{"id":1001004,"date":"2026-06-24T00:08:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T04:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/?p=1001004"},"modified":"2026-06-24T00:10:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T04:10:56","slug":"restoring-the-land-securing-the-futureenvironmental-management-authority-advances-action-on-desertification-and-drought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/restoring-the-land-securing-the-futureenvironmental-management-authority-advances-action-on-desertification-and-drought\/","title":{"rendered":"Restoring the Land, Securing the Future:Environmental Management Authority Advances Action on Desertification and Drought"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1001004\" class=\"elementor elementor-1001004\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c93392 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c93392\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c137c3b\" data-id=\"c137c3b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c0d2ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-pix-heading\" data-id=\"1c0d2ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"pix-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"pix-heading-el text-center \"><h1 class=\"font-weight-bold h1 heading-text el-title_custom_color mb-12\" style=\"color:#0B6902 !important;\" data-anim-type=\"\" data-anim-delay=\"\">The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is playing its part in addressing land degradation, promoting sustainable land management and strengthening resilience to the impacts of drought and climate change through community-based action.<\/h1><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fce596d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fce596d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-34d0130\" data-id=\"34d0130\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbe20c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fbe20c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The world observed Desertification and Drought Day 2026 on June 16.\u00a0 This year&#8217;s theme, &#8220;Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.&#8221;, highlights the urgent need to safeguard and rehabilitate ecosystems that support biodiversity, livelihoods and food security. Globally, rangelands cover more than half of the Earth&#8217;s land surface and sustain nearly two billion people. Yet many of these landscapes are degraded or at risk, threatening water resources, agricultural productivity and ecological health.<\/p><p>Against this backdrop, the BIOREACH Project (Biodiversity Conservation and Agroecological Land Restoration in the Productive Landscapes of Trinidad and Tobago) is demonstrating how local action can contribute to global environmental goals.<\/p><p>Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through US$3.75 million in grant financing, alongside significant co-financing, BIOREACH is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on behalf of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development. The project is executed by the EMA and the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO).The project seeks to conserve biodiversity, restore degraded lands and improve livelihoods, particularly within rural and agricultural communities.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1f6cce8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1f6cce8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c5264dd\" data-id=\"c5264dd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09c385b elementor-widget elementor-widget-pix-heading\" data-id=\"09c385b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"pix-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"pix-heading-el text-center \"><h1 class=\"font-weight-bold h1 heading-text el-title_custom_color mb-12\" style=\"color:#015B14 !important;\" data-anim-type=\"\" data-anim-delay=\"\">One of its most significant achievements spearheaded by the EMA, has been the restoration of the banks of the Jagruma River in Plum Mitan, where environmental conservation and community development are working hand in hand.<\/h1><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aaaf1f4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aaaf1f4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-710ca57\" data-id=\"710ca57\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a8dea2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0a8dea2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1001008\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1a44110e-d005-43e4-8a55-f1a57a7d29d3.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of restoration site along Jagruma riverbank, Plum Mitan, Nariva.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f82f1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0f82f1a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e12022\" data-id=\"3e12022\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dce695 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8dce695\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To date, approximately 5.5 kilometres of degraded riverbanks, covering approximately twenty-five hectares, have been restored through the planting and maintenance with native vegetation. This work is helping to stabilise the riverbanks, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and create natural buffers against droughts and flooding.<\/p><p>The restored riparian corridor is also providing critical habitat for wildlife and strengthening ecological connectivity between surrounding landscapes. By protecting the health of the Jagruma River ecosystem, the project is supporting the long-term sustainability of nearby farming communities that depend on healthy soils, reliable water resources and resilient natural systems.<br \/><br \/>The restoration effort has delivered significant social benefits as well. To date, seventy-four community members have gained employment through project activities, participating in site preparation, planting, maintenance, monitoring and fire patrol activities. Their involvement has transformed restoration from a one-time intervention into a long-term community investment. The initiative demonstrated a commendable gender balance through the inclusion of women-led groups, which played a key role in the planting activities along the riverbanks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cea531f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cea531f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2cc00be\" data-id=\"2cc00be\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4337d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d4337d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Through hands-on participation, community members have developed a deeper connection to the landscape and a stronger sense of environmental stewardship. Their local knowledge and continued presence help ensure that restoration gains are maintained long after project activities conclude.<\/p><p>Environmental education initiatives have further strengthened community participation by engaging young people in conservation activities and fostering a new generation of environmental stewards. Given the area\u2019s significance as an eco- and agrotourism hotspot, the project also supports the growth of sustainable livelihood opportunities in these areas.<\/p><p>As the world marks Desertification and Drought Day 2026, the BIOREACH Project demonstrates that restoring degraded lands is about more than planting trees. It is about safeguarding Trinidad and Tobago&#8217;s water resources, strengthening food security, conserving biodiversity, and empowering communities to become active stewards of their environment. Healthy land supports healthy people. By investing in restoration today, Trinidad and Tobago is helping to build a more resilient, sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.<\/p><p>Emphasising the importance of sustained action, Dr. Joth Singh, Managing Director of the EMA, noted, \u201cThe continued efforts to restore degraded lands, protect water resources and strengthen resilience to climate change and drought are essential to developing a more enduring Trinidad and Tobago. Persistent and steady environmental action and community involvement remain crucial to safeguarding our natural resources for generations to come.\u201d<\/p><p>The EMA, through its mandate to coordinate, facilitate and oversee environmental management across Trinidad and Tobago, remains committed to the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of the country\u2019s natural resources. By promoting ecosystem-based approaches, strengthening biodiversity conservation and supporting community-centred environmental initiatives, the EMA continues to advance a healthier, more resilient and environmentally sustainable future for all.<\/p><p>This was a media release prepared by the EMA on the BIOReach Project.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-678f590 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"678f590\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ef27d4b\" data-id=\"ef27d4b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58f145a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"58f145a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HQ-POS-300x122.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-995802\" alt=\"The EMA achieved a milestone with the Green Climate Fund.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HQ-POS-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HQ-POS-200x81.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HQ-POS.jpg 583w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-49a0521 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"49a0521\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-73544b2\" data-id=\"73544b2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pix_scale_in&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0908779 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0908779\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"61\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/STRIP-HORIZONTAL-300x61.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-998489\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/STRIP-HORIZONTAL-300x61.png 300w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/STRIP-HORIZONTAL-1024x207.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/STRIP-HORIZONTAL-768x155.png 768w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/STRIP-HORIZONTAL-1536x310.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/STRIP-HORIZONTAL-2048x413.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/STRIP-HORIZONTAL-200x40.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is playing its part in addressing land degradation, promoting sustainable land management and strengthening resilience to the impacts of drought and climate change through community-based action. The world observed Desertification and Drought Day 2026 on&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1001005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1001004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment-and-climate","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Restoring the Land, Securing the Future:Environmental Management Authority Advances Action on Desertification and Drought - Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs &amp; Development<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/restoring-the-land-securing-the-futureenvironmental-management-authority-advances-action-on-desertification-and-drought\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Restoring the Land, Securing the Future:Environmental Management Authority Advances Action on Desertification and Drought - Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs &amp; Development\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is playing its part in addressing land degradation, promoting sustainable land management and strengthening resilience to the impacts of drought and climate change through community-based action. 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