. However, most agencies appear not to regard activities prescribed in the MEAs as a national priority, especially since these are not mainstream tasks in their day-to-day operations and are often not described in the agencies work-plans. There are many major issues that contribute to the inadequate capacity to discharge obligations under the MEAs and environmental management in general. The following list was considered as the main issues by participants at two national consultations (Tobago – 25th March 2004 and Trinidad – 29th March, 2004) on the preparation of this NCSA proposal (See Annex 5 – Workshop Report):

 Low budgetary commitment to the environment and conservation in comparison to the competing socio-economic needs associated with the developmental agenda  Generally poor collaboration among agencies, especially in discharging the government’s obligations under the various multilateral environmental agreements  Conflicting policy environment: sectoral policies developed in isolation often results in conflicts among other policies; lack of mechanism to resolve policy conflicts; policy documents often do not articulate implementation mechanisms; lack of awareness or adoption by many senior decision makers of policies drafted by other agencies  Insufficient or lack of enforcement of environmental laws  General insensitivity to community concerns, or lack of integration of these concerns into planning and implementation of projects  Inadequate staffing, resources and facilities with sometimes low motivation to carry out departmental mandates  Institutional inability to adapt to changing circumstances and trends  NGOs and CBOs ability to participate is often limited by human and financial resources.

15 Section II Objectives and linkages to ongoing activities

Objectives

50. The primary goal of this project is to identify, through a country-driven consultative process, the priorities and needs for capacity building to protect the global environment which can work effectively within the existing political, administrative and cultural systems of the country. The NCSA process will also explore linkages among GEF focal areas and with wider environmental concerns and sustainable development at national level. This capacity building initiative must be able to deliver significant results that would improve this country’s record in the discharge of its obligations under selected MEAs.

51. The specific objectives this NCSA will be to:

i. Review and confirm priority issues for action within the thematic areas of biodiversity, climate change and desertification/land degradation, respectively;

ii. Clarify and prioritise related capacity needs within and across the three thematic areas;

iii. Catalyse targeted and co-ordinated action and requests for future external funding and assistance; and,

iv. Link country action to the broader national environmental management and sustainable development framework.

Links to ongoing activities

Climate Change

52. In terms of planned or ongoing work related to climate change, the Climate Change Working Group had developed a work plan with the following priorities:

(a) Enabling activities under the initial national communications 1) technology needs assessment for CC; 2) to build capacity for participation in global observing systems; 3) public awareness and education.

(b) Stock taking exercise of the preparatory process for the initial national communication and development of a proposal for GEF funding of the second national communications as agreed by the COP8.

53. Both of these priorities are funded from project-based activities. The Working Group was established by Cabinet and does not have a budget, although external sources of funds have been available to implement some activities. There is only one officer at the EMA assigned to Climate Change on a part-time basis (who Chairs the Working Group and serves as the Secretariat). In this context, the NCSA will examine the needs and linkages that can foster effective delivery of the activities identified.

16 Biodiversity

54. With regards to biodiversity, many of the priorities identified in the NBSAP for implementation in the first year work programme have not yet started. The EMA has the lead for implementation of the NBSAP, however it currently has inadequate staffing and resources to implement the activities identified as priorities. The NCSA coordination process can be useful in the implementation of some NBSAP priorities. The main activities from the NBSAP that could be utilized during the NCSA are:

1) Planning and establishment of Clearing House Mechanism to make information accessible 2) Identification of priority data and research projects 3) Elaborating commitment from agencies, NGOs, CBOs and identification of areas of action 4) Developing the mechanism for continued collaboration and coordination of NBSAP

55. The EMA has been responsible for preparation of the schedules for the recent declaration of three Environmentally Sensitive Areas, consistent with Article 8 of the CBD. Sensitisation of the public and state agencies for the management of these areas could also benefit from the NCSA process.

56. The EMA has appointed 13 representatives from governmental agencies, NGOs and the EMA to the Biodiversity Advisory Council that was recently established. The objectives of the BAC are to:  Plan strategically for the implementation of biodiversity related programmes, plans, policies and legislation including NBSAP, Wetlands Policy and National Environmental Policy (NEP);  Recommend actions to address the management of the biological diversity of Trinidad and Tobago;  Coordinate and cooperate between the Environmental Management Authority and various stakeholders.

