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

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

3. BACKGROUND
The National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme began in March ,2004, following Cabinet’s approval on November 20, 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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”

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

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

10. 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.

11. 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 temporary workers employed by various contractor’s
Maintenance of 9 parks comprising acres.

12. 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.

13. Budget Allocation by fiscal year
$44,000,000.00

14. Budget Expenditure by fiscal year.
Total Expenditure since inception of the programme as detail below:
Fiscal Year 1 - Jan Sept 2004 (9mths) $10,058, groups
Fiscal Year 2 - Oct Sept $ 45,468, groups
Fiscal Year 3 – Oct Sept $ 53,113, groups
Fiscal Year 4 - Oct Sept $ 54,450, groups
Fiscal Year 5 - Oct Sept 2008 $ 64,881, groups
Fiscal Year: 6 - Oct Sept 2009 $ 58,883, groups
Fiscal Year 7 - Oct Sept 2010 $ 54,890, groups
Fiscal Year Oct Sept 2011 $ 58,131, 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.

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

16. 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.

17. MANGROOVE

18. GRASSHOPPERS

19. LISA’S GARDENS

20. NATURE SEEKERS

21. PROTECTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT (CHECK DAM)

22. WHARF TRACE

23. MAFEKING RIVERSIDE AUTHORITY

24. NRWRP Nursery

25. THANK YOU VERY MUCH