Environment TOBAGO newsletter - September 2014

E n viron men t TO BA GO n ewsl etter

E

nvironment TOBAGO (ET) is a nongovernment, non-profit, volunteer organisation , not subsidized by any one group, corporation or government body.

Founded in 1995, ET is a proactive advocacy group that campaigns against negative environmental activities throughout Tobago. We achieve this through a variety of community and environmental outreach programmes.

Environment TOBAGO is funded mainly through grants and membership fees. These funds go back into implementing our projects. We are grateful to all our sponsors over the years and thank them for their continued support

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Environment TOBAGO

September 2014

President’s Message Patricia Turpin Environment TOBAGO The year 2014 marks the beginning of a new term and the beginning of a new vision for Environment Tobago. A renewed sense of volunteerism, geared towards the conservation of ecosystems and the sustainability of development in Tobago.

As a modern organisation-IT will play a major role in advocacy, education, research and awareness raising of all issues impacting the environment. As the new Caribbean regional focal point for the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) - we will help to familiarise the public about the issues currently related to climate changes, biodiversity loss, and the conservation of our vital ecosystems and the disposal of solid wastes.

There are many challenges to overcome, where development in our ecosystems is concerned. Currently, the plans to construct marinas in vital wetland and barrier reef systems- provides a classic case of the need to find a balance between conservation interests and those of tourism development in a small island state, experiencing all the symptoms of climatic changes.

It is with a renewed sense of hope that we appeal to the new generation of Tobagonians, to act as stewards towards the very environment that their lives depend onand with new sense of responsibility work towards the preservation and sustainable use of our natural resources.

hat’s inside

ET News

Environment TOBAGO’s 19th Annual General Meeting 1

Articles

10

Ecology Notes

14

Book Review

16

Community Announcements

18

Upcoming conferences and workshops

19

What‘s Happening @ ET

20

Notes to contributors

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The 19th Annual General Meeting of Environment TOBAGO was held on Wednesday 30th July, 2014, at the P.R.D.I Conference Room, Cor. Of Main & Burnett Streets, Scarborough, Tobago.

Executive Directors present: Mrs. Patricia Turpin- President & Chairman Bertrand Bhikarry- Vice President Mrs. Shirley Coombs-Mc Kenna- Treasurer Mrs. Wendy Austin- Secretary Staff: Barry Lovelace.

Directors & Other Members present: Fitzherbert Phillips, Hughford Mc Kenna, Nathaniel Licorish, Andy Roberts, James Bistley, Raymond Ottley, A. Lashley, Kay Seetahal, Mary Jacqui Alexander, Hugh Baker, Ken Biscombe, Christine Turpin.

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September 2014 Editor: Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Assistant Editor: Christopher K. Starr Design & Layout: Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Technical Support: Jerome Ramsoondar Enid Nobbee Contributors: Bertrand Bhikarry Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Christopher K. Starr Photographs: Environment TOBAGO Wikipedia.com

Board of Directors 2012-2014 President:: Patricia Turpin Vice-President: Bertrand Bhikkary Secretary: Wendy Austin Treasurer: Shirley McKenna Other Directors: William Trim Hugh Baker Fitzherbert Phillips Renee Gift Andy Roberts Darren Henry Ken Biscombe Nathaniel Licorish

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Agenda:  Chairman‘s Welcome  Environment TOBAGO Prayer  Special Presentation – Mr. Jim Bishop – Climate Change and Warming  President‘s Report  Education Coordinator Presentation  Review and adoption of minutes of 18th AGM  Treasurer‘s Report  Review and Adoption of Audited reports of 2013  Appointment of Auditors  Demit of current BOD  Introduction of the Officiating Officer  Election of new Board of Directors  Congratulations and Closing Remarks  Review of year‘s project material and refreshments

The Chairman, Mr. Bertrand Bhikarry welcomed all present to the 19th Annual General Meeting of Environment TOBAGO and called the meeting to order at 17:05pm.

He welcomed Mr. Jim Bishop who had agreed to make an important presentation on climate change.

Mr. Bishop gave a very interesting presentation on climate change, showing how much quicker changes are happening than previously predicted. It was a disturbing reminder of the damage being done to the planet. He made recommendations as to what could be done. Brochures were left for people to read. Mr. Bishop stated he would be pleased to give further lectures before he leaves the country on the 19th August, 2014.

Everyone was invited to stand for the ET prayer which was led by Mrs. P. Turpin.

The President’s Report (the complete report is given in this issue) The President‘s report was given by Mrs Turpin, who again welcomed all present and proceeded to present her annual report. The president pointed out how environmental NGO‘S have had to develop new pathways to environmental understanding.

Tobago is developing at a great pace which is putting enormous stress on our natural resources.

