Nariva Swamp and Coastal Zone

 

Location

The Nariva Swamp and Coastal Zone Pilot Protected Area includes all state lands within the boundaries of the Nariva Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), amounting to 11,343 ha, as well as a satellite area consisting of the beach-front from the low tide to high tide marks, consisting of 70 ha along the Manzanilla Beach, from the northern to southern boundary of the ESA on the island’s Atlantic coast.  The site includes the Nariva Swamp Prohibited Area, the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary and part of the Nariva Windbelt Reserve.  The proposed pilot site is primarily state land, however, there are two areas of private land ownership within the south eastern portion, coconut estates and private holiday homes in the area known as "the Cocal" and encroachment of agricultural squatters to the south and northwestern areas of the pilot site.

 

Boundaries

The boundaries of this pilot protected area are the existing Nariva Environmentally Sensitive Area boundaries as described in Legal Notice 334 of 2006 and the beach front along the Manzanilla Beach.  The Legal Notice describes the eastern boundary of the Environmentally Sensitive Area as the Low Water Mark, suggesting that the beach is included in the Environmentally Sensitive Area.  The pilot protected area is contained in the area bounded by the Plum Mitan Road and Cunapo Southern Road to the west, the Naparima Mayaro Road to the south and the coastline to the east.

 

MAP

Legal designations
  • Environmentally Sensitive Area - Legal Notice No. 334 of 2006
  • Prohibited Area under the Forests Act - Legal Notice No. 78 of 1993  
  • Forest Reserve – Nariva Windbelt Reserve 1968
  • Wildlife Sanctuary - Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary  1968
  • National Wetland Policy passed by Cabinet on July 2001
  • Designated a  RAMSAR  site (6,234 ha.) on 21st April 1993 and was listed on the Ramsar convention’s Montreaux record in June 1993 .  Removed from the record on 7th January 2002.
Adjacent Landowners and Land Use

To the west of the site are state and private land holdings with agricultural and residential land use. To the south, indications are that the lands are primarily state. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean where fishing activities occur. There are several fish landing sites adjacent to the pilot area, including at Manzanilla to the north and Ortoire and Mayaro to the south.

Socio-economic descriptions

The Nariva Swamp and Coastal Zone pilot protected area is located in the Mayaro-Rio Claro and Sangre Grande Regional Corporations.  In the 2011 Housing and Population Census, the estimated population for the Municipality of Mayaro/Rio Claro was 34,846 with 10,309 households and for Sangre Grande 74,546 and 22,549 respectively.  The municipalities have the lowest population densities in the country.  Mayaro/Rio Claro municipality is recorded as 43 persons per sq. km. and Sangre Grande as 69 persons per sq. km.  Both municipalities recorded an increase in population during the period 2000 to 2011.
Communities surrounding the pilot PA include Plum Mitan, Biche and Charuma Village to the west; Kernahan and Mayaro to the south.

The area sustains a very small ecotourist industry.  The Incoming Tour Operators Association is responsible for coordinating boat tours for ecotourists from a site known as “boat line”. 

Most of the human activities in this area are however associated with harvest of wildlife (e.g. the agouti, Dasyprocta leporina), freshwater fish (e.g. cascadua, Hoplosternum littorale), crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi), oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae) and molluscs (Pomacea urceus) (Mahadeo, 2011).  Hunting (mainly subsistence) takes place; however more hunting is done at night than in the daytime.  Enforcement/management activities are carried out by Forestry Division’s wildlife section patrol through Game Wardens and community members.  The Fisheries Division had bred and released cascadoo/cascadura from the Ministry of Food Production’s Sugar Cane Feed Center, however the numbers of fish decreased, as they were carried out of Swamp by flood waters during major floods.

The Ministry of Food Production proposed a Public Sector Improvement Programme project, in the budget for the 2016/2017 financial year, to revitalize the coconut industry on the east coast.  Some private estates are already doing reforestation of the coconut estates (e.g. the Cocal estate, which was previously infected with red ring and mite).

