{"id":992680,"date":"2025-07-06T23:12:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T23:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/?p=992680"},"modified":"2025-10-07T17:29:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:29:54","slug":"planning-ministry-makes-citizens-a-key-part-of-biodiversity-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/planning-ministry-makes-citizens-a-key-part-of-biodiversity-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning Ministry makes citizens a key part of biodiversity management"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"992680\" class=\"elementor elementor-992680\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b1d35dc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b1d35dc\" 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-463e57e\" data-id=\"463e57e\" 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-1b78d53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-pix-heading\" data-id=\"1b78d53\" 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 \"><h2 class=\"font-weight-bold h2 heading-text el-title_custom_color mb-12\" style=\"\" data-anim-type=\"\" data-anim-delay=\"\">Planning Ministry makes citizens a key part of biodiversity management<\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-529dbcd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"529dbcd\" 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\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/scarlet-ibis.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"scarlet ibis\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6OTkyNjc0LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnBsYW5uaW5nLmdvdi50dFwvbmV3c2l0ZVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDdcL3NjYXJsZXQtaWJpcy5wbmcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"729\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/scarlet-ibis.png\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-992674\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/scarlet-ibis.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/scarlet-ibis-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/scarlet-ibis-1024x691.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/scarlet-ibis-768x518.png 768w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/scarlet-ibis-200x135.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><i><b>The Scarlet Ibis was designated one of Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s thirteen Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) based on scientific research and observation of the species\u2019 population trend. The Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development; the Ministry of Agriculture Lands and Fisheries and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) enhanced the Scarlet Ibis\u2019 legal status to ensure their continued protection.<\/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-b386807 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b386807\" 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-9479f06\" data-id=\"9479f06\" 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-247b73c elementor-widget elementor-widget-pix-text\" data-id=\"247b73c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"pix-text.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pix-el-text w-100 text-left \" ><p class=\"resp-option text-left \"><p>The Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development is seeking citizens\u2019 feedback on what they value in nature, changes or issues in the environment they observed, ideas on how we can better care for our environment and ways different sectors like government, schools and businesses can help protect Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s biodiversity resources.\u00a0<\/p><p>This was conducted partly via a national survey to guide how we manage and protect our biodiversity.\u00a0 The Planning Ministry is the national focal point for biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago and environmental management is one of our key mandates.\u00a0 Biodiversity is important to us because it includes all living things\u2014plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms\u2014that support clean air, food, flood protection, and a healthy environment.\u00a0<\/p><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e21af2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0e21af2\" 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\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-scaled.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Citizens taking part\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6OTkyNjc2LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnBsYW5uaW5nLmdvdi50dFwvbmV3c2l0ZVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDdcL0NpdGl6ZW5zLXRha2luZy1wYXJ0LXNjYWxlZC5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-2048x1367.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-992676\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-taking-part-200x134.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><i><b>Citizens have always been a key to our work as the Ministry of Planning.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a49abed elementor-widget elementor-widget-pix-text\" data-id=\"a49abed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"pix-text.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pix-el-text w-100 text-left \" ><p class=\"resp-option text-left \"><p>According to Planning and Economic Affairs Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh<strong><em>, \u201cGovernment\u2019s agenda for economic revitalisation is dependent on proper biodiversity and environmental management from all sectors in society.\u00a0 Through the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean, the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) and other local, regional and international partners, the Ministry is poised to ensure the sustainability of our natural resources.\u00a0 The environment and climate change are among our primary mandates and we are serious about this.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Information from this survey aims to support the work of the Ministry, which, through the Environmental Policy and Planning Division (EPPD) is currently revising the country\u2019s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).\u00a0 This project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Global Environment Facility and involved the engagement of a consultancy team which is a joint venture between Advisors Next Door Limited and The Cropper Foundation, all working to lead this important national process.<\/p><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f15708 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4f15708\" 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\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Vikki Arjoon\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6OTkyNjc3LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnBsYW5uaW5nLmdvdi50dFwvbmV3c2l0ZVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDdcL0NpdGl6ZW5zLWhhbmRzLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-992677\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Citizens-hands-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><i><b>The well being of our citizens depends on healthy ecosystems.<\/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<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8b94ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-pix-text\" data-id=\"e8b94ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"pix-text.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pix-el-text w-100 text-left \" ><p class=\"resp-option text-left \"><p>The third iteration of Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan will provide a comprehensive framework for addressing biodiversity loss while promoting sustainable development. <strong>This updated strategy is designed to:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>Mainstream biodiversity into national development planning and decision-making processes;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Guide the implementation of realistic, measurable short-term actions within a long-term vision for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Adopt a participatory, whole-of-society approach, ensuring inclusive engagement of diverse stakeholders including communities, civil society, private sector, and government agencies across both islands;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Tackle the key drivers of biodiversity loss in ways that are aligned with Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s specific conditions, capacities, and development priorities.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Ultimately, this process will strengthen ecological resilience, enhance environmental governance, and support the well-being of citizens by ensuring that natural ecosystems continue to provide essential services such as clean water, food, climate regulation, and disaster risk reduction. Furthermore, aligning the national strategy with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) reinforces the country\u2019s commitment to global conservation goals and positions Trinidad and Tobago as an active contributor to the international biodiversity agenda.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><strong>National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan<\/strong><\/h3><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>NBSAPs are the principal instruments for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the national level. The CBD requires countries to prepare a national biodiversity strategy and to ensure that this strategy is mainstreamed into the planning and activities of all those sectors whose activities can have an impact (positive and negative) on biodiversity.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><strong>Some priority actions identified in the NBSAP related to protected areas<\/strong><strong> include:<\/strong><\/h3><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>Develop and update legislation for conservation of protected areas, landscapes and species, consistent with current international trends;<\/li><li>Build on existing law enforcement initiatives for protection of species and ecosystems;<\/li><li>Conduct regular programs to sensitize the Magistracy, Police and Coast Guard, to the long-term effects of detrimental activities on biodiversity;<\/li><\/ul><p>Expedite establishment of the Environmental Court or Commission to address biodiversity and environmental crimes.<\/p><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5d9d40 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a5d9d40\" 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\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-scaled.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Icacos Swamp villagers remove tilapia May 2020\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6OTkyNjc1LCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnBsYW5uaW5nLmdvdi50dFwvbmV3c2l0ZVwvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDdcL0ljYWNvcy1Td2FtcC12aWxsYWdlcnMtcmVtb3ZlLXRpbGFwaWEtTWF5LTIwMjAtc2NhbGVkLmpwZyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-2048x1536.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-992675\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.planning.gov.tt\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Icacos-Swamp-villagers-remove-tilapia-May-2020-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><i><b>Healthy ecosystems remain one of our top priorities.<\/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<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development is seeking citizens\u2019 feedback on what they value in nature, changes or issues in the environment they observed, ideas on how we can better care for our environment and ways different sectors like government, schools and businesses can help protect Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s biodiversity resources. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":992676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-992680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-citizen-led-projects"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Planning Ministry makes citizens a key part of biodiversity management - 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\/planning-ministry-makes-citizens-a-key-part-of-biodiversity-management\/\" 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