The functions of the BAC are to:  Provide advice to the Board of the EMA regarding the management of natural resources, environmentally sensitive areas and species,  Prepare recommendations, decisions or other programmes and measures with a view to:- o Protecting or conserving ecosystems and biodiversity or components thereof such as certain species, habitats and sites of ecological importance; o Coordination of research to support planning and implementation  Serve as liaisons between communities, management committees and the EMA  Recommend and advise on financial mechanisms and other resources to assist in the management of biological diversity;  Advise on programmes for education and public awareness;  Undergo various capacity building exercises so as to make proficient decisions concerning the management of biological diversity.

Desertification/Land Degradation

57. The National Awareness Seminar on the CCD is planned for this year and will be coordinated by the Policy and Planning Division (Environment) of the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment, in collaboration with CNIRD. This is expected to lead to the development of a National Action Plan for implementing appropriate aspects of the CCD. The effectiveness of these activities could be improved through the NCSA process, particularly in terms of the institutionalizing of a broad-based participatory mechanism to define priority issues and appropriate action and use of the strengthened coordinating mechanism.

17 Section III Project Activities

58. The NCSA proposal was developed with PDF-A funds from the GEF through UNEP. The process included:  Hiring a national consultant to prepare the project proposal;  Identifying and consulting with government institutions and other relevant stakeholders to enhance their participation in the process;  Reviewing existing action plans, strategies and reports;  Identifying related ongoing activities;  Development of a draft project proposal;  Holding a stakeholder consultation in both Trinidad and Tobago to review and provide feedback to the Draft Project Proposal and develop the NCSA implementation mechanism;  Incorporating the outputs of the workshop into the Final Project Proposal

59. The project activities were reviewed and agreed upon by participants at the national consultations as being appropriate and achievable. These activities will be implemented over a 13-month period and should ideally cover the time over which the country is expected to participate in each of the Conference of Parties (COP) for the three thematic areas. The level and quality of participation in these COPs will provide a useful test of the impact of this NCSA. The NCSA process will follow the guidance given in the ‘Guide for Self-Assessment of Country Capacity Needs for Global Environmental Management’, UNITAR 2000. The following major phases are proposed:

 Establishment of institutional arrangements to manage the process:  Development of the combined stocktaking assessment for the three thematic areas  Identification of priorities within the thematic profiles  Identification of capacity constraints, cross-cutting issues, synergies and opportunities for addressing capacity constraints  Development of a capacity development action plan;  Development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation process.

Activity 1: Establish a high-level supervision mechanism and project co-ordination team

60. The Minister of Public Utilities and the Environment, on the advice of the Permanent Secretary (who is also the National Focal Point for all three thematic areas), shall arrange for the Cabinet of Ministers to appoint a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to give overall guidance on the implementation of the NCSA. The TAC shall be comprised of an appropriate number of members, to include representatives from the public sector, private sector and NGO/CBO. The mix of skills required for the TAC should include expertise in biodiversity (terrestrial and aquatic), climate change, land use planning, project management, community mobilization/rural development, socio- economics, and local business/industry. The Minister or the Permanent Secretary will serve as the Chair of the TAC.

61. The Policy and Planning Division (Environment) [PPDE] in the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment will hire technical expertise to coordinate the NCSA. The expertise will be comprised of a locally recruited National Project Coordinator (NPC) with significant experience in one of the thematic areas, including participation in and negotiation at the Conference of Parties and other preparatory meetings. The NPC should also have experience in project management and familiarity with the operations of a Government Ministry, including its administrative processes and should

18 already have a good working relationship with senior decision makers in several key Ministries. The NPC shall also participate in the TAC (Annex 3 – Terms of Reference).

62. Two national technical consultants (TC) will also be hired, each with expertise in the other thematic areas (Annex 3 – Terms of Reference). CNIRD an NGO with experience in the UNCCD and land degradation issues, will also be sub-contracted for technical assistance in the desertification/land degradation thematic area. The work of the NPC and TCs (the Project Team) shall be dedicated to the NCSA, the CBD, CCD and the UNFCCC.