Agriculture is a major livelihood activity in and around the pilot protected area.  Pasturing and raising of livestock (buffaloes) takes place within the protected area and illegal cultivation of marijuana has been noted in Bois Neuf and the margins close to forest restoration sites at Plum Mitan.  In the Kernanhan district, located to the southern end of the pilot protected area, seasonal agriculture (e.g. watermelons, peppers, and tomatoes) is being undertaken by a farming community of over 200 families both from the local community as well as other areas in South Trinidad.  Some of these farms, while they border the pilot protected area for the most part, have encroached into the buffer zone near the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary.  Private land holdings along the southeastern area of the protected area are also active agricultural zones, in which production is carried out by the private landholder and famers who have subleased plots from the owner.  Unsound agricultural practices in this area including the setting of fires and improper use of chemical pesticides are of concern.

The National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme (NRWRP) is operating within the Kernahan forested area, and this project provides some financial support to community members who are engaged in the programme.

Ecological Notes

There are five principal wetland vegetation types in Nariva Swamp – herbaceous swamp, palm swamp, swamp forest, terrestrial forest and mangrove.

Herbaceous swamp is the predominant vegetation type in th emain basin of the swamp, which is permanently flooded.  This consists of floating and rooted grasses, sedges and herbaceous plants that provide habitat and food for fauna including waterfowl.  Mangroves occupy the eastern margins of the basin, where salt water enters and six species of mangroves are present.  On the western margins of the basin, Herbaceous Swamp gives way first to Bactris (Roseau or Gru Gru) Palm Swamp and then Terrestrial Evergreen Seasonal Forest.  In the central part of the swamp basin, are areas of higher ground (Bois Neuf, Sand Hill and the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary) occupied by Terrestrial Evergreen Seasonal Forest and fringed by Palm Swamp.  The palm swamp consists primarily of royal/palmiste (Roystonea oleracea) or moriche palms (Mauritia flexuosa).  The royal/palmiste and moriche palms and Roseau provide habitats for the macaws and parrots including the blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) that was reintroduced into the area, having been locally extirpated.

The Nariva Swamp supports one of only two communities in Trinidad of the Moriche palm (Mauritia spp).  The palmiste palm which exists here is under severe threat because of the unsustainable harvesting of the meristems (palm hearts), primarily for the local cuisine.  The trees are destroyed for poaching of nests of young parrots for the pet trade.  Bush Bush Island hosts true hardwood forest.  The main canopy is about 21– 24 m with a few emergents reaching up to 30 m.  There is secondary canopy of 12-15 m, consisting of timite palms, while the forest floor is made up of tirite and seedling trees.

The Swamp forest is dominated by the legume Pterocarpus officinalis (swamp bloodwood) which occurs in mainly pure stands in most areas except the eastern margin of the swamp basin, where it occurs with other swamp trees such as Crudia glaberima  (yellow mangue) and Virola surinamensis (Cajuca).  It is worth noting that V. surinamensis is now listed on the IUCN Red Data list as Endangered, due to over-exploitation in many parts of its range.

Over 594 animal species have been identified in the Nariva Swamp. 179 bird species including 25 species of waterfowl, 45 species of mammals including the manatee and monkeys, 32 species of bats, tree porcupine and the anteater have been identified as well as 92 species of mosquito.

Important birds include the blue heron (Ardea herodias), great egret (Egretta alba), snowy egret (E. thula), green backed heron (Butorides striatus), and some highly endangered birds such as the blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna - at least, locally highly endangered, probable extinct), red-bellied macaw (A. manilata) and dickcissel (Spiza americana).

