Forest Resources of the Northern Range

An Assessment of the Condition and Trends

Main Findings

• Extent of forest cover for T’dad: approx. 50%

• Extent of forest cover in the Northern Range:

approx. 67.5 % of its area

• Forested lands in NR consist of 85% to 95% primary forests and the rest of secondary forests in lower more accessible foothills

Main Findings

• Forest conversion and degradation greater in the NW peninsular than in the NE parts

• Similar trend along the southern slopes compared to the northern, less accessible slopes

• Trend: forest conversion moving eastwards and upslope

Main Findings

Natural forests seem more effective than other types of land use in preventing soil loss

NR forests important for helping to control downstream effects such as flooding and sedimentation.

Main Findings

The economic returns from timber harvesting from the Northern Range are relatively insignificant to national GDP.

The value of the forest of the Northern Range for its ecological contributions and for its amenity value as well as for economic activities based on such amenity value, could be considerably higher.

Benefits to Human Well-Being

• Provision of biological goods

• Regulation of water runoff and retention

• The prevention of soil erosion

• Amenity Value

Scientific research / Education

Benefits:Provision of Biological Goods

• The economic value of timber from statelands -NE conservancy: TT$1,280,450 in

2002 -NW conservancy: TT$8,540 in 2002

• Forest Reserves – Occupy about 50% of land space in T’dad

– Foresty accounted for only 2.5% annually of the GDP between 1980-1988

Benefits:Provision of Biological Goods

• Local non-timber forest products (NTFPs) include wildlife, handicraft raw materials, tannins and dyes, and extractives for local medicines and insecticides.

• Wildlife contributes to human well-being:– food– the amenity value which contributes to the

ecotourism industry, and to scientific research and education.

Benefits:Regulation of water runoff and retention

• Flooding seems to be more frequent in some locations as a result of forest destruction

• No scientific link but claim supported from documented observations made from the 1900s in the Maracas Valley and the Caroni Plains

• Flooding now occurring in areas not previously prone to flooding such as the suburbs of Woodbrook and Diego Martin Valley.

Benefits: Prevention of soil erosion

• Forest cover maintains the agricultural and therefore economic value of soil fertility

• Minimizing soil loss aids in the support of forest communities and the maintenance of low turbidity waters necessary for potable water supplies

Benefits:Amenity Value

• The Northern Range is important as a recreational, leisure and tourist site

• The number of visitors to some of its sites exceeds the total for all sites in other parts of Trinidad

• Amenities enjoyed by an increasing no. of locals possibly due to the increase in national income and accessibility.

•

Benefits: Scientific research / Education

• The forests of the Northern Range and their biota have supported significant international research in a variety of fields for almost 100 years

• The forests also serve as a valuable teaching facility for environmental and science teaching

Main Threats

Forest conversion due to:

housing developments and supporting infrastructure

agriculture quarrying timber harvesting, forest fires

Freshwater Resourcesof the Northern Range

An Assessment of the Condition and Trends

Freshwater Resources of the NR

• The Northern Range is subdivided into thirty-five watersheds

• There are twenty-one rivers within the NR Assessment boundary, of which twelve flow along the southern slopes and traverse the more developed areas

• There are also five major aquifer systems within the NR

Main Findings

• Northern Range watersheds are the most important contributors to freshwater supply for the island.

• The Eastern section contributes more than the western section due to the overall better state of the watersheds

• The Northern Range as a whole maintains the raw water supplies and adequately meet 80% of the country’s needs (1999).

Main Findings

• Several rivers draining the southern slopes to the Caroni River and the Caroni-Arena Water Treatment Plant which supplies 51% of Trinidad’s potable water

• The economic value of the water supplied by the Caroni River is TT$68.3 million per month (or TT$820 million per year).

Main Findings: Water Quantity

• Water supply can meet the demands for the country at least until 2025 (insert graph illustrating this point)

• Demand is projected to increase from 28% of supply in 1997 to 48% in 2025

• Supply may barely meet the demand during the driest periods in 2025

Main Findings: Water Quantity

• (Insert table showing projections of a decreased water availability from 1997-2010)

• 11 watersheds in the western region of the NR experienced water stress in 1997

• 12 watersheds (addition of the Chaguaramas watershed) in the western half of the NR will experience water stress by 2025.