Activity 2: Stock-taking under the three thematic areas

63. The NPC, TCs, and CNIRD with assistance from the staff of the PPDE, will review the existing situation under each of the thematic areas, identifying national obligations and activities for action, what has been achieved to date and gaps that require attention. This review shall be subjected to broad-based consultation to determine consensus and direction on the preparation of thematic profiles for biodiversity, climate change and desertification/land degradation (Annex 2 – List of potential stakeholders). The Biodiversity Advisory Council and the Climate Change Working Group will have lead roles in this exercise and may serve as the NCSA Working Group for their respective thematic areas. Since much of the land degradation/desertification issues are similar to biodiversity conservation issues and have similar policy and management solutions, the Biodiversity Advisory Council may additionally serve as Desertification/Land Degradation Working Group. The Project Team will prepare thematic reports on biodiversity and climate change, while CNIRD will prepare the thematic report on desertification/land degradation based on the review as well as existing documentation and recommendations.

Activity 3: Identification of priorities within the thematic profiles

64. The Project Team and CNIRD will assist the Government in the identification of priority issues through review of existing recommendations and consultation with key stakeholder groups. These issues may include training of staff in areas related to the MEAs, policy and legislation review or drafting, and other technical assistance required for implementation of the MEAs.

65. The Project Team and CNIRD will develop or adopt and utilize an appropriate procedure for transparent sectoral and public participation in deciding on priority issues for action. This participatory process will include consultations with relevant Ministries, State Agencies, the private sector and NGOs, as well as public consultations in both Trinidad and Tobago. This process will also be utilized to inform and seek input from stakeholders on preparations for the COP and related meetings. This process could also be used to provide feedback to stakeholders on the outcome of participation in the COP and related meetings, and progress in implementation of the MEAs.

Activity 4: Identification of capacity constraints, cross-cutting issues, synergies and opportunities for addressing capacity constraints

65. Capacity constraints will be examined at the individual, institutional and systemic levels. Special emphasis will be given to determining the synergies that could be enhanced among the three thematic areas and among national policies, programmes and projects. Capacity building opportunities will be identified based on existing and proposed sectoral programmes, including the public sector investment projects. These opportunities may include creating new capacity, mobilising

19 or redeploying existing capacity, and enhancing existing capacities. This report will be the subject of review by all key stakeholder groups, utilising workshops (two in Trinidad and one in Tobago) to ensure consensus. The Project Team and CNIRD will then finalise this report and communicate the findings back to the key stakeholder groups.

Activity 5: Preparation of an NCSA Action Plan

66. Based on the findings of the previous activities, the Project Team and CNIRD will prepare a draft action plan to address the capacity needs and opportunities identified. The action plan will include details on human resource capacity strengthening needs, supported by appropriate information needs, tools and infrastructure.

67. The draft action plan will be subjected to public consultation (one in Trinidad and one in Tobago) to ensure consensus on the priorities and implementation mechanism. The outcome of these consultations will lead to the finalization of the Trinidad and Tobago Action Plan on Capacity Building for Global Environmental Management.

68. The TAC will arrange for a forum of Permanent Secretaries and key Ministers in which to present the draft action plan to broaden awareness among senior decision makers/politicians and for direct feedback.

Activity 6: Develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation process

69. The Project Team will develop a protocol for monitoring progress on the project’s activities and provide a report of activities on a quarterly basis to the TAC and the Minister. At the end of the 12th month of this project an independent Consultant will be hired to conduct a thorough assessment of the impact and usefulness of this capacity building process. This Consultant will also utilize the participatory mechanism developed during this project to ensure that stakeholders are involved in this assessment.

20 Section IV Institutional Framework and Project Implementation

70. The NCSA process will be managed by the Project Team (National Project Coordinator and two Technical Consultants) under the guidance of the Technical Advisory Committee, which reports to the Cabinet of Ministers. CNIRD will report to the NPC. The Project Team will be physically located in the Policy and Planning Division (Environment) and will come under the jurisdiction of the Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment. Financial management will be facilitated through existing mechanisms set up in this Ministry for such projects.

71. At the end of the project, the Ministry will absorb the Project Team as part of the staffing of the Policy and Planning Division (Environment). They will be dedicated to follow-up and technical assistance for implementation of the MEAs, and will adopt the recommendations as appropriate coming out of the end-of-project evaluation.

