This project seeks to develop a pilot payment for ecosystem services (PES) model in the Caura Valley, Trinidad as one approach to forest conservation and livelihood development in the Caura Valley. It is proposed that community members in the Caura Valley be compensated for the actions that they undertake to protect the forests in the Caura Valley by the cutting and maintenance of fire trails which assist in reducing the incidences of widespread forest fires. A fire guardian system will be developed that comprises approximately 12 members of the Caura Community who will be responsible for cutting and maintaining fire trails and working with the national Fire Services Authority to contain and suppress fires when and where they occur.
This project will involve training of the fire guardians in the Caura Valley, mapping of fire trails with a GIS, developing a system of monitoring and recording the activities of fire guardians, developing eco-tourist trails in the Caura Valley from the fire trails, and recording and documenting the challenges and barriers in implementing the PES model. Such a project is well placed within the GEF's focal areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change and land degradation. The project also focuses on capacity building within communities, and developing sustainable livelihoods.
The outputs of the project will include a pilot model for PES in the Caura Valley, a training guide for fire trail development and maintenance, a map of fire trails that can be used by the national Fire Services Agency, and for recreational activity such as hiking in the Valley.
The project is expected to have a number of direct and indirect beneficiaries:
? The twelve fire guardians will be the primary beneficiaries of this project, they will benefit from receiving compensation for the activities that they undertake to protect the forest ecosystem in the Caura Valley and consequently the services it provides. More specifically, the fire guardians will be involved in the cutting and clearing of vegetation in the forest to create pathways that will serve as fire trails. Some of the fire guardians will also be involved with some of the tour guides in the fire trail maintenance activities, for example periodic cutting and clearing of vegetation on the trails. Fire guardians will also help to suppress forest fires by outing them where possible, and working with the National Fire Services Authority for developing an early-warning-system approach for managing forest fires. The development and maintenance of fire trails help to protect the forest from being destroyed or degraded by fires, and consequently protects the provision of key ecosystem services such as water regulation, erosion regulation, flood control, and biodiversity regulation; the links between the fire trails and protection of ecosystem services are further elaborated in Section 1.3.1 of the proposal.
? The fire trails will be used as trails for eco-tours and as such members of the Caura Community will benefit from income earned from ecotourism activities.
? As this is a pilot project towards the development of a larger PES scheme in the Caura Valley, it is expected that the majority of the community, about 700 persons will benefit from the findings of this project.
? The Forestry Department and Fire Services Authority will benefit from the actions to help manage the Northern Range watersheds against disturbances such as fires.
? The national community of Trinidad is also expected to benefit as preserving the watersheds of the Northern Range helps to facilitate the provision of freshwater and protect against flooding in areas downstream of the Caura Valley.
This project was designed by the Caura Community, and is being led and implemented by the Caura Valley Village Council (CVVC), with technical assistance provided by Maurice Rawlins, PhD Candidate at the University of the West Indies. The CVVC is a community-based organisation established in 1981, and comprises 16 members of the community, elected by the community in annual community elections.
The project will be implemented over a 7 month period and will cost a total of TT $294,363. Funds will be used for hosting an information dissemination workshop on ecosystem services and ecosystem-based livelihoods in the Caura Valley; a training workshop for the Caura Community and the fire guardians; purchasing tools used for cutting and maintenance of fire trails; purchasing a GPS unit for mapping of the fire trails; developing the ecotourism base in the Valley; administrative support by the CVVC; communicating the project findings; education and awareness raising; and stipends for the fire guardians.