Main Findings: Water Quantity

• Possible decrease in rainfall infilitration and groundwater recharge

• Increase in surface run-off causing physical pollution of the waterways and occasional flooding.

• Water balance computations for the period 1988 to 1998 show an apparent slight decline in surface freshwater resources

• Most of the aquifer levels have declined over the ten-year period from 1988 to 1998

Main Findings: Water Quality

• The quality of the NR watersheds (insert map) generally good in the Eastern region and moderate towards the modified Western region

• Surface water quality also good in the NE and moderate in the NW

• The streams in the NW are of good-to-moderate quality in the upper reaches

• Aquifers are generally of good quality

Benefits to Human Well-Being

• Provision of Freshwater

• Provision of Fisheries

• Waste Disposal, Assimilation and Treatment

• Amenity Value

• Scientific Research/ Education

Benefits to Human Well-Being

Provision of Freshwater:• The Northern Range is a primary source of most

of the freshwater that is available for human and animal consumption in the island of Trinidad.

• Surface and groundwater used for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural uses

• Catchments’ freshwater supply can meet the demands at least to 2010

Benefits to Human Well-Being

Provision of Fisheries:• Recreational fishing along the length of the

rivers

• Harvesting for food in lower reaches: crayfish, crab, molluscs, caiman, cascadu, wabeen, tilapia

• Capture for aquarium trade: Teta

Benefits to Human Well-Being

Waste Disposal, Assimilation and Treatment• Aquatic systems assimilate and degrade

biological wastes largely through the action of algae and microorganisms food webs

• Rivers in the NR are used for solid and liquid waste disposal

Benefits to Human Well-Being

Amenity Value• The rivers of the NR are popular recreation sites

for: ‘liming’ and relaxing; bathing; kayaking and canoeing; Camping

• Some rivers host Spiritual and Religious sites and pilgrimages

Benefits to Human Well-Being

Scientific Research/ Education• Scientific research conducted on the NR has

always included some coverage of the rivers and other aquatic ecosystems

• The no of scientific publications produced by this research effort approx. 260 (1981-2002)

Main Threats

The NR watersheds seem to be becomingmore degraded due to :

– Deforestation and land use change– Decrease in extent of forest cover despite

reforestation efforts– Instream activities e.g. channelisation,

pollution

.

Impacts

• Disruption to the hydrological processes

• Decrease in health of the aquatic ecosystems

• Increase in flood events

Overview of Condition and Trends

• None of the resources of the Northern Range assessed can are in poor condition

• Dominant trend for most services derived from these components is that they are declining

• Some are in rapid decline while others are stable

Overview of Condition and Trends

• Forest and coastal resources may be more significant for their regulating, supporting and amenity values than for their provisioning services

• Amenity value (including potential for economic benefits) of forest, freshwater, coastal resources is positively correlated with their capacity to sustain their regulating and supporting functions.

Potential Consequences for Human Well-Being

Freshwater Quality and Quantity:• Decrease in freshwater availability over the next

twenty years

• Increase in physical, biological and chemical pollution of surface water resources

Potential Consequences for Human Well-Being

Health Risks:• Public health impacted through the ingestion of toxic

materials and the spread of disease

• Ingestion of heavy metals and synthetic organic chemicals can cause a range of health impacts and death

• Increase in water borne diseases– No of cases of gastro-enteritis increased 69% during 1981-

1992– Other diseases include: cholera, E.Coli, Cryptosporidium

Potential Consequences for Human Well-Being

Flooding and Landslides:• Increase in occurrence and severity of flooding events

• Increase in economic costs– damage to crops and property, – loss of work hours– Increased frequency of harbour dredging

• Increase in social costs

- homeless families,

- loss of teaching days

• New areas being affected

Potential Consequences for Human Well-Being

Food Security:• Decrease in topsoil and soil fertility has caused a

decline in agricultural yield

• Subsequent decrease in farming efforts and crop production overall

• Increase in food import and prices for consumers

• Increase in fish catch and availability for local market

Potential Consequences for Human Well-Being

Amenity Value:• The NR is under increasing demand for recreational

activities along the coast and in the interior

• Negative feedback loop: Degradation of the Northern Range ecosystems negatively impacts on the amenity value of the Northern Range and hence a decline in its potential for recreation, tourism and education

• Further incursions into more pristine areas as users search for a better quality experience