21 Section V Provisional Workplan

Tasks Lead agency Time (months) or person 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Establishment of supervision mechanism MPUE and project co-ordination team Appointment of Technical Advisory MPUE Committee Recruitment of Project Coordinator and MPUE Technical Consultants Prepare and issue sub-contract for CNIRD Stock taking of the three thematic areas TAC Orientation with the working groups for Project Team biodiversity (BAC) and climate change (NPC/TC) (CCWG) and CNIRD Review of existing documentation for each Project Team thematic area (NPC/TC) & CNIRD Consultation with key stakeholders of each Project Team thematic area (NPC/TC) & CNIRD Identification of priorities within the TAC thematic areas Review of relevant documentation Project Team Sectoral and public consultations with key Project Team stakeholders Identification of capacity constraints, TAC cross-cutting issues, synergies and opportunities Review of documentation and Project Team recommendations Preparation of report Project Team Review of report by key stakeholders Project Team Finalize report Project Team Preparation of NCSA Action Plan TAC Draft Action Plan to address capacity needs Project Team/ and opportunities prepared for review CNIRD National workshops to review draft Action Project Team Plan & MPUE Revision of Action Plan and Presentation to Project Team Ministers & Minister Finalization of Action Plan Project Team Monitoring and evaluation process TAC Develop monitoring protocol Project Team & TAC Quarterly reporting Project Team Recruitment of Evaluation Consultant MPUE Evaluation of NCSA process and report Consultant preparation

22 23 Section VI Budget

Activity Stocktaking PROCESS: PRODUCT : TOTAL Govt (Assessments, Assessment GEF contribu- Consultations, reports/ (US$) tion Workshops, etc) strategy and (US$) action plan Thematic Assessments 4,500 21,600 200 - Biodiversity 4,500 21,600 200 - Climate change 4,500 21,600 200 - Land degradation Thematic assessments sub-total 13,500 64,800 600 78,900 0

Analysis of cross- cutting issues and 0 29,500 500 30,000 0 synergies NCSA action plan development 0 24,000 800 24,800 0

Co-ordination, management, 47,800 23,100 0 47,300 500 monitoring and evaluation 13,500 165,600 2,400 Total 181,500 23,100

24 List of Annexes

1. Endorsement letter from GEF OFP

2. Provisional list of stakeholders to be involved in the NCSA process

3. Terms of Reference (Project Co-ordinator, TAC, TC and CNIRD)

4. Participants involved in proposal preparation

5. PDF-A Workshop Report and initial capacity needs

25 Annex 1. Endorsement letter from GEF OFP

26 27 Annex 2. Provisional list of stakeholders to be involved in the NCSA process

Ministries and other Governmental Agencies  Ministry of Planning and Development o Town and Country Planning Division  Min Public Utilities & Environment o Policy and Planning Division (Environment) o Environmental Management Authority  Biodiversity Unit o Forestry Division  Community Forestry Unit  Wildlife Unit  National Parks Unit o Meteorological Services o Water Resources Management Unit o WASA/Water Resources Agency  Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Marine Resources o Agriculture Division o Fisheries Division o State Lands Dept.  Ministry of Health o Public Health Dept  Ministry of Community Development  Ministry of Education  Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs  Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs  Ministry of Finance  Ministry of Legal Affairs  Ministry of Works and Transport o Environmental Unit and Drainage Division  Ministry of Trade Industry and Consumer Affairs  Land Settlement Agency  Tobago House of Assembly o Agriculture Lands and Marketing o Dep’t Natural Resources and Environment o Dep’t of Fisheries and Marine Affairs o Div. of Tourism o Policy Research and Development Institute

Statutory  Chaguaramas Development Authority  Civilian Conservation Corp  Institute of Marine Affairs  Environmental Management Authority  Tourism and Industrial Development Corporation  Solid Waste Management Company  CEPEP  National Wetlands Committee  Biodiversity Advisory Council  Wildlife Conservation Committee

28 Private Sector  Guardian Life Wildlife Trust  Chamber of Commerce  Sawmillers Cooperative Society Ltd  Yacht Services Association of T&T  Energy companies (Petrotrin, bpTT, NGC, etc)  T&T Manufacturers Association  Quarries Association

Regional/International Organisations  Caribbean Network for Integrated Development (CNIRD)  Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI)  Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)  University of the West Indies (UWI) o Fac. Agric & Natural Science  Dr. John Agard  Dr. Mary Alkins Koo  Chemistry Dep’t  National Herbarium o Fac. Soc. Science  Sustainable Economic Development Unit (SEDU)  Centre for Gender and Development Studies o Fac. Engineering  Dep’t Surveying and Land Information  UNDP  GEF Small Grants Programme  UNECLAC  IDB  CDB  CANARI  ECIAF

