North East Tobago is of both national and global conservation relevance, as identified through the consultative development and implementation of the partly GEF-funded ?Improved Forest and Protected Area Management (IFPAM)? project. Several key documents, reports and the Trinidad and Tobago Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Draft Policy Framework clearly indicate that effective co-management and civil society participation are two of the most important components of successful management of natural resources in this area. The ICZM Draft Policy also lists issues identified by stakeholders in the coastal zone as ?lack of education, outreach and awareness, lack of science-based management, lack of alternative livelihood options?. Furthermore, based on the extent of ERIC?s experience in NE (NE) Tobago, its role as vice chair of the NE Tobago IFPAM Subcommittee, and concerns expressed by civil society representatives, the following needs emerged as being both the most urgent and
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inadequately addressed, currently and in the mid-term future:
1. NE Tobago Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee CSO representatives understanding the full scope of the IFPAM project and with the capacity to collaborate with governmental agencies and meaningfully participate in the co-management of natural resources, especially of the planned MPA;
2. Comprehensive stakeholder, resource use, and ecosystem threats maps of the near shore coastal area as a baseline for PA design and future monitoring activities;
3. Demonstrated and communicated livelihood benefits deriving from conservation related activities.
In order to address these needs the project goal was formulated as: ?Strong and informed interactions between civil society and governmental agencies secure sustainable co-management of the natural resources of NE Tobago? and the following project objectives defined:
1. To intelligibly inform NE Tobago IFPAM Subcommittee CSO representatives about the scope and progress of the IFPAM project over a period of 18 months.
2. To provide coastal zone-related human and ecosystem maps and monitoring (baseline) data for natural resource co-management planning in NE Tobago.
3. To demonstrate livelihood benefits deriving from conservation-related activities.
4. To communicate the project results and successes to the relevant stakeholders.
The related outcomes which the project aims to achieve are:
1. GIS maps of near shore coastal eco- and human systems, resource use and environmental threats are used by stakeholders, especially the IFPAM NE Tobago Pilot Protected Area Subcommittee, for the design and co-management of the targeted PAs and their surrounding natural resources.
2. Ongoing Reef Check monitoring and data processing provides information for coral reef management decisions in the proposed NE Tobago Marine Protected Area.
3. Five (5) forest and bird watching tour operators, active within the Main Ridge Forest Reserve and adjacent forests, are using a citizen science rapid forest ecosystem monitoring protocol ? a ?forest check? protocol as a means to improve their livelihoods, improve eco-tourists? experiences and provide ecosystem data.
4. CSO representatives on the NE Tobago IFPAM Subcommittee are using knowledge gained through 12 briefings over a period of 18 months on the IFPAM project to meaningfully collaborate with governmental stakeholders in the design and implementation of the IFPAM project.
5. Social and print media outreach activities create a positive public impression of project activities and the funder, and convey the urgent importance of natural resource co-management in North East Tobago.
All project components can be implemented in similar situations globally, lessons learnt from this project will assist in improving impacts of adapted projects.
The project is implemented with maximum community stakeholder participation and is aligned to the SGP OP6 Country Programme Strategy and the SGP Proposal Guidance Notes.
The implementing organization, the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC) is a not-for-profit organization of senior experts in conservation, resource management, rural development, marine / terrestrial ecology and responsible tourism. ERIC holds the Vice Chair of the Tobago Subcommittee for the GEF and FAO funded Improved Forest and Protected Area Management Project and represents this subcommittee on the National Steering Committee. ERIC?s team includes members of the beneficiary communities as part time staff.
Over the past two years, ERIC has built the capacity of community and CSO members in north east Tobago in areas such as environmental monitoring, climate change, team building, scientific diving, safety, communication and team building funded by SGP, Conservation International, the British High Commission and others.
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