Environment Tobago has been very active in a number of consultations regarding coastal zone management, marinas/ slipways in protected areas and seismic blasting. A lot of work has been done both nationally with government and THA with regards to the new Forest Authority, the Wildlife bill, Global Water Partnership for a secure future and much more. There have been a number of new projects and partnerships developed

by ET throughout the year, as well as working with the schools to educate the younger generation on environmental issues and fostering among them a call to the stewardship to preserve their island. Although there is much more to do, the president wanted to thank everyone for their support and hard work over the past two years and hoped that the new board will have everyone‘s full support for their tenure. Presidents report available.

Education Coordinator’s Presentation This part of the agenda was delivered by Mr. Barry Lovelace who gave a presentation on the projects he has been working on. He gave an update on the progression

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

of the ―Keep a Clean School‖ project which has been running since 2002 and the changes made this year, included dividing it into two parts. The first consisted of the Clean Award. In the second part each school has the chance to choose their own project which they will work on to show ways of protecting the environment e.g. growing produce, recycling- using dumped tyres and containers in various categories.

Mr. Lovelace also spoke about the summer and Easter camps that he has been running, which for the 2014/2015 year would begin in August, 2014.

Members present made some suggestions and requests for school environmental education and the current syllabus which Mr. Lovelace has taken on board.

Review and adoption of the minutes of the 18th AGM The Chairman initiated the review and adoption of the minutes of the 2013 AGM. Perusal of the last minutes was made by all present. No corrections or changes were made. The minutes of the 18th AGM were then adopted by Mr. Fitzherbert Phillips and seconded by Mr. Andy Roberts. All present were in favor.

Treasurer’s Report Mrs. Shirley Mc Kenna, the Treasurer, welcomed everyone and proceeded to present her report. Mrs. McKenna wanted to publicly recognize Mr. Jalsa of Jalsa & Associates for his generous support and guidance with minimal compensation.

Review and adoption 2013 Audited Report The report was made available to members. The auditor stated that he believed the audit provided a reasonable basis for their opinion that the balance sheet was properly drawn up so to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of the financial affairs of Environment Tobago as at the 31st December 2013. A summary below was presented: Total Income- $588,614 TT, Total expenditure-$552,072 TT, Operating profit $6,542.

The treasurer also stated that there will be new and continued funding for 2014, from Rockefeller Foundation and BHP Billiton. ET is still hoping for the Garifuna project to be accepted by the Green Fund when the legal wrangling between the Green Fund Unit and the THA is over. In the meanwhile a 6 month Swmcol/ET –green fund project, valued at TT$2.3 million was already underway- bringing in significant administrative funding.

The Audited Financial Report was adopted by Mr. Fitzherbert Phillips and seconded by Mr. Bertrand Bhikarry. All present were in favour.

Appointment of Auditors It was agreed that Jalsa Associates be appointed as the auditor for the next year. All present were in favour. 

Office Managers Report Miss. Antoine had written her report but was not there in person to present it.

The report gave an update on Environment Tobago‘s participation at various conferences as well as television, radio interviews, lectures and other media sources. 

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Dissolution of Board of Directors The chairman thanked the current BOD for their services to ET and asked the BOD to stand down.

Officiating Officer Elections The Chairman welcomed and introduced Mr. Raymond Ottley, as the officiating officer for the election process. Mr. Ottley explained the process – reading out the proxies held by members present and duly checking their veracity. Mr. Ottley then asked that nominations begin there being no questions from the membership.

All board members were nominated and seconded unopposed to the positions as follows: President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Other Directors

Mrs. Patricia Turpin Mr. Bertrand Bhikarry Mrs. Shirley McKenna Mrs. Wendy Austin Mr. Fitzherbert Phillips Mr. William Trim Miss. Renee Gift Mr. Hugh Baker Mr. Darren Henry Mr. Andy Roberts Mr. Ken Biscombe Mr. Nathaniel Licorish

Mr. Ottley, the officiating officer congratulated the new board. Declared the elections complete.

Before closing, three topics were raised for Environment Tobago to consider which were discussed at some length by the membership. Suggestions were offered on the following:   

ET‘s impact as an NGO Mrs. P. Turpin‘s Silver Hummingbird award ET Partnering with other NGO‘s

Having no further questions or comments, the new President then thanked us all for attending and invited the members to view the years‘ projects on display and to have some light refreshments. The 19th AGM was officially closed at 19.15 pm.

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Presidents Report—19th Annual General Meeting of Environment Tobago Patricia Turpin Once again, welcome members and visitors to Environment Tobago‘s 19th Annual General meeting. It is a pleasure to meet with fellow environmentalists. On this day we come together to remind ourselves about the purpose of ET‘s existence- our mission as stewards of Tobago‘s natural resources.

2013-2014 has been a challenging year for E-NGO‘s- we have had to develop new pathways to environmental understanding. Dealing with the issues affecting Tobago in an environment where indifference, ignorance and overuse is acceptable, by using new strategies became our top priority. The pace of Tobago‘s development has put an enormous stress on our natural resources and requires us to be even more vigilant about the use in a sensible manner, of our coastal areas, wetlands and forests-all of which are seen as prime targets for indiscriminate action.