NGOs & CBOs  COPE  Asa Wright Nature Centre  Caribbean Forest Conservation Association  Environment Tobago  Fishermen and Friends of the Sea  Friends of Botanic Gardens  T&T Hunters’ Association  Point a Pierre Wildfowl Trust  T&T Field Naturalists Club  T&T Game Fishing Association  T&T Horticultural Society  T&T Orchid Society  The Trust For Sustainable Livelihoods  Grande Riviere Tourism Development Organisation  Nature Seekers Incorporated  SAD for Toco  Toco Foundation  Fishing Pond Community and Environment Group  Buccoo Reef Trust  Buccoo Reef Cooperative Society

29  Cropper Foundation  Tropical Re-leaf Foundation  Agricultural Cooperatives  Fishermen’s Cooperative  Trawler Owners’ Association  Green Plains Foundation  La Brea Youth Empowerment  Caura Farmers Association  Fondes Amandes Community Group

30 Annex 3. Provisional Terms of Reference

National Project Coordinator (NPC)

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will be responsible for the implementation of the NSCA project and will manage all day-day activities required for the successful completion on this assignment. Specifically, the NPC will:  Prepare a detailed workplan and budget under the guidance of the Technical Advisory Committee;  Supervise and assist the Technical Consultants in their tasks;  Establish and maintain links with other government departments, statutory agencies, NGO/CBOs, Biodiversity Advisory Council (BAC), Climate Change Working Group (CCWG), and related programmes and projects;  Prepare and implement the project monitoring procedure;  Prepare and adopt a participatory procedure to ensure broad-based and transparent involvement of stakeholders in the NCSA;  Provide technical assistance to the Policy and Planning Division –Environment (PPDE) in matters related to the thematic areas.  Prepare the Terms of Reference for the Evaluation Consultant and supervise the end of project evaluation;  Coordinate and supervise the national and sectoral consultations and preparation of the outputs of the NCSA;  Manage the project finance, oversee overall resource allocation and where relevant submit proposals for budget revisions to the TAC and UNEP;  Ensure that all reports are submitted on time to all stakeholders;  Prepare and submit to Implementing Agency and the TAC quarterly progress and financial reports.

Technical Consultants

The Technical Consultants (TC) will be responsible for most of the assessment activities and will provide technical support to the NPC during the implementation of the NCSA project. Specifically, The TCs will:  Identify and acquire all relevant existing documentation needed for the NCSA;  Utilise the GEF/UNITAR “Guide for Self-Assessment of Country Capacity Needs for Global Environment Management” in the assessments of the thematic areas;  Assist the NPC in the conduct of the national consultations/workshops;  Liaise with the BAC, CCWG and other agencies as appropriate;  Assist in the preparation of relevant reports under each of the thematic areas;  Assist the NPC in providing technical advice to the PPDE on matters related to the thematic areas.

CNIRD will have similar TOR to the Technical Consultants, but will focus on the UNCCD and land degradation issues.

31 Technical Advisory Committee

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will provide overall policy and technical guidance to the Project Team for the implementation of the NSCA. Specifically, the TAC will:  Ensure that all members of the TAC get a detailed orientation on the purpose and outputs of the NCSA;  Oversee the preparation and implementation of approved project activities;  Approve the detailed workplan and budget produced by the NPC;  Facilitate access to documentation and expertise, as appropriate for the execution of the NCSA;  Review and advise on the main outputs of the NCSA Project;  Ensure that information on the implementation of the NCSA Project as well as the project outputs is brought to the attention of local and national authorities for integration into national activities and programs;  Arrange for a presentation of the final NCSA outputs to key ministers and permanent Secretaries.  Arrange for Cabinet approvals of National documents produced as outputs of the NCSA process.

32 Annex 4. Participants involved in proposal preparation

A. List of Stakeholders consulted during preparation of 1st draft of proposal

Name/Position Organisation Kishan Kumarsingh: Technical Coordinator, Environmental Management Authority Air Trade and Environment & Chair, Climate Change Committee John Agard: Senior Lecturer & Dept of Life Sciences Research & Publications Committee Faculty of Science and Agriculture University of the West Indies Nadra Gyan: Head & Wildlife Section Wetlands Committee Member Forestry Division Sheriff Faizool: Conservator of Forests & Forestry Division Chair, Wetlands Committee Keith Meade: Hydrologist Water Resources Management Unit Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment David Persaud: Ecologist Policy & Planning Division (Env) Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment Mikalla Rogers: Environmental Planning Officer Policy & Planning Division (Env) Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment Anthony Bartholomew: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment Richard Laydoo: National Coordinator GEF/Small Grants Programme, UNDP Robyn Cross: Technical Coordinator, Environmental Management Authority CEC’s /Biodiversity Zakiya Wadada: Director of Programmes, & Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural RIOD NGO Focal Point for Caribbean for UNFCCD Development Raye Sandy: Head Dept of Nat. Res. & the Environment Tobago House of Assembly Kamau Akili Tobago Sustainable Development Council / Environment Tobago Neila Bobb-Prescott Tobago Sustainable Development Council / Environment Tobago Calvin Alexander Dept of Marine Resources and Fisheries, Tobago House of Assembly Keisha Sandy Dept of Marine Resources and Fisheries, Tobago House of Assembly Patricia Turpin: President Environment Tobago Anita Maharaj Environment Tobago Rebecca Roberts-Bain Dept of Agriculture Tobago House of Assembly

33 B. List of participants at the national workshops to review the draft NCSA proposal

Name Organisation Hyacinth Armstrong Buccoo Reef Trust Terrence Henry Caribbean Assoc for Sustainable Tourism Zakiya Uzoma-Wadada Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development Louis Guy Council of Presidents of Env NGOs/ Caribbean Forest Conservation Association Hilson Phillips Dept of Agriculture, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Pearl Pakiff Dept of Agriculture, THA Erol Caesar Dept of Marine Res & Fisheries, THA Janaine Crooke Dept of Nat Res & Env, THA Herbert Ottley Dept of Nat Res & Env, THA Michelle Clarke Stanislaus Dept of Nat Res & Env, THA Raye Sandy Dept of Nat Res & Env, THA Avion Hercules Dept of Tourism, THA Shane Ballah Env. Unit, Ministry of Works & Transport Patricia Turpin Environment Tobago Tanya Clovis Environment Tobago/ SOS Tobago Kamau Aliki Environment Tobago/Tobago Council for Sustainable Development Naveeta Sawh Environmental Management Authority Kishan Kumarsingh Environmental Management Authority Dave McIntosh Environmental Management Authority Robyn Cross Environmental Management Authority Risha Alleyne Environmental Management Authority Seepersad Ramnarine Forestry Division Charmaine O’Brien-Delpesh Institute of Marine Affairs L.A. Boyce Land Settlement Agency Emmanuel Mookhan Meteorological Office Junior Gomes Ministry of Agriculture Lionel De Freitas Ministry of Health Mikalla Rogers Ministry of Public Utilities & the Env. Tracey Ollivera Ministry of Public Utilities & the Env. Sharon McCardy Planning Dept, THA Claudia Arundell Public Health Dept, THA Nouie George Public Health Dept, THA Percell Bobb RBTT Bank/Chamber of Commerce Hughford McKenna Secretary for Agriculture, Marine Resources and the Environment, THA Deborah Thomas Town & Country Planning Dept Grace LesFouris Town & Country Planning Dept Kerry Mulchansingh Water Resources Agency Keith Meade Water Resources Management Unit

34 Annex 5. PDF-A Workshop Report

Refining the Proposal for the NSCA Project Floyd Homer

Introduction

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through a GEF PDF A grant and support from UNEP, is developing a proposal for a self-assessment of national capacity building needs directly related to the implementation of the Rio Conventions, namely: the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (CCC) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). A local Consultant was hired to prepare a draft proposal based on the review of existing documentation and in consultation with key stakeholders from several governmental Ministries, statutory agencies and NGOs. The draft proposal was prepared and then sent to those officials who were initially consulted and to a range of other stakeholders for review and advice (Annex 4A – List of Stakeholders consulted during preparation of 1st draft of proposal).

Subsequently, a national workshop was held in Tobago on 25th March, 2004 and in Trinidad on 29th March, 2004 to gather comments and advice on refining the draft proposal so that it reflects the concerns and consensus of the stakeholders (Annex 4B – List of participants at the national workshops to review the draft NCSA proposal). This report summarizes the outcome of these workshops and is structured along the same headings as those in the draft NCSA proposal.

Background Context and Related Work

The participants were generally satisfied with the content of this section and suggested that mangroves and sea grass beds be specifically mentioned as key ecosystems. Additionally, the demand for housing, squatting and authorized large-scale housing should also be recorded as contributing to land degradation.

Representatives from the Town and Country Planning Division (TCDP) offered to provide a paragraph that would clarify the role of the TCDP.

