10
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 5 NOVEMBER, 2017
Like many citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
I believe that the
Cumuto–Toco highway can be built with minimal negative
impacts on the environment. As a concerned ecologist and a
PhD candidate, I believe that protecting our ecosystems is not
only the responsibility of our governments, but a privilege from
our predecessors, compelling us to protect and maintain our
livelihoods.
The National Infrastructure Development Company Limited
(NIDCO), on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Transport,
is constructing the Churchill–Roosevelt Highway Extension to
Manzanilla (CRHEM). This extension should eventually intersect
at the site of the proposed Toco ferry port which would link
Trinidad to Tobago.The proposal is for three phases: fromCumuto
Junction to Sangre Grande–Ojoe Road; from Sangre Grande to
Toco; and from the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway extension to
Cumuto. This multi-billion dollar project has been in the making
for over 11 years; hence, it would be logical to think that there has
been ample time for the government to evaluate possible impacts
on the immediate ecosystems, like the far-reaching ecological
effects of roads through space and time.
Ecosystems are both living organisms and physical
components functioning as an ‘ecological unit’.Wetland ecosystems
provide food, water purification, nutrient cycling, carbon
sequestration and climate control. Coastal ecosystems (coral
reef habitats and mangroves) complement this individually and
through functional linkages. These ecosystems can be easily seen
along the Cumuto to Toco road. Their functional value indicates
how important a particular habitat is to a particular process, for
example, mangroves and coral reefs have a higher functional
contribution to primary production than seagrass beds and sand
flats.
The Aripo Savanna Environmentally Sensitive Area (ASESA)
is the only remaining natural savanna in Trinidad and Tobago and
contains many rare flora species such as the carnivorous sundew
plant (
Drosera capillaris)
and eye-catching ground orchids. It
is the home for the sedge (
Rhynchospora aripoensis)
and the
plant (
Xyris grisebachii)
which is only found in Trinidad and
nowhere else in the world. It also provides a habitat for rare and
threatened bird species such as; the Moriche Oriole bird (Ict
erus
cayanensis chrysocephalus),
the Sulphury Flycatcher (
Tyrannopsis
sulphurea)
and the Fork-tailed Palm-swift (
Tachornis squamata)
.
The ASESA plays an important role as a wetland as much of its
characteristic vegetation (Marsh Forests and Palm Marsh Forests
of
Mauritia flexuosa
) provides ecological services. The carbon/
nitrogen decomposition rate of organic matter in Marsh Forests
is considerably higher than in semi-evergreen seasonal forests;
moreover, marsh forests sequester carbon dioxide. As a matter
of fact,
M. flexuosa
stands in South America are known to act as
carbon sinks, mitigating or deferring global warming and avoiding
dangerous climate change.The ASESA provides the same function,
just at a much smaller scale.
Current threats to the plants and animals of ASESA include
sporadic fires, hunting, poaching of the Red-bellied macaws
(
Orthopsittaca manilatus
) and deforestation for squatting and
agriculture. If these activities continue, the ASESAwould no longer
be capable of performing one of its most important ecological
functions, which is to act as a natural sponge trapping and slowly
releasing surface and flood waters.
In November 2014, we were forced to appreciate the role
wetlands play in Trinidad and Tobago (in particular the Nariva
Swamp) when parts of theManzanilla–Mayaro roadwere destroyed
due to rainfall and flooding. We are seeing ever-increasing tropical
depressions and storms this year.
‘PREDICTIONS’ AND ‘CONSEQUENCES’
The
good
, the
bad
and the
ugly
The good-
proper management practices together with the
reconstruction of cultural concepts
It is paramount that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago
commit to our environmental policies, and citizens need to work
together to reconstruct old cultural concepts. The way forward
could be as simple as providing meaningful information.
The bad
-
live for today…deal with the consequences tomorrow
Cutting through the heart of the forest is not without
consequences. Let’s stop individuals from overexploiting our
ecosystems and conserve the environment; by teaching individuals
how to sustainably manage our ecosystems, we are advertently
conserving our ecosystems for a lifetime. In today’s fast-paced
society, many live for today, hence our leaders need to take the
initiative of enforcing and monitoring environmental regulations.
The ugly
-
little policing and monitoring
If we don’t practise sustainable development, the beautiful
Toco-Cumuto’s forest (and all surrounding ecosystems) as we
know can be destroyed in the wink of the eye. Freeholders such as
squatters, loggers and hunters can destroy our beautiful landscapes.
Take our South American neighbours and the impacts from the
construction of the ‘TransAmazon Highway’ in Brazil; where
we see ‘loggers’ free riding on the construction of roads and the
lack of legislation to exploit lumber extraction. This is a result
of established squatter-communities (amongst other negative
activities) which continues to further exploit the environment.
The million dollar question would be: Are we as a people
ready to commit to sustainable forest management to prevent this
from happening to us?
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Even though, engineers are using a 100mbuffer zone between
the ASESA and the highway, I recommend that they use an
alternate route or at least increase that buffer region to 20
0m simply because all past and present governing bodies
of Trinidad and Tobago have failed to execute the full
enforcement of environmental laws. I cannot recommend
effective monitoring of a highway next to this sensitive area,
as the risks can be disastrous.
2. Wildlife corridors have been effective, especially in the USA
where one in every 25 accidents involves an animal. Wildlife
corridors aren’t cheap, and implementing ineffective corridors
simply just isn’t good enough. It’s like a taxi with a CV-1.2 litre
gas engine on the hills of Paramin – bound for failure – when
what is needed is a commercial V6-3.5 litre SUV.
3.
Wild-life fines for illegal hunting are remarkably low and
should be increased. Additionally, the cost of hunting permits
for seed-dispersing mammals such as the Red-Rumped
Agouti should be increased in an attempt to maintain species
richness within our forests.
4.
The Government should designate the edges of selected
forest areas of the highway as mini-reserves and implement
exorbitant fines for squatting (such legislation should be
passed before construction of the highway), as a large number
of squatters live in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs)
and compromise their functions and services.
PREDICTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES
1.
If proper wildlife corridors are not implemented, Trinidad’s
animal biodiversity will decrease considerably.
2. If legislation is not upheld by the court in prohibiting
individuals from squatting on state lands and empowering
relevant authorities to stop the construction of shanty houses
(*note I said ‘STOP’ and not ‘BREAK DOWN’ as individuals
will not even be given a chance to build houses if daily patrols
are being done). Once qualified foresters and game wardens
conduct hourly patrols, illegal logging and hunting will not
be an issue.
3. Environmental sustainability through long-termand credible
scientific research after the construction of the highway
should be considered: this project should be funded by the
government and spearheaded by citizens in the 13 villages that
lie between Cumuto and Toco. After 10 years, the programme
should aim to be self- sustaining through ecotourism.
In closing, the government of Trinidad and Tobago and
its people have the ability to sustainably manage its beautiful
landscapes; however, only time will tell if the ‘Cumuto-Toco
highway’ would be a mortal blow to our ecosystems or an ‘Eco-
Highway’.
OUR ENVIRONMENT
An effective wildlife corridor or animal crossing linking critical habitats. Wildlife Corridors and their Importance (2011)
Cumuto–Toco Highway Project
A ‘mortal blow’ to our ecosystems?
B Y L I N T O N A R N E A U D