Amongst the mammals are the Red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), white fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons) and the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), which is globally threatened.  Countless species of fish have been recorded at the Bush Bush Sanctuary.  Reptiles include caiman (Caiman crocodilus) and matte (Tupinambis negropunctatus).  The site also hosts the anaconda (Eunectes murinus) and fer-de-lance (Bothrops atrox).  The endangered Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) uses the Manazanilla Beach during the annual turtle nesting season

Historical Information

Agricultural activity

  • In 1940 a small portion of the northern area of the Nariva Swamp was occupied by local residents growing vegetables and rice, and harvesting fish and molluscs.
  • In the 1950s, a legal agriculture project, the Plum Mitan Rice Scheme (Sector A), was developed.  It started as a request by several farmers in the 1930s (Agristudio, 1991). Approximately 500ha of wetland and forest were converted into agricultural plots and a series of drainage and irrigation canals were constructed. The objective was to accommodate small land holdings for the inhabitants of Plum Mitan.
  • In the 1960s small scale farms were established in the southern portions of the Swamp

Research activity

  • In 1950, research on arboviruses was undertaken by the then Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory (TRVL) - now Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
  • Research was conducted at various times on species used and/or consumed by the local population (Price 1955, Bacon 1970, LaCroix 1971)
  • A 1979 report was prepared by the University of the West Indies (Bacon et al., 1979) describing the physical and ecological aspects, as well as the possible environmental effects of reclamation.
  • A study was done on the West Indian manatees found in the Nariva Swamp (Khan, 1996)
  • Studies on palm swamp forest were undertaken (Bonadie & Bacon, 1999 & 2000)
  • An economic evaluation was undertaken (Pemberton & Fridie, 2000; Pemberton, 2005)
  • A study on the restoration of Nariva Swamp was undertaken by Ducks Unlimited (Carbonell, Alleng, Browne and Massey, 2007)

Hydrological Changes and other Human Impacts

  • 1960s the Navet Dam was built upstream to divert water from the Navet River to the expanding developments in the area around San Fernando on the west coast.  This significantly reduced the flow of water into the Nariva system.
  • Over the period 1987 -1996, the health of the ecosystem was severely impacted by human induced alterations within and outside of its boundaries.  The ecosystem was significantly damaged by illegal agricultural activities within its boundaries.   Large sections (approximately 1500 ha) of forest and marsh in the central and western sections of the system were removed for large-scale rice cultivation.  Canals were dug, vegetation was burned on a regular basis, and agrochemicals and heavy machinery were extensively used.  While, primarily in its southern sector, illegal small vegetable farmers removed vegetation.   The removal of large areas of forest lead to alterations in the hydrology of the system and a change in the distribution and extent of the vegetative communities.
  • 1998 - extensive forest fires took place
  • 2002 Talisman (Trinidad) Petroleum Ltd. applied for a Certificate of Environmental Clearance to explore for oil in the area but was denied by the Environmental Management Authority
  • 2004 Talisman (Trinidad) Petroleum Ltd. applied and received approval from the Environmental Management Authority to undertake oil and gas exploration and exploitation in and around Nariva.  Permission was granted to explore up to 18 wells outside the Nariva Swamp Protected Area boundaries, three wells on the boundaries, and to carry out horizontal exploration under the Swamp. Talisman eventually modified their exploration plans and did not drill in the protected area, but placed seismic sensors only.

Activities relevant to management/rehabilitation

  • In the Mid 1990’s, people from the surrounding communities were integrated into decision-making on the Nariva Swamp.
  • 1994 - the video ‘Nariva Must Not Die' was released by Pearl & Dean (Caribbean) Ltd.
  • 1996 - illegal rice farmers were evicted from the Swamp by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago
  • 1997 - funding was secured for training of local communities for firefighting 
  • 1998 - complete removal of illegal rice farmers was undertaken
  • 2003 – the Nariva Environmental Trust was formed
  • 2008 – the Nariva Swamp Restoration Project was initiated
  • 2014  - National Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, Wildlife and Livelihoods Project (revision of the Nariva Swamp Restoration Project) was initiated
  • The Coastal Protection Unit of the Ministry of Works undertakes coastal and related works, mainly in response to current and expected climate change impacts.  There is a proposed coastal protection structure at North Manzanilla and a coastal revetment wall on the East Coast opposite the Nariva Swamp
Management
  • Wildlife Section, Forestry Division responsible
  • North Regional Office, Ministry of Agriculture
  • Land Management Division
  • EMA