In the last year, we have been very active in consultations regarding coastal zone management, requests for marinas and slipways in protected areas, as well as, marine seismic blasting rules. We continue to work as the focal point –Tobago for ―Climate Change‖; on the EMA committee for the CBD-Convention on Biological Diversity (including environmentally sensitive areas and species). We have continued to work nationally with the Ministry of the environment and THA on the converting of the Forestry Division to the Forestry Authority- this to come into effect by the end of July 2014; the declaration of the Main Ridge as a Protected Area and NE Tobago as a designated marine protected area. The new ―Wildlife‖ bill, currently before parliament- required a lot of input. The Global Water Partnership, of which we are a partner- met in Trinidad to discuss water security. Stakeholders met with the Ministry of Planning and THA to discuss and prepare a list of sustainable priorities for environment and development for Tobago to be presented at the SIDS (Small island developing states) UN conference to be held in Samoa in September. We have recently been appointed to the EMA Technical Advisory Committee –supporting the regulatory processes (law making).

Apart from raising our profile on a national level- ET and our staff sought to raise our profile locally on issues affecting us by participating on several panels with Channel 5tv- e.g. ―the 2 year hunting ban‖, ―Tobago‘s readiness to effectively handle an ―oil spill‖, ―Tobago NGO Forum‖, ―education-ET‘s participation in Coastal Zone Canada‖ and with ―Let‘s Talk eco action‖-Trinidad. ET‘s quarterly newsletter continues to highlight events taking place. Our Facebook membership and education Forum stands at 822 members and ET regular membership currently stands at approx. 350 international and national members.

Although we have seen some changes in attitudes –our complaints log shows that the issues have not changed. Some of them have become downright dangerous.

With a 2 year moratorium on hunting in place, poachers ever more desperate have begun using weapons as well as slashing the tyres of patrollers‘ cars. The police activitycomplicit with illegal hunting, has made this worse. Issuing a warrant has become almost a cloak and dagger operation for Game wardens who have to try to side step police who tip off poachers. Illegal hunting has increased exponentially from the day the ban came into force. We are a lawless nation.

Moving apart from this and onto ET‘s Education Program- I can report that our Education Coordinator has had a successful year. The Annual ―keep a clean school‖ program supported by Bhp Billiton was converted into a more dynamic competition involving certification as a ―clean school‖ and competitive components for recycling,

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“ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . ”

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

agriculture and energy/water saving added. The judging has been completed with the assistance of partners in education in the DNRE, Fisheries and Education Divisions of the THA. Award Day is set for September 2014. The Eco-camps, funded twice annually by the Rockefeller Foundation took place August 2013 and April 2014. The 2014/2015 camps start next month. More than 30 children participated in the camps on each occasion.

The PCI media community program culminated with a meeting in St. Lucia, attended by our Manager and Education coordinator- the intent is for the repeat of the program. The Community Development education partnership with field trips was well received in 2013, and is about to start again in July/August with the Division of Education. Our partnership with PaCar/Caribsave for coastal community mapping relating to mitigation for climate change resulted in the visit to Nova Scotia by ET‘s Manager-Juliana Antoine- she presented a paper on the effects of Climate change on Tobago at an international conference- and was well received.

Internally, ET‘s increased workload required a full complement of staff- I am happy to report that our staff includes –a Manager-Juliana Antoine, and Education Coordinator-Barry Lovelace and our newest addition an Administrative assistant –Annesa Mejias. They have had a busy and active year, with its fair share of stresses.

ET representations and partnerships have increased in the last year- as stated at our AGM in 2013, ET was represented on 8 committees locally, nationally and regionally. We partnered with 5 organisations. In 2014, this increased in both sectors by representation on the EMA Biodiversity Council and The EMA technical advisory committee for regulatory processes and partnering with the Chamber of Commerce for strategic environmental projects.

Financially, 2013/2014 finally allowed us to have some degree of comfort with the continued support in the education sector of Bhp Billiton and the Rockefeller Foundation. Other funding from Community Development, PCI Media, IFAW (International Association for animal Welfare), and the German Embassy and British high Commission has enabled us to support staff and do additional programs. For the first time in ET‘s history, for the coming months we will manage a 2.3 million dollar grant allocated to ET from the Green Fund in partnership with Swmcol (ET /Tobago and Swmcol/Trinidad) to clean Tobago of all ambient plastics- outside of schools and homes. Solid waste disposal–always a huge issue for us. This project is already 1 month into operation. This is a large boost to ET‘s finances and will lead to further income earning. The financial explanations will come from the treasurer. ET‘s Green Fund Projects are currently held up by legal action taking place between the Green Fund Unit and the THA-which has put our 2 projects into standby mode.

