Last week, we talked about the importance of our wetlands and commemorated World Wetlands Day on February 2.
Significant emphasis is being placed on conserving our wetlands as they contribute greatly to our potable water supply; they are home to rich biodiversity and also provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for neighbouring communities. The Nariva project was redesigned and renamed the National Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, Wildlife and Livelihoods Project (NRCSWLP). The project aims to sustainably restore and sustain the wetland, but has evolved over the years since it commenced in 2010, to meet the changing demands of our environment and needs within the communities.
The Nariva Wetland
The Nariva Wetland is made up of four main vegetative communities: marsh, littoral woodland, evergreen seasonal forest and swamp forest. Nariva is home to approximately 45 mammalian species, 39 reptile species, 33 fish species, 204 bird species, 19 frog species, 213 insect species, 15 mollusc species and several species of arachnid, protozoa and crustacean. This abundance of flora and fauna is now on the recovery from years of large-scale rice farming and small-scale vegetable farming. These two activities removed large areas of forest and altered the hydrological system of the wetland. Thus, the current issues facing the management of the Nariva Swamp are essentially those related to environmental quality, resource exploitation, and institutional and organisational frameworks to implement government policies.
The system is currently managed by multiple organisations; government, private and community-based, and efforts have been successful for a variety of reasons.
Project Redesign
In 2014, the redesign of the project expanded its reach and impact to a national level. It focussed on supporting the conservation of flora and fauna through the development of a holistic programme that fed into a framework of a management plan for environmentally sensitive areas. Some of the major deliverables of this redesigned project are a national wildlife survey, a wildlife centre and a species research and data capture programme.
The national wildlife survey created history as the first local survey conducted at a national level to obtain baseline data on five game species. A three-year initiative, the survey was designed to conduct scientific research on the density and distribution of game animals and by extent the wider wildlife population of T&T. The survey currently focusses on five game mammals: lappe, deer, quenk, tattoo and agouti.
Thus far, wildlife surveys were completed in Blanchisseuse, Nariva, Rochard Douglas Forest Reserve, Southern Watershed Game Sanctuary, Trinity Hills Game Sanctuary, Victoria-Mayaro Forest Reserve, Central Range and Matura Nature Reserve.
Maintaining the objective of the sustainable development of the communities directly impacted; several CBOs were engaged, trained and employed in the project. Consultations were held in Mayaro, Valencia, Siparia, Tableland, San Fernando and Kernahan and approximately 120 persons were trained in data collection and survey methods.
Project achievements
The Community-based Organisations (CBO) within the project area execute the supply and planting activities of the project. During the period July 2011 to September 2014, over 330 persons were trained in planting; tending and fire suppression activities and six CBO nurseries were established. Another achievement was the reforestation of 192 hectares in the Nariva Swamp. The project experienced challenges along the way however, despite this, the project replanted 22 hectares in June 2014, and developed new approaches in fire tracing and suppression. In order to achieve 500 hectares in the next 30 months, the project unit and its partners are working feverishly to produce and supply approximately 150,000 seedlings for planting. Plans are on the way to expand the Forestry Division's Nursery in Kernahan and to include more fruit trees in the planting programme to facilitate increased feeding areas for wildlife. The project is expected to increase the number of CBOs and communities involvement as well as incorporate a greater use of science and technology in planting operations.
Carbon Sequestration
Another component of the project is carbon sequestration which refers to the process of capturing of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Once captured, the CO2 gas (or the carbon portion of the CO2) is put into long-term storage. Carbon sequestration is important as it could potentially reduce the levels of carbon in the atmosphere and greenhouse gas emissions. The project looks at increasing the accuracy of the measurement of the quantum of carbon sequestered, developing specific gravity to carbon content relationships and species specific carbon fraction ratios for a number of targeted wetland tree species.
Next week we will find out more about the livelihoods and sustainable aspects of the project and how it has affected the lives of those living within the communities.
Help protect our local wetlands
?
�2 Experience and learn more about our local Ramsar Wetland sites such as the Caroni Swamp or Nariva Swamp
�2 Educate others–Share what you've learned with your family and friends
�2 Volunteer or form a community group to help conserve or clean up the natural resources
�2 Report any illegal practices like poaching, squatting, starting illegal fires and/or dumping of garbage.