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- Terrestrial Ecoregions -- Trinidad and Tobago moist forests (NT0171)
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0171_full.html
This ecoregion differs greatly from the moist forests of the
Windward islands to the north. Trinidad and Tobago were
connected to the South American mainland as recently as 1,500
and 11,000 years, respectively and remain in close proximity. As
a result, the forests of this ecoregion have a high species to
area ratio and share many of the same flora and fauna with South
America. Trinidad and Tobago lack the high proportion of endemic
species which is characteristic of many of the other Caribbean
islands.
- Ecology of Trinidad and Tobago - Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has some of the richest natural communities in the Caribbean. Unlike most of the islands of the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago supports a primarily South American flora and fauna. As a result, Trinidad and Tobago is richer in plant and animal species than is the rest of the Caribbean. However, rates of endemism are lower than in the rest of the Caribbean because most of the species in Trinidad and Tobago are also found on the South American mainland.
- Terrestrial Ecoregions -- Trinidad and Tobago dry forests (NT0231)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0231.html
You would have to travel only 7 miles (11 km) from the coast of Venezuela to reach the island of Trinidad. Its partner island, Tobago, lies another 19 miles (30 km) to the northeast. These two islands form an independent nation. Although large portions of these islands have been developed for agriculture, you'll find patches of dry forest on the eastern tip of Tobago and in the northwest corner of Trinidad. Here you'll find trees such as gumbo-limbos, saltfishwoods, wild tamarinds, wild guavas, and the yellow poui tree, known for its beautiful flowers. Most of the trees shed their leaves in the dry season, but the evergreen species retain their small, leathery leaves year-round. Below the trees, a mixture of cactuses, succulent agave plants, and terrestrial bromeliads covers the forest floor. Wander through these forests and you'll hear birds call, insects buzz, and mammals howl.
- Forests, Grasslands, and Drylands-- Trinidad and Tobago
http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/for_cou_780.pdf
- Tobago Forest Reserve in Trinidad and Tobago | infohub.com http://www.infohub.com/attractions/tobago_forest_reserve_32359.html
Tobago Forest Reserve is the oldest protected area of rainforest
in the western hemisphere. It was given protected status by
British scientists in 1776, at a time when much of the land was
being cleared for sugar cane and coffee plantations. It is one
of the main tourist attractions on Tobago.
- TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: COUNTRY REPORT TO THE FAO INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCE (Leipzig, 1996). Compiled by: Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources, St. Clair Circle, Port of Spain, August 1995
http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPS/Pgrfa/pdf/trinidad.pdf
- INTERIM FIRST NATIONAL REPORT (revised) TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY secretariat
http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/tt/tt-nr-01-en.pdf
Trinidad and Tobago ratified its membership to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) on August 1st, 1996, which was signed during the “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro on June 1992. To this end Trinidad and Tobago has recognised its obligation as a Party member and submits to the Secretariat a revised Interim First National Report in an attempt to meet the criteria outlined in Article 6 of the Convention. The detailed First National Report will be prepared and submitted on completion of the National Biodivetsity Strategy and Action Plan
(NBSAP).
- Trinidad and Tobago Deforestation Rates and Related Forestry Figures
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Trinidad_and_Tobago.htm
44.1% —or about 226,000 hectares—of Trinidad and Tobago is forested. Of this, 6.2% —or roughly 14,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest. Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Trinidad and Tobago lost an average of 700 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 0.30%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 41.1% to 0.18% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Trinidad and Tobago lost 3.8% of its forest cover, or around 9,000 hectares.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Trinidad and Tobago has some 678 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 2.2% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 2.5% are threatened. Trinidad and Tobago is home to at least 2259 species of vascular plants, of which 10.4% are endemic. 4.8% of Trinidad and Tobago is protected under IUCN categories I-V.
- Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity Clearing House http://trinbagobiodiversity.gov.tt/index.htm
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