In closing, the outlook for ET is promising. The outlook for our natural resources will be challenging. The outlook for our volunteer directors and our staff shows hard work and commitment will be needed. I wish to thank you all for your support in the last 2 years- it has been a pleasure acting as your President. I hope that I have discharged my duties to your satisfaction.

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Current developments-Belle Garden Wetlands and Plans for Marina at Petit Trou Lagoon Patricia Turpin Environment TOBAGO On the 24th September, Environment Tobago sent a letter to Mrs Jassodra Kuizon the Town Planner and Supervising Officer of the Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) inquiring about several events that seem to have taken place in Tobago, without planning approval and a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC).

The first matter was the development of housing in the Belle Garden wetlands which is of major concern. This activity has been going on for more than one year. The hillside overlooking the wetland has been bulldozed in to fill the wetland and the river has been dredged opening out to the sea. This spells the end of that wetland and its natural protection for the area. This area was the site for a large ET/ UNDP funded project for assessment of the wetland involving the community of Belle Garden which had the support of the representative of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) of the area. The entire project area has been destroyed. We inConstruction at Belle Garden Wetlands quired if an application for CEC has been lodged with her Division. We also noted that we will be following up closely.

The second matter was the proposed Petit Trou Lagoon marina. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was done by the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) in connection with the Caribbean Environmental Program/ UN Environmental program (CEP/UNEP). The EIA for a proposed marina/small craft harbour in South west Tobago in 1994, strongly opposes the development of a marina in Petit Trou but it does however, suggest that Courland Bay would be the best area. Environment TOBAGO supports this since all of the necessary needs for a marina including land transport connections exist there. There is also a new suggestion currently being developed for Scarborough Harbour in the vicinity of Red Rock. This suggestion is also good as it would provide a marina for small craft and support economic growth for Scarborough.

In order to put a marina in Petit Trou which required 15 hectares, the barrier reefs protecting that coast would require Construction at Belle Garden Wetlands blasting through and a series of dredging done. This will destroy the reefs for diving.

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Environment TOBAGO newsletter

It will also deprive the southern coast from protection from hurricanes and also tsunami. Biologically, the tannins produced by the mangroves act as a sunscreen for coral systems, any destruction of the mangroves will deprive the corals of this protection. It would also enable the infiltration of saltwater to the southern aquifers. Any conservation of those DIVE reefs will be over. It spells disaster for these sites. These reefs are pristine, biologically diverse areas- currently untouched by pollution.

If business interests supersede proper planning and an EIA, then we have problems. However, this is a central government suggestion and we are yet to know if the THA is part of this. ET is on the EIA team however, we have not been asked to review an EIA for Petit Trou. We did however review a marina suggested for the Bon Accord Lagoon (in early 2014) which the THA team and ET team did not approve. The reason for the rejection of this proposal is that the proposed marine park as part of a complex would be located in the Buccoo Reef Bon Accord Lagoon ecosystem and a Ramsar site. Therefore, the environmental degradation would be too great.

What ET has been up to

Training session for ET/SWMCOL ambient plastics recycling program-Green Fund

“ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . �

The launch and IMA training day of the SWMCOL/ET- Ambient Plastics Collection Program for Tobago. This is a Green Fund project where ET has been contracted to do the Tobago leg. It is 6 month collection project. However, the aim is to continue beyond the 6 months using trained villagers from each community.

Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Institute of Marine Affairs Symposium The Institute of Marine Affairs Symposium held on 17th September was attended

by Board of Directors members Hugh Baker, Nathaniel Licorish and ET President Patricia Turpin. It was a very informative event with not enough time to absorb all information available. The program covered many initiatives on-going in Trinidad and Tobago regarding our coastal environment to address issues arising from climate change, pollution and natural resource mismanagement. The initiatives covered are sponsored by the IMA, IDB, NOAA and various government ministries. Some of the topics included are listed below along with some links for further information materials;       

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Ocean acidification Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and sea level rise Artificial incubation for sea turtles Marine turbines Climate change and coastal vulnerability Proper monitoring of our sewage/ refuse disposal Participation in the ICZM policy framework process presently being developed for T&T (http:// www.worldbank.org/projects/P097985/ integrated-coastal-zone-management) Monitoring our Water Quality and reporting unusual conditions ―Greening‖ our business practices Support the design and implementation of a Coastal Ecosystem Based Climate Change Adaption Plan through the IDB (https://www.iaia.org/IAIA-ClimateSymposium-DC/documents/ Caricom_Climate%20Change%20and% 20EIA.pdf)

Mrs Turpin was able to acquire a 2 USB sticks- one with all presentations mad and one with IDB information which is available for all interested.

