Trinidad and Tobago
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 61 00 W
National web sites   http://trinidad.wow.net/
Embassy / Chancery in U.S.  Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
1708 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,
Washington DC 20036
 Telephone: (202) 467-6490
 Fax: (202) 785-3130
Agencies responsible for biological inventory and conservation Ministry of Agriculture, 
Lands and Marine Resources, 
St. Clair Circle, 
Port of Spain, Trinidad,
Trinidad and Tobago 
Tel +1 868 622 5596 or +1 868 622 5481, 
Fax +1 868 622 4246)
Non governmental organizations concerned with conservation Environment Tobago
List of organizations
Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity Home page
Major Natural Resources Trinidad and Tobago, which was originally part of South America , has many of the plants and animals of South America, making the islands very diverse considering their size. Trinidad and Tobago have Tropical Rain Forest, Savannah, Semi- deciduous Forest, Mangrove Swamp and Marsh Lands.  The natural resources most economically beneficial are petroleum, and natural gas.  The iron and steel industries have been heavily developed as well.
Major Environmental and Conservation Issues A major concern of Trinidad and Tobago is mining.  Mining is associated with the loss of top soil, vegetation and fauna. Poor waste disposal systems have caused water pollution and damage to the coral reefs.  The development of  industry has reduced the size of various habitats.  While Trinidad and Tobago has legislation to protect the environment, it has not prevented excavation, forestry, squatting and other potentially environmentally harmful activities . All the sanctuaries and many of the forest reserves have been invaded by squatters.  Another problem is the illegal hunting of animals such as the endangered sea turtle.
Statistics Information Sources
Land area 5130 Sq. km  Source
Area of forest 45.8 sq km.  Source
Area of wetlands 7,000 acres   Source
Area of territorial waters 12 nm   Source
Population 1,269,115  Source
Population Density 247.5/Sq. km  Source
Area protected (ha) (only areas >1000ha) at all IUCN levels Please click here for information.  
Fraction of land area protected (%)  14%  Source
Major Protected Areas  Please click here.  
Endemic Species *Not endemic species
Mammals  108
Birds  420
Reptiles  85
Amphibians  25
Fish  
Invertebrates  
Plants  110 endemic
2500 total
Reef building Corals:  36
http://trinidad.wow.net/		  
Endangered, Threatened and Vulnerable Species
Mammals  1
Birds  3
Reptiles  5
Amphibians  0
Fish  0
Invertebrates  0
Plants  21


 

Complete Plant Listing

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal 

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Plants
Extinct Species
Mammals  
Birds  
Reptiles  
Amphibians  
Fish  
Invertebrates  
Plants  0

Complete Plant Listing

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal 

World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Plants
Species listed on CITES Appendix I


CITES-listed Species Database
Species listed on CITES Appendix II


CITES listed Species Database
Legislation
Laws protecting endangered or threatened species Conservation of Wildlife Ordinance No.16, 1958  makes provision for the establishment of wildlife (or game) sanctuaries
Source
Laws protecting endangered ecosystems
  • Establishment and management of a national park network was initiated in 1979/1980 in conjunction with the Organization of American States
  • The Forest Ordinance, 1950 makes provision for the establishment of forest reserves, but is basically concerned with the sale of timber
  • The Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, 1970 provides for marine areas to be protected as restricted areas.
  • A draft Forest Resources Policy, 1981 has as one of its aims the creation of a forest estate of at least 33% of the land area of the country
Source
Signatory to CITES (4-19-84)
Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands Convention 4-21-93, 1 site, 6,234 hectares
Signatory to Convention on Biological Diversity  August 1, 1996
Signatory to Migratory Bird Treaty (date)
Member of International Whaling Commission Yes
Signatory to other international treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) and the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Oil Spills in the Wider Caribbean Region both on 24 January 1986. 
Source
Natural Resource Use Information Sources
Fisheries  5,232 MT   Source
Forestry  3 million cubic meters roundwood/yr  http://data.wri.org:1996/
Ecotourism  Trinidad and Tobago market the natural beauty of the island to attract visitors.  Much of the tourist industry is based on activities related to the environment.  
Trade in wildlife products  Turtle shell products a problem to the threatened leather back sea turtles.   See source for more information.
Hunting Some game species have been hunted to extinction.  Policy has been  initiated.  Source
Other uses of natural resources There are large reserves of petroleum and natural gas,
and well developed heavy industries - iron and steel,
methanol and nitrogenous fertilizers and petroleum products.		   Source
Human Impacts on Natural Resources Information Sources
Air pollution    
Water pollution  "Pollution and waste disposal from both domestic and industrial sources. This has contributed to fish kills in the gulf and our rivers, death and bleaching of corals,
lead and mercury poisoning in oysters, and has been known to affect the human population in a number of instances. "		   Source
Development activities  Reduction of the size of the natural habitats and their fragmentation due to human encroachment is occurring throughout the country.

Agriculture, housing, industrial development, social and community spaces, forest plantations.

Quarrying, cultivation

  Source
Introduced species    
Legislation addressing these issues    
Restoration and Reintroduction Information Sources
Programs for restoration of damaged habitat     
Programs for ex situ conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species Emperor Valley Zoo
Ex-situ conservation of animal
 diversity of T&T.

Royal Botanical Gardens
Ex-situ conservation of plant
diversity of T&T.

   Source

Return to Endangered Species Protection around the World

Page compiled by Christy Egbert as part of a class project in h90 "The Science of Biodiversity and Conservation" (Peter J. Bryant, Instructor), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA