Planning and Development Ministry commemorates World Environment Day 2016

The theme also encourages us all to celebrate all those species under threat and take action of our own to help safeguard them for future generations. Having recently observed International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, 2016, the Government is ever aware of the threats that exist to maintaining Trinidad and Tobago’s rich biodiversity, which include numerous species of flowering plants, mammals, amphibians, insects and fish. This country also possessed several types of natural forests ranging from coastal lowland mangroves to montane forests. 

Our biological resources are of great importance to all sectors of society, mainly through agriculture, fishing, recreation, tourism and culture. Unfortunately, destruction of our watersheds through deforestation and illegal logging, forest fires, and indiscriminate quarrying are just some of the human driven activities which have threatened our biodiversity, and which must be curtailed.

Biodiversity is not only threatened by our human influences but also from natural threats the most daunting of which is climate change. Many plant and animal species are unlikely to survive climate changes. Analyses suggest that, a large number of terrestrial plants and animals will eventually become extinct as a result of climate changes. Some of these species will no longer be able to find anywhere suitable to live. Others will be unable to reach places where the climate is suitable.

Small Island states like Trinidad and Tobago, are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of biodiversity threats, ecosystem pressures, pollution and global warming.   As the Ministry with responsibility for the environment, we are particularly committed to the preservation of our environment. As part of the Government’s mandate, we recognize that the environment, in all its dimensions is an issue that encompasses all ministries and strata of society. As such we will do all that is necessary to preserve our fragile environment, which include measures to mitigate climate change as well as protect our biodiversity. 

We are pleased to note, that at the national level some of the critical strides undertaken to strengthen the protection of the natural environment include the strengthening the environmental policy framework through the implementation of the National Forest Policy,  National Protected Areas Policy, and the National Wildlife Policy; as well as the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy. One of the major projects being implemented by the Government is aimed at developing a new system of protected areas for the country, which is an important management tool for protecting, conserving and managing natural and built heritage, and so critical to national sustainable development.  Some of the major benefits of establishing these protected areas include the conservation of genetic diversity, species, ecosystems and natural habitats; as well as the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of rare or threatened species in their natural environment. Protected areas also support the ability of ecosystems to provide a wide range of goods and services. Goods include food (such as game animals, fish and plant products), timber, craft materials, medicinal plants and other forms of biodiversity directly used by people.

The development of these areas will indeed modernize the way we treat with our nation’s biological resources, but in reality we have only just begun. Occasions such as World Environment Day present us with an excellent opportunity to educate, to reason together and to explore the options and the practical solutions available to us to change the way we live, to allow us in harmony with our natural environment. 

Without a doubt, the changes we desire to see for our concern of the planet begins not only with actions of the Government but with the response of each individual and the decisions we all make about how we would treat with our natural environment – choices to practice good agricultural methods, stop illegal hunting, stop deforestation, properly dispose of garbage, cease dumping wastes in watercourses, water conservation, proper car maintenance and reasonable limits to pollutants.  Other measures such as carpooling, becoming watchdogs at our businesses and encouraging good environmental practices, energy conservation, even becoming innovators of alternative environmentally friendly technologies are choices we make today that will chart the course of our future. 

We wish to once again highlight the theme chosen for World Environment Day 2016 “Go Wild for Life” and remind you, our real success lies in the capacity of you, the citizen to become informed and take personal responsibility for your actions in respect of the preservation, conservation and wise use of our environment, without which, this and future generations will be severely compromised.