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Environment TOBAGO newsletter

What ET has been up to (cont’d)

REGIONAL FOCAL POINT FOR CARIBBEAN REGION Following the election for the position of Regional Focal Point (RFP) for Caribbean Region which was undertaken by the Election Task Force of the GEF-CSO Network from 28 June– 31 August 2014, Environment Tobago was elected as the RFP for the region. The term of office as the Regional Focal point for the Caribbean Region is for a period of four years from 6 Sept 2014 to 5 Sept 2018. However, the period of office of the RFP may be periodically reviewed and adjusted by the Network.

ARTICLES Rain on the parade Bertrand Bhikarry Environment TOBAGO “ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . ”

“I’d still lock my doors at night. . ”

I don‘t want to rain on the parade but is banning shrimp trawlers big news?

Shouldn‘t it just be an announcement of someone catching up on the truly important things?

Since 1991 Trinidad and Tobago has been working with the UNDP and the FAO in a program to collect data on our fish stock and gain some measure of appreciation of the size of the fishing industry in general. Government (pre-PPP) had already taken action to prevent an increase in trawler count, had already defined areas of operation and specified the minimum cod-end mesh size.

Trawl surveys have been a fact of life since 1944 in our coastal waters, so we‘ve known the salient facts for some time. A survey of the Type II vessels way back in 1986 reported a consistent discard rate, using weight as the parameter, of above 90%. What took us so long to ban the things?

In another study of Type III‘s, it was reported that just under 60% (by weight again) of the fin catch was discarded. Someone going over the logs of a vessel in 1991 discovered – and not all catch is logged, that almost 65% of the by-catch (non-shrimp) was thrown away.

Trinidad‘s demersal fishery (Tobago does not have one) consists of two inshore fleets, one operating in the Gulf of Paria mainly from Otaheite. The other is based in the south end working the Columbus Channel. These are small artisanal craft – classed as Type I and Type II. The Type III trawler is a semi-industrial vessel which can function well offshore. The IV‘s go further south, fishing the continental shelf off

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the South American mainland and the Columbus Channel.

In an important aside, we must bear in mind that approximately 70 Type I trawlers go ―fishing‖ in the Orinoco Delta each year between December and June under permission granted by the T&T/Venezuela Fishing Accord. So if the plan to ban trawlers ever comes to us as part of a pitch that the present government has a larger initiative in mind – say curbing the gun and drug smuggling trade, I‘d still lock my doors at night. I wonder though, what will shrimp sell for now?

Time for a green party Bertrand Bhikarry Environment TOBAGO Is there anyone in T&T who feels the natural environment will be better served if the people who care for green goes into government? I‘d say it‘s time for a party, a green party. Just so you know. I‘m taking the cue from Tobago where our recent local election is now complete and the politicians who wanted to know about green causes has moved on.

One week mind you, and the fever for a greener Tobago has died - even if the ague will live for the next four years. In this, the merry period before the carnival, the trucks are having their oil changed and the accompanying sound systems are being refurbished. Nothing has changed, nor will it change, unless the NGO‘s with care for the natural environment can take for themselves a seat in the nation‘s Senate.

Why a green party? These are hard times for tree huggers. It has come about given the (oft demonstrated) penchant of many of nature‘s friends to drop the green cause the minute their portfolios are legitimised and their efforts monetised.

Who we go put? Well, we need a person to ‗lead‘ the thing, although given the scope of the cause, what we really need is the body in the chair, but ensure there‘s brain in the backside. I‘m thinking a person like Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh. I‘m not saying Kublalsingh should be the Green Party‘s leader, but he could be – if he wants. Right now from the local NGO scene I‘d go with Kublalsingh without reservation, but I think I‘d give Dr. Floyd Homer the edge. And that‘s only Homie wants, mind you.

Now, just in case some folks are thinking I‘m jumping the gun, feasting on sour grapes that the PP government have not empowered my NGO to points and positions stellar, I hasten to explain. What I‘m really worried about is eventual impact government‘s decision to create a national civil society board will have for NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, and all the other Ooooohs. It does not look good for small causes. It also does not (given typical human frailties) ensure that the 17 persons selected to be on the Civil Society Board will not pander to special groups, groupings or geographies.

The evolution of Green Parties has been the only resort left to environmentalists after they were outmanoeuvred by entrenched interests – and this is a global phenomenon. Is there anyone in T&T who also feels the natural environment will be better served if the people who care for the green go into government?

“These are hard times for tree huggers. ”

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Environment TOBAGO newsletter

Saving our local reefs. Simply a matter of all Tobago NGO’s working together.

Bertrand Bhikarry Environment TOBAGO

“Climate change is a global problem. It is also a threat which Tobagonians do not take seriously. ”

I would like to start off by stating two facts; the first is that climate change is a global problem. The second fact is that it is also a threat which Tobagonians do not take seriously. This false-happy state of the local mind is no doubt attributable to nature‘s ability to disguise her intentions and cover her threats.

Remember how calm it gets before a storm?

