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The
Pointe-a Pierre Wildfowl Trust, now in it’s 37th
year is an independent, national, not for profit,
environmental, non-government, volunteer, membership organization,
encompassing 2 lakes and about 25 hectares of land within a major
petrochemical and oil refining complex, complex, PETROTRIN. LINKAGES are
pivotal in the management of our area and programmes, offering a model of
wise-use.
The PaP Wildfowl Trust, a
wetland habitat, is a peaceful haven where members (approx. 2000) and
visitors may relax; enjoy bird watching, photography and interpretative
trails. The Learning Centre
houses information dealing with living organisms and their
habitats, an unique mollusk collection and a small, but comprehensive
Amerindian Museum.
We
are actively involved in the research, breeding and translocation of endangered wetland birds into existing natural wildlife areas in Trinidad
and Tobago. We promote and
implement the judicious use of our natural assets AND lobby for improved
environmental policies, which integrates socio-economic and health
linkages.
In
1979, the Trust initiated an environmental education programme with
audio-visuals; the first to be taken into primary, secondary and
comprehensive schools and community groups throughout Trinidad, and later
on, occasionally in Tobago. In
1982, the Trust started ‘hands on’ field work, at the Trust and
initiated guided field trips for schools’ ‘scouts’ and ‘guides’
groups to The Asa Wright Nature Centre, Toco and Matura.
Through the years, general and specific activities have been
provided at the Trust. These
are adapted to suit ‘students’ and ‘teachers’ needs and the
subjects being taught at school. Included,
are film and video shows with interpretation.
Fieldwork at the Trust includes aquatic sampling, pond, leaf and
feather labs, and quadrat and transect sampling.
In our daily environmental education programmes, we teach about
LINKAGES, we discuss all aspects of the natural environment and their
interactions with and links, to human health and well-being, and to social
& economic impacts, problems and solutions.
We teach about wetland ecosystems, from forests to coral reefs and their links to people. Thus,
we have a holistic approach to teaching.
The
Trust also believe that ‘hands on’ experiences in nature are
invaluable to awakening a young child’s senses and that
environmental education should be taken a step further, so, we
launched a special programme for pre-schoolers with the concept of
‘touch’, ‘feel’, ‘smell’, and sometimes, ‘taste’.
This awakens tremendous wonder and interest in a child. The Trust also holds workshops to train school teachers and
members of community-based organizations.
Environmental education can and must be infused in every curriculum
subject, whether English, Geography, History, Maths, Social Studies,
Music, Art or Drama. Environmental
education must be included in the State’s Teacher training programmes.
The
Trust has long been involved with environmental education therapy for the
physically and mentally challenged, the elderly, victims of substance
abuse and battered women. We believe that in nature, one is uplifted and
refreshed and that this bond can and does provide a valuable mental and
spiritual boost and release
for the handicapped and the ill, indeed for everyone of us. |
As
a result, we built a boardwalk along much of the Trust’s first lake, the
longest in Trinidad and Tobago, and probably in the Caribbean. Out of a population of 1.4 million people, between January 1st
and December 31st, approximately 21,600 people visit the Trust,
16,000 of whom are students.
In support of our Environmental Education Programmes, the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl
Trust, over the years, has researched, designed and produced locally, publications
to assist
teachers and students with the modern approach to environmental
management, to stimulate the understanding of the inextricable LINKAGES
with our socio-economic well being and our good health.
Between
1992 and 2002, with grand funding from the American Women’s Club,
British Gas(Trinidad), the Canada Fund, Carib Glassworks, Crown Papers,
FIZZ, the Fernandes Trust, NGC, Nestle, Petrotrin, T&T Methanol, the
UK Women’s Club, we have published:
“A Collection of Occasional Papers on the Environment”,
“Wonders of Wetlands, A Teacher’s Pack”, a Conservation Poster
Colouring Book, “Energy Flow in a Mangrove Swamp”, ”Sea Turtles and
their Habitats, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean”, "Medicinal Plants
of the PaP Wildfowl Trust”, “The Importance of Wetlands, Linkages and
Values” and “Wetlands Information Sheets".
To stimulate pride, awareness and support, the Trust produces
wildlife tee shirts, which are sold as a fund-raiser.
We
initiate and sustain advocacy, together with other NGOs, to promote
linkages and the sustainable utilization of our natural assets.
This has resulted in the accession to the CITIES convention (1984),
the protection of our NATIONAL BIRD THE
SCARLET IBIS (1986/87), a two year hunting moratorium
(1986/87), the protection of the Port-of-Spain (Mucurapo) wetlands (1989/1990),
resulting in the formation of the Council of Presidents of the Environment
(COPE). In 1993, the
Government of Trinidad and Tobago acceded to the RAMSAR Convention,
listing the NARIVA WETLANDS as a Site of International Importance, a
direct result of our active advocacy since 1990.
In November 1996, the Government removed the illegal rice farmers
from the protected area of the Nariva Wetlands and began an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA), which for the first time offered an economic
valuation of that natural asset. Again, a direct result of our active
advocacy. The Government
ratified the Convention of Biological Diversity (CDB) in 1996 another
result of our persistent advocacy.
We
believe that women have a tremendous capacity and opportunity to do good,
influencing the children and the men in their lives, at home, at school
and at work. If you help your
children to understand and to develop respect, love and a kinship for and
with all life around us, you will find that they will love and respect you
as well.
We
also believe that all religious and spiritual leaders have a great
responsibility to the people and that they have the means through true
understanding of and adherence to THE CORE TEACHINGS OF THEIR RELIGIONS,
to guide, educate, enlighten; to shape a better society to influence
decisions and Decision-makers and bring about positive change by teaching
them through counseling and in all places of worship, spiritual and moral
values.
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