Several participants felt that the Ministry of Health should be included as an institution with some responsibility for environmental issues, but were unable to provide details beyond identification of investigation of environmental health problems as a key related activity.

It was noted that Village Councils, Youth Groups and the GEF Small Grants Programme in particular also had projects in different parts of the country related to the three thematic areas.

An important mechanism for resolving jurisdiction overlaps among institutions with responsibility for aspects of the environment was identified – the MOU between the Environmental Management Authority and the Tobago House of Assembly – and provided the forum for high level discussions when needed.

In terms of environmental legislation and policies, it was agreed that the correct reference for the legislation cited would be helpful. The National Environmental Policy, the Wetlands Policy, the draft Water Resources Management Policy and the Forest Policy were key policies that should be included in the proposal.

35 The recent establishment of the Biodiversity Advisory Council….which replaced the Biodiversity Task Force, was identified as an important body for collaboration in the NSCA project.

The participants agreed that the following summary of issues adequately captured the key capacity constraints in the country related to environmental management:

 Low budgetary commitment to the environment and conservation in comparison to the competing socio-economic needs associated with the developmental agenda  Generally poor collaboration among agencies, especially in discharging the government’s obligations under the various multilateral environmental agreements  Conflicting policy environment: sectoral policies developed in isolation often results in conflicts among other policies; lack of mechanism to resolve policy conflicts; policy documents often do not articulate implementation mechanisms; lack of awareness or adoption by many senior decision makers of policies drafted by other agencies  Insufficient or lack of enforcement of environmental laws  General insensitivity to community concerns, or lack of integration of these concerns into planning and implementation of projects  Inadequate staffing, resources and facilities with sometimes low motivation to carry out departmental mandates  Institutional inability to adapt to changing circumstances and trends  NGOs and CBOs ability to participate is often limited by human and financial resources.

Objectives and Linkages to Ongoing Projects

Participants were satisfied with the proposed objectives and felt that they were useful and needed. A few participants however, expressed reservations about the output of the NCSA really leading to needed actions; which never seem to be forthcoming or sufficiently adequate to address the priority areas identified in several national reports.

The linkages to ongoing efforts in the three thematic areas were considered adequate and practical.

Project Activities

None of the workshop participants were familiar with the GEF/UNITAR ‘Guide for Self-Assessment of Country Capacity Needs for Global Environmental Management’, however they offered no objections or modifications to the following proposed phases for the project:

 Establishment of institutional arrangements to manage the process:  Development of the combined/synergistic stocktaking assessment for the three thematic areas  Identification of gaps in capacity required for the implementation of strategy  Identification and prioritisation of capacity building related decisions of the various conventions;  Development of a capacity development action plan;  Development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation process.

There was also no disagreement with the range of proposed activities, although a few concerns were raised in terms of the supervisory body. Several senior ministry officials suggested that the setting up of a high level supervisory body for the NCSA would need the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. This

36 would be necessary especially if the Government is expected to appoint and pay stipends to members of the NCSA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

A few senior officials felt that it was likely that the same people who already serve on several related committees may also be the ones to be recruited to the TAC. It was expressed that there was already a feeling of “meeting fatigue” among these senior officials, especially since many of them indicated that their workload was already excessive. The frequency of meetings of the TAC and the competence of the Project Team would determine the workload of the TAC.

Participants agreed that the Project Coordinator and Technical Consultants should be locally hired and could logically be based at the Policy and Planning Division (Environment). The experience and interpersonal skills of the Project Coordinator and the Technical Consultants will ensure the success of the project.

It was suggested that the TAC arrange for a forum of key Ministers and Permanent Secretaries in which to present the draft NSCA Action Plan for direct feedback, an audio-visual presentation should be used to increase effectiveness in delivery rather than just the submission of a printed report.

Institutional Framework and Project Implementation

There were no suggestions for modifying the proposed institutional framework for project implementation. There was general agreement that strengthening of the Policy and Planning Division (Environment) was necessary and at the end of the NCSA project, the Project Team should be hired by the Ministry (if their performance was very good). The Project Team will then be dedicated to follow-up and technical assistance for implementation of the MEAs, and will adopt the recommendations as appropriate coming out of the end-of-project evaluation.

Conclusion

The workshops ended with participants’ satisfaction that the NCSA project should provide useful outputs. Most participants were interested in getting a copy of the final NCSA proposal and wanted to be kept informed on the progress of the Project.