But what really is climate change and why do reefs matter in that equation? An appreciation of the situation helps. Life as we know it thrives in a narrow band of time and occuPhoto: Wikipedia pies a space after which the Earth itself will be no more. If we accept, and can realize that we are the delicate species among all those others: The ones most dependent on the widest of ranges of organisms to survive, we will grasp that would be a few more degrees of heat and we are dead. Indeed, the simplest approach for us to ensure lengthy tenure is to assume the role of caretaker for the planet. This should be taken to mean ensuring all forms of living things survive.

At the country level, especially in small places like Tobago, there is a sense that others elsewhere will do the job for us, especially when it‘s about managing things that warm the planet (emissions) or otherwise place Earth in jeopardy (deforestation). All that is not good enough though. Rather, ordinary people taking the small, simple steps to help Tobago‘s reefs handle the rigours of the changing climate may be the bigger deed/contribution at the end of the day. If this is the case, everyday people do not really need to understand correct science. What‘s preferable is for Mr and Mrs Ordinary to realize that there is a threat – a clear and present danger. Everyone must appreciate that surviving in a changing climate is all about taking up (and winning) the fight to save living space, ensure there is a proper food supply, and employing practical measures to hold on to the ‗quality of life‘ benefits we‘ve become accustomed to and wish to pass on to our children. As the current Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon once noted, this is ‗the defining issue of our era‘. Anyone agreeing with him or with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for that matter, merely has to commit to work alongside with nature until better can be done. The easiest point of entry for Tobago to become a caring and climate friendly community is arguably via its reef systems and through its non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Think of the eco NGOs here as ordinary groups of concerned citizens. If Group H, (who harbour hillside concerns for soil conservation wrought by bad agricultural or building development practice) works with Group W (who worry

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about water quality emanating from built-up areas) both team up with Group R to draw attention to the poor conditions on the near-shore reefs, the chances of them all winning workable solutions improve dramatically. There are other potential partners in the Tobago/climate change war, again people with strong motivations for pristine reefs. The Tobago business sector through its tourism industry is one. This group has quite a lot to lose in the short term. If the reef dies, the tourism goes along with it. Indeed, if a portion of the sizable sums they spend on polishing marketing strategies could be used in ‗reef‘ sensitization work, then far less money overall would be needed to be spent on bespoke advertising campaigns, given the quick flow of positive information that social media allows.

But, if there‘s a sticking point in this plan it‘s the problem all the Tobago NGOs face in acquiring capacity (primarily education for their volunteers, staff and leaders). Given that their work is limited to the realms of creating awareness to their cause, it stands to reason that they need training. However, by virtue of the island remoteness, the constraints created for costs of travel or housing or even printed material, the fact that they survive at all is a testimony to this sector‘s resiliency. However, where there are problems it stands to reason there must be fixes.

The good news is the local NGOs can save Tobago‘s day. They just need to ensure there is a sustained and comprehensive educational programme for their focus areas. But how to pay for that? Partnership power of course. They need to demonstrate by example, methods to address three major problems faced by places with small island development status (SIDS) (i.e. issues about sustainable development, negatives associated with climate change, and concern Photo: Wikipedia about food security.) This they can do by simply asking their membership to walk the talk at home and when among friends. They need to provide to their target groups a state-of-the-art library, paper or digital, on who is doing what globally on the environmental front. This merely needs to be a simple blog to start with, and some regular posts (even though writing seems harder in a community here, reading is not a popular pastime).

Further, our NGOs need to encourage local farmers to become practicing environmentalists through the reintroduction of organic agriculture, redirection of outdated farming methods, and increasing sales to new markets. They‘d need to enlist members by and large, like the very young, the elderly, the artists and the business community. This can be achieved by a system of small rewards (recognition?) emanating out of each group. Our NGOs must also encourage observation and reporting through an active eco-media branch with all the trimmings of conventional news (i:e work the social network to spread good as well as ugly news). Furthermore, these groups must encourage the formation of land trusts, especially in coastal areas that are subject to sea level rise. Nobody should be encouraged to do things that places strain on the wider population when high water comes. Also, NGOs must develop a relatively new travel niche, science based tourism for the

“If we accept, and can realize that we are the delicate species among all those others.”

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triple topics of climate change phenomenon, food security models and other innovative sustainable development models. Here, they‘d need to develop (more) capacity among the groups to research, to create situations and projects among the communities in which they operate to achieve goals for mitigation and adaptation to the climate threats. Last but not least, our local NGOs need to create a physical school that allows for innovation in science-based projects. Beyond the technical aspect, it will educate wider communities to preserve watersheds, water regimes and change damaging and archaic agricultural practices.

What‘s noteworthy here is there are about 14 qualified volunteer based groups within the Tobago society, which can, if they work cooperatively, make the difference in the local fight against climate change. Will they? Perhaps.

ECOLOGY NOTES What is a ring species?

Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal Dept of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies

“The concept of evolution is quite controversial .”

The concept of evolution is quite controversial however, the existence of ring species is taken as evidence supporting evolution. This article will serve to explain the concept of ring species and how they develop and the importance of studying them.

