Ministry of Housing & the Environment National Reforestation & Watershed Rehabilitation Programme

MINISTRY OF HOUSING & THE ENVIRONMENT NATIONAL REFORESTATION & WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

BACKGROUND The National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme began in March ,2004, following Cabinet’s approval on November 20, 2003. It was based on project proposal , to actively reforest degraded/denuded forest on State Lands and the rehabilitation of selected watershed throughout the Country. This decision was derived from the need to arrest the decline of the nation’s forest capital and the deterioration of the country’s watershed that have occurred largely through forest fires by severe dry seasons over the years. In addition, the threat from over-exploitation, illegal logging, squatting, slash and burn agriculture and other activities.

BACKGROUND CONT’D 13,367 ha (33,030 acres) of land throughout Trinidad & Tobago was identified, based on environmental sensitivity, impact of forest fires and land capability classification, for reforestation and the establishment of new forest plantations. The establishment of (NRWRP) was in addition a means of addressing the tenets of the Kyoto Protocol, the sustainability and maintenance of our forest, the prevention of forest degradation and its restoration. It must be community based to encourage the highest level of community participation or community co-management.

BACKGROUND CONT’D All direct employment to benefit persons within communities close to selected sites. Communities will be appropriately trained for entrepreneurship. It must provide poverty alleviation particularly among single mothers.

NRWRP’s VISION “Enhanced Forests that are sustainably managed for the benefit of all our citizens”

NRWRP’s MISSION “To rehabilitate and protect forests and watersheds using community-driven creative and sustainable approaches to provide forest products and services through a committed, competent staff working in collaboration with our partners”

NRWRP’s CORE VALUES Community-based Partnership-driven Sustainability Efficiency Accountability Transparency Results - Driven

The Core Business of NRWRP Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Creating Sustainable Livelihoods, and Community Co-Management

Services of the NRWRP Reforestation, Maintenance & Protection Watershed Rehabilitation Production of forestry and agro-forestry products Community Development for Co-Management of the Environment. Financial management Technical advisory services Support for Business development Community- based Employment Creation.

Achievement 56 Sites Established (53 groups in Trinidad & 3 groups in Tobago) Of the 56 groups (9 maintain parks, 3 are involved in cleaning & maintaining hiking trails. 44 groups actually does reforestation. 6,196 acres have been reforested to date. 15,413 acres are protected from fire damage through day-time fire watch during the dry season 200 miles prepared and maintained to date to aid in fire control. Created employment for 1960 temporary workers employed by various contractor’s Maintenance of 9 parks comprising 163.4 acres.

Achievement 85miles of hiking trails cleared and maintained annually( Grande Riviere, Maracas Bay, Brasso Seco, Argyle and Speyside. 100 feet coastal embankment stabilized in Waterloo as well as 200 feet of coastline stabilization by replanting and maintenance of the Mangrove. Improving access to forest recreation sites through the building of steps, Argyle and Speyside forest in Tobago. 169 acres of Parks are maintained annually (San Fernando Hill, Palmiste Park, Devil’s Woodyard,Dubisson Park, Carli Bay) A former costal garbage dump has been converted to a recreation park and maintained and upgrade annually along with the maintenance of 1,600 feet of beach front.

Budget Allocation by fiscal year $44,000,000.00

Budget Expenditure by fiscal year. Total Expenditure since inception of the programme as detail below: Fiscal Year 1 - Jan 2004- Sept 2004 (9mths) $10,058,544.94 28groups Fiscal Year 2 - Oct 2004- Sept 2005 $ 45,468,854.00 51 groups Fiscal Year 3 – Oct 2005 - Sept 2006 $ 53,113,000.00 52 groups Fiscal Year 4 - Oct 2006 - Sept 2007 $ 54,450,902.00 54 groups Fiscal Year 5 - Oct 2007 - Sept 2008 $ 64,881,669.00 56 groups Fiscal Year: 6 - Oct 2008 - Sept 2009 $ 58,883,108.87 56groups Fiscal Year 7 - Oct 2009 - Sept 2010 $ 54,890,630.00 56groups Fiscal Year 8 - Oct 2010 - Sept 2011 $ 58,131,725.00 56 groups Factors contribution increase in expenditure; Increase of community groups. Increase of 15% wages approved by Cabinet Minute No 2134 of August 20, 2007 for all categories of NRWRP workers.

Projected Expenditure for fiscal year. Secretariat salaries $2,554,981.00 } Secretariat wages $1,714,421.00 } 6.6 % Contractor’s Fees (20% payment to contracted) $9,815,685.00 } Wages to employees of various contractor’s $49,078,425.00 } 90.7 % Material & Supplies (Office) $1,688,510.00 } Equipment $ 29,647.00 } 3% $64,881,669.00

CONCLUSION NRWRP will continue to encourage the development of the rehabilitation workers through training offered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and marine Resources, The Ministry of Community Development and by key players of the more progressive/productive groups interacting with and doing demonstrations for the less progressive ones. The continued use of the Map maker software to facilitate the demarcation of the sites identified for planting and also to improve the estimate of acres reforested. The original mandate to expand to 80 Community Groups will probably not be achieved in the short term. Instead, it is our intention to recommend an increase in the numbers of groups in Tobago.

MANGROOVE

GRASSHOPPERS

LISA’S GARDENS

NATURE SEEKERS

PROTECTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT (CHECK DAM)

WHARF TRACE

MAFEKING RIVERSIDE AUTHORITY

NRWRP Nursery

THANK YOU VERY MUCH