DRAFT NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT LAND DEGRADATION IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: 2006-2020.
The Draft National Action Programme (NAP) to Combat Land Degradation in Trinidad and Tobago is an integrated framework for mitigating the physical, biological and socio-economic impacts of land degradation. The Draft NAP provides a comprehensive framework for implementing the country’s obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) which it acceded to on August 6, 2000.
The Draft NAP provides a review of the state of the land resources of Trinidad and Tobago, identifies critical issues and problems associated with land degradation and sets out a programme of action for correcting, mitigating and preventing the problems of land degradation over the short, medium and long term. These actions have been categorized into four priority areas :–
- Behavioural Change,
- Sustainable Management and Protection of Land Resources,
- Risk Reduction and Early Warning Systems and
- Institutional Development and Strengthening.
The actions to be pursued are consistent with the Vision 2020 - the National Strategic Development Plan of Trinidad and Tobago, the Revised National Environment Policy, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and Strategic Plans of key stakeholder Ministries and public agencies. The Draft NAP also provides a synergistic framework for activities being implemented at the national level in meeting the country’s commitments under other international agreements, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, the Millennium Development Goals, Agenda 21 and the Barbados Programme of Action.
The process for the development of the Draft NAP was conducted over a 12-month period and included:
- An evaluation of the Status of the Land Resources of Trinidad and Tobago.
- Four one-day Awareness Workshops and Public Consultations (in North, Central and South Trinidad and in Tobago) that involved the participation of many social, economic and environmental sector institutions and NGO groups with an interest in sustainable land management.
- Two working sessions with the land and environmental management specialists of the UNCCD Interim National Coordinating Committee to explore the extent, causes and impact of land degradation, and identify and formulate corrective measures for combating the problem.
- Individual meetings and discussions with public, private and NGO sector agencies involved in various aspects of land and environmental management.
- Meeting with the local Reseau International des ONGS pour la Desertification/International Network of NGOS for Desertification (RIOD) to explore further, corrective measures for combating land degradation and the role and function of the non-government stakeholders in this process in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago will be finalizing the Draft NAP through a one month public consultation process. Accordingly, comments on the draft NAP are welcomed.
Comments on the Draft NAP can be submitted, using the comment form on this website; or mailed or faxed to the following:
TRINIDAD
Dr. David Persaud
Environmental Manager
Environment Policy and Planning Division
Ministry of Public Utilities and the Environment
Sacred Heart Building
16-18, Sackville Street
Port of Spain
Fax: + (868) 625 – 7003
TOBAGO
Mr. Raye Sandy
Director
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
PO Box 5566
Scarborough
Tobago
Fax: + (868) 639-6253
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