Probably the best definition of a ring species is ―when a single species becomes geographically distributed in a circular pattern on a large area.‖ Therefore along the distribution adjacent populations of species differ from each other but can still interbreed. However at the very ends of the distribution the species are so different from each other that they cannot breed, causing by the natural variation along the distribution. Probably the best way to think of ring species is as a circular parking garage. In other words, as you drive up through the levels the rise is so gradual that you do not realise that you have made a complete circle and are on an entirely different level that when you started the circle.

One of the best and well documented examples of a ring species is salamanders of the genus Ensatia. As one moves south along the Pacific border of the USA from Washington, through Oregon and into the South of California, seven subspecies of this genus are found with each subspecies having their own colour variation. Based on their colour form with adjacent species being more similar in colour to those further along in the distribution. Bear in mind that this colour change has evolved over millions of years. Therefore it is hypothesized that the gradual changes along the geographic distribution accumulated so that the species at the end is very different to that found at the start. In southern California there are two which look like distinct species. One is well camouflaged with a pattern of dark blotches. The second has a more uniform pattern of blotches and bright yellow eyes, a mimic of the Western newt which is poisonous.

There are three traits of ring species. The first is that the populations of

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the species encircle an area of unsuitable habitat. The second trait is that at one location in the ring there are two distinct forms of the same species present but cannot interbreed, which are found at the ends of the distribution range. The final trait is that along the distribution range, the populations exhibit a gradual change of traits so that through intermediate forms or subspecies with each exhibiting fewer traits from one extreme and more of the species at the other extreme or end of the ring.

But why is this worth knowing? Ring species are living populations that show that a series of small changes can accumulate over time to give rise to large differences and in turn distinct species. It is believed that over time there would be subspecies but these have long disappeared and given rise to the subspecies best adapted to the habitat it is found in. Therefore they are regarded as evidence of what happens over time as populations genetically diverse. In this case spatial variation (in terms of the different habitats the subspecies occupy) is taken to illustrate changes through time. Thus reconstructing history since spatial variation would represent Each coloured segment represents a natural population which vary along a cline (a gradual change in conditions giving rise to slightly dif- changes in time. Finally, it shows that complete speferent characteristics in the populations that live along the way) ciation does not have to Photo : Wikipedia.com occur when there is geographic isolation. Typically it is believed that populations of a species become geographically isolated the speciation occurs due to non-exchange of genes.

Ring species are very rare. One reason for their rarity is that the intermediate forms may be destroyed being discovered. They are specific to habitat and the conditions found there and if these are destroyed they are lost. Also, the formation of ring species require specific geographic conditions. So that the distribution expands through suitable habitat. However, this expansion cannot occur too rapidly over time for the subspecies to develop. Also the size of the barrier must be large compared to the distance that individuals disperse. Taxonomic rules in recognizing a species do not take into account ring species as they do not recognize the subspecies.

Therefore one can see that the concept of evolution remains a controversial topic but helpful in helping us understanding about past species and how new ones develop.

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AS WILD AS IT GETS Theodore Adolph Murie 1961. A Naturalist in Alaska. New York: Devin-Adair 302 pp.

[Thirty-seventh in a series on "naturalist-in" books; see www.ckstarr.net/ reviews_of_naturalist.htm ] Christopher K. Starr Dept of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies ckstarr@gmail.com

“ To many p eopl e t hes e tall pea ks make fo r a c hallen ging b ut s cenic hike. B u t t hey a re not jus t a no the r t all m oun tain to climb . ”

“Murie was the first biologist to study wolves in their natural habitat. “

Adolph Murie (1899-1974) was a pioneer wildlife biologist of the arctic. His older brother, Olaus J. Murie (1889-1963), was also an outstanding biologist and conservationist.

Alaska had long been part of the USA when Murie began work there, yet it was very much a wild place, as it is even today. A key message of this book is the hope that Alaska can remain forever wild.

His main focus was Mt McKinley National Park, almost 8000 km2 in extent. Its nucleus is Mt McKinley, or Denali, the highest mountain in North America, rendered even more impressive by a relatively abrupt rise from its base.

In 1939 he began a two-year study of the relationship between wolves and Dall sheep in the park in order to determine whether artificial control of wolf numbers was justified. Murie was the first biologist to study wolves in their natural habitat. His basic research on the behaviour and environmental relations was based on living in their midst. It involved extensive rambling and observation, watching wolves and analyzing their droppings in order to identify their prey and learn what fraction of the sheep that they ate was carrion that had died from other agents. In addition, he examined some hundreds of sheep skulls to infer sex, age and overall physical condition at the time of death. One result was that sheep were often old and near the end of their natural lifespan when killed.

The wolves hunt mostly at night, resting during the day. Their numbers fluctuate widely, in large part due to disease. In the end, Murie argued against predator eradication at a time when this was a very controversial position.

