Environment TOBAGO (ET) implemented a pilot programme to map and continuously monitor the condition of a demonstration project wetland in Tobago, the Belle Garden Wetland including its tributaries, over a 11 month period using a community based approach.

Hired project staff and special consultants trained, assisted and monitored selected community members (six females and five males) from the Belle Garden and surrounding communities to conduct the field assessments, raise community awareness and sustainably use their wetland resources.

Eleven community members (6 women and 5 men) were trained during this project in species identification, designing and managing tours, eco-tour guiding and related equipment, GPS systems, and monitoring and evaluating the wetland and its flora and fauna. The interest and community involvement of the project resulted in the local trainees establishing their own community-based organization called the Belle Garden Wetland Association (BGWA). The BGWA has increased community awareness of the global importance of the wetland and as such, there have been community beach-clean ups, community members volunteering to assist the BGWA and a voluntary 5-year hunting ban of species in the wetland.Once maintained, the hunting ban will be of great value to the wetland, especially to species such as the spectacled caiman which are also of great value to the eco-tours.

A database and species list as well as GIS maps were created of the Belle Garden Wetland, including the identification of indicator species. Two vulnerable and one endangered plant species (IUCN) in the wetland are now registered and are being monitored.

A website for the Belle Garden Wetland Association was developed where tours can be booked and information of the wetland can be accessed.

The trainees understand the value of the wetland as a source of sustainable income once it is managed in an appropriate way. This project is a successful example of community based management of a local ecosystem through a sustainable livelihood activity of eco-tour guiding. This project has great potential to be replicated and/ or upscaled to include all wetlands in Tobago.

The harmful human activities conducted around the wetland (such as polluting of a ravine and waterways, littering and indiscriminate hunting) have decreased due to the work of the project and the BGWA who have taken a proactive approach to increasing community awareness and appreciation of the wetland.

An Eco-Tour Guiding Manual was produced for the members of the BGWA which they can also use to introduce new group members to their activities.

The knowledge base, experience and database will help Environment Tobago to expand the wetland monitoring programme with the help of the locally based trained community members.

Have a look at the website for the Belle Garden Wetland Association and the Eco-tours provided:
http://www.bellegardenwetland.org/index.php