Forestry Division is not included in decision-making on release of bird species in the swamp.    There should be a central coordinating agency/group regarding the release of species

Key threats and challenges
  • Many species are harvested by local communities for subsistence and commercial purposes. In the case of some species, such as the blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), and several of the local finches, this consumption for the pet trade has led to extirpation of the species from this pilot protected area. The blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), however was the focus of an intensive and successful reintroduction programme that included community participation
  • Poaching of the five game mammals and unsustainable harvesting of the palmiste palm (Roystonea oleracea) which is used as important nesting habitats by the 2 species of macaw found at the site (A. ararauna and A. manilata)
  • Incidental take of globally threatened species such as the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is also known to occur at this site
  • Stocks of freshwater species such as the cascadura (Hoplosternum littorale) and black conchs (Pomacea urceus)  are depleted as a result of over harvesting
  • Habitat destruction has affected more than 1/3 of this wetland area, with significant removal of the natural vegetation and modification of the hydrology of the swamp by illegal rice farmers in the 1990s, and the impact of these alterations remain a critical factor in the ecosystem’s management today
  • Illegal cattle/buffalypsos in Block B hinder regrowth of vegetation; the Forestry Division does not have the capacity (personnel, equipment) to impound these animals although it has legal authority 
  • Agricultural squatting remains a significant threat and the boundaries of the protected area constantly threatened / encroached upon by illegal farming
  • Farmers in the Biche area have been issued leases and divert/block water flow; the impact of this action on the drainage canals needs to be analysed and action taken to mitigate negative impacts. The Environmental Management Authority has engaged UWI to do a hydrological study to investigate changes in the hydrological regime
  • Water seems to be getter shallower or saltier;  there has been a decrease in fresh water flow
  • Associated with illegal and legal farming at this site, is the threat of agricultural fires, which are used by farmers at the site as a land preparation technique during the dry season, and which can potentially have significant consequences for the natural habitats at the site
  • The buffer zone is diminishing near the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Marijuana cultivation has taken place and there is the associated presence of pipe/trap guns at the site
Current initiatives in the Protected Area

References

  • Information Brochure on the Nariva Swamp: "The Hidden Nariva"
  • Institute of Marine Affairs 1998.  Environmental Impact Assessment of the Nariva Swamp (Biche Bois Neuf Area).  Document prepared for the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources.
  • Institute of Marine Affairs 1999.  Draft Technical Report for the Nariva Management Plan: Wetlands Ecology.  Document prepared for the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources
  • Institute of Marine Affairs 1999.  The Formulation of the Nariva Swamp Management Plan. Final Report.  Document prepared for the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources.
  • Institute of Marine Affairs 2002.  Draft Technical Report for the Nariva Management Plan: Socio Economic Assessment.  Document prepared for the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources.
  • Tyler, S., 1999. National Parks and Wildlife Management Project: Coastal, Freshwater and Marine Areas Sub-component Technical Report. World Bank/GEF Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Carbonell, M., G. Alleng, D. Browne, and B. Massey. 2007. Nariva Swamp Restoration Initiative, Trinidad and Tobago. Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Memphis, TN, USA
  • Ducks Unlimited, 2005. Nariva Swamp Restoration Initiative, Historical Change Detection Analysis, Restoration Scenario and Work Plans
  • Durbal, S., 2000. Gender and Natural Resource Use in Kernahan and Cascadoux. 2000
  • EMA, August 2002. Stakeholders Consultation for the Prioritization of Environmentally Areas
  • UWI, 2008. Development of a Water Resources Management Plan for the Restoration of the Nariva Swamp, Interim Report, Water Distribution Within the Nariva Swamp
  • The Tropical Re-Leaf Foundation, 2008. Development of a Reforestation Scheme and Assessment of its Social Impact on Communities of the Nariva Swamp, Social Impact Assessment. Final Report
  • The Tropical Re-Leaf Foundation, 2008. Development of a Reforestation Scheme and Assessment of its Social Impact on Communities of the Nariva Swamp, Reforestation Scheme. Final Report