And he studied the wolves' alternative prey (e.g. caribou and moose) and the sheep's alternative predators (e.g. golden eagle and brown bear). Although the core of the book revolves around these two species, then, its subject is Alaska's larger wildlife.

About half of the chapters are taken up with the grey wolf and brown (or grizzly) bear, the rest with such creatures as the lynx, red fox, and caribou.

Murie's approach, while always data-rich, was mainly descriptive, seldom interpreting his results as for or against a particular hypothesis. Still, he wondered what causes the Dall sheep's seasonal migrations between summer and winter ranges. In a discussion of possible factors, he advanced the hypothesis that the initial cause is no longer present, and they continue to migrate out of long habit. Or perhaps the migration is necessary only in occasional years when the sheep are very abundant and deplete the forage in their winter range.

Red foxes vary a great deal in their colouration, so that Murie was able to recog-

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nize most of the individuals that he watched repeatedly. From this it emerged that they tend to spend their lives within quite a restricted home range. One must envy any naturalist who gets to spend days in the observation of wild foxes that he knows personally.

The chapter on the lynx has a special charm. This cat -- characterized by David Attenborough as "the very essence of wilderness" -- is rare, and one can live for years in lynx country without even seeing its tracks. Murie was able to see several at fairly close quarters and gives a very pleasing picture of a confident, unperturbed and majestic creature. He spent several half-days watching a mother with her kittens at the den.

Brown bears, in contrast, are fairly common and conspicuous in much of Alaska.

Unlike the book's other main focus, wolves, these are rigorously solitary animals, so that outside of mating the only groupings are females with their dependent cubs.

Murie found that the cubs, born in the winter, usually remain with the mother until their third summer, when they are about two and a half years old.

Although we think of it as a very powerful predator -- which it is -- the brown bear is omnivorous, and mostly vegetarian out of necessity. They eat a great many roots, and Murie describes their extensive digging.

In treating other animals, even wolves, he largely takes it for granted that they pose no hazard to humans. Obviously, one cannot treat the brown bear in the same offhand manner, and there is a chapter devoted to human encounters with this animal.

It is here that the book's chief weakness really stands out. Murie makes the point that bears almost always avoid people, but such non-events tend not to get reported. And when someone does have an encounter, the distance is minimized and the size of the bear is maximized -- no one ever seems to run into a small bear -- to dramatic effect.

Still, close and even hazardous encounters, while rare, do occur, and Murie takes up the better part of a chapter relating a great many of these, many of them secondhand, one after the other. To what purpose? I can understand campers regaling each other with an endless stream of bear stories, but does it belong in a serious naturalistin book? This is part of a tendency to a great many narrative observations, not necessarily in the service of any larger point. Fortunately, these tend to be clustered in just a few chapters, so that one can read the first one or two and then skip the rest.

In contrast, the most engaging chapter has none of this and instead revolves around a particular biological problem. It began when Murie found small caches of drying hay -- plainly provisions for the coming winter -- with mouse droppings around them. The only hay-making rodent he knew was not found in the area, so what could it be? He set live traps and caught three species of small rodents. Further trapping showed that the Toklat vole (Microtus miurus) was the only species caught where hay caches were plentiful and was only caught in association with hay.

That solved the identification and led him to study the placement of hay caches, their composition -- with a list of eight plant species found in abundance -- and the dimensions of storage chambers. The vole also accumulates caches of root pieces, and Murie identified some thousands of such pieces, while using the excavation patterns to infer how they did it. One remarkable feature of this study is that most of it was carried out before he had even seen an untrapped vole.

A key general lesson from Murie's results is the need to observe animals at length and under varied conditions if one is to understand what shapes their lives. The arctic is of course a very seasonal place, so that a study undertaken in just one part of the year misses a key dimension.

The technical report of this research (Murie 1944) is regarded as a classic in wildlife biology. The core of A Naturalist in Alaska is the popular version of this report. It is a book about being a naturalist studying mostly large mammals in the arctic. Its 23

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“A key general lesson from Murie's results is the need to observe animals at length and under varied conditions if one is to understand what shapes their lives. “

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chapters are illustrated with many photos and drawings.

While Murie is occasionally lyrical in setting a scene, his prose is mostly sober and straight-forward, devoid of simile or metaphor, as befits a naturalist-in book. Still, there are times when one must sing. Here is an example: "The presence of the wolf adds immeasurable richness and a wilderness spirit to the landscape. One need not see a wolf to benefit from its presence; it is enough to know that there is the possibility of discovering one on some distant ridge. It is enough to know that the wolf still makes its home in the beautiful wilderness region to which he contributes vividness, color, and adventure."

Reference Murie, A. 1944. The Wolves of Mount McKinley. Washington: United States Government Printing Office 238 pp. Online at: http://www.npa.gov/history/history/ online_books/fauna5/fauna1.htm.

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