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PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENT (PID)
CONCEPT STAGE
Project Name
Region
Sector
Project ID
GEF Focal Area
Borrower(s)
Implementing Agency
Environment Category
Date PID Prepared
Estimated Date of
Appraisal Authorization
Estimated Date of Board
Approval
Report No.: 36129
Nariva Wetland Restoration and Carbon Sequestration Project
LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
Irrigation and drainage (30%); Forestry (70%)
P094948
N/A, Carbon Finance
Government of Trinidad & Tobago
Environmental Management Agency (EMA)
[ ] A [X] B [ ] C [ ] FI [ ] TBD (to be determined)
June 5, 2006
January, 2007
April, 2007
1. Key development issues and rationale for Bank involvement
Climate is rapidly changing at a global scale. The key driving force is the accumulation of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere that result from anthropogenic activities. Since the industrial revolution, the mean
surface temperature has increased at the rate of one degree Celsius per century, with most of the change
concentrated in the last decades of the 20th century. Seen over the scale of the last millennium, the rapid
warming represents a strong deviation from the norm. With the continuing emission of greenhouse gases,
it is now projected that the mean surface temperature may increase up to 6 degrees Celsius during the next
100 years (IPCC, TAR, 2001). A change of this magnitude is unprecedented and will result in significant
impacts to be felt at a global scale, potentially disrupting the overall biosphere. Climate change is a very
serious environmental challenge that can affect the prospects for sustainable development.
Climate change will affect the physical and biological characteristics of the Caribbean Sea and their
coastal areas, modifying their ecosystem structure and functioning. Caribbean nations depending on
reef and coastal systems face losses of fisheries and shorelines. Likewise, wetlands, including reefs,
atolls, keys and mangroves in the Caribbean are among those ecosystems considered to be most
vulnerable to climate change because of their limited adaptive capacity. For example, coral reefs are
expected to be impacted detrimentally if sea surface temperatures increase by more than one degree
Celsius, above the seasonal maximum temperature. In addition, acidification of the ocean will affect the
ability of reef plants and animals to calcify and thus reduce the ability of reefs to grow vertically and keep
pace with rising sea levels.
Also, in near-shore marine and coastal areas, many wetlands and coastal forests will be affected by
changes in sea level and storm surges. Mangroves and coastal lagoons are expected to undergo rapid
change and perhaps be lost altogether as functioning ecosystems. Low-lying coastal areas and associated
wetlands could also be displaced by salt water habitats, disrupting fresh-water based ecosystems. Such
changes are likely to result in dislocation of migratory birds and aquatic species, not tolerant to increased
salinity or flooding. All these may result in impacts to commercially important species and a pole-ward
shift of marine production, seriously affecting the sustainability of fisheries.
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The Nariva Wetlands are incorporated in the “Nariva Environmental Sensitive Area”, Nariva ESA,
adopted by the GOTT and undergoing the process of enacting it to Law. This protected area covers
11,000 ha of one of the most important natural habitats in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). The wetlands, as a
landform, cover only 7,000 ha. The remaining 4,000 ha are mostly covered by up-land forest, surrounds
the wetland and could be interpreted as buffer/protection belt to the rich wetland landform. Nariva ESA
has a very rich biodiversity due to the varied mosaic of vegetation communities (tropical rain forest, palm
forests, mangroves, swamp forest and swamps).
As part of the Portfolio of Carbon Finance activities in the region (World Bank, 2004), the Nariva Project
offers a unique example of the potential combination of the mitigation and adaptation agendas. The
Nariva Protected Area (7,000 ha) is one of the most important protected areas in Trinidad & Tobago (TT).
It has a very rich biodiversity due to the varied mosaic of vegetation communities (tropical rain forest,
palm forests, mangroves, and grass savannah). However, it was subject to hydrologic changes due to the
building of a water reservoir upstream and more than ten years (1985-1996) of clearing by illegal rice
farmers.
2. Proposed objective(s)
The project development objective is to cause carbon sequestration through the reforestation and
restoration of the Nariva wetlands ecosystem. The restoration of the wetlands will result in other
environmental benefits, including protection of endemic species in the area. This will be achieved
through a restoration of the natural drainage regime and natural and forced recovery of original vegetation
cover. As a result of these actions, carbon will be sequestered and emission reductions will be caused.
3. Preliminary description
The Nariva Project objective is part of the Nariva Restoration initiative which aims at achieving the
restoration, to the extent it is feasible of the landscape and ecological characteristics of Nariva through
afforestation, hydrologic rehabilitation, fire management and improved agriculture practices.
The project components or interventions seek to recreate the conditions found around 1969, years after
the construction of the Navet Dam, but before the illegal land reclamation of the 1980’s. To recreate this
scenario the following activities have been identified, conditional in the revenues expected from Carbon
sequestration and GHG emission reductions:
Water Management Plan:
In general much, more work is required to (i) assess the real availability of water, its yearly fluctuations,
maximum and minimums; (ii) assess water requirements for existing productive (agricultural) water
demand. This activity should also include an economic and technical analysis of agricultural potential in
sector A, identify bottle necks and suggest alternatives; (iii) identify the land form composition of the
Nariva swamp area (geomorphologic analysis); (v) criteria to select high priority restoration areas; (vi)
development of engineering options to accelerate the restoration of the ecological functions of Nariva,
constraint in the adequate provision of water for agricultural purposes.
Reforestation/vegetation work plan:
Approximately between 1800ha and 2500ha will be reforested, including palm forest over a period yet to
be defined. Reforestation activities will emphasize forest areas that were present in the 1969 GIS analysis
but were missing in the 1994 or 2003 analysis. These areas include the forest to the west of Sector B,
which was cut down by the illegal rice farmers; the “bowl” to the west of Sector B; areas between the
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Environmentally Sensitive Area and the southwest corner of Sector A; Sandhill; clear cut areas to the
west of Kernahan; and the royal palm forest.
Fire Management Work Plan:
The Ramsar Project-Forest Fire Protection Plan for Nariva Swamp issued by the Forestry Division in
1999 outlines the main elements necessary for effective and adequate fire management in Nariva. To
assure continued success, the government of Trinidad and Tobago in cooperation with outside assistance
should reinforce several components. The proposed work plan includes: fire training for local fire
responders, site assessment of fire problems, overall fire response planning and community outreach of
fire and environmental education.
Monitoring
The GOTT, Ducks Unlimited (DU), and the U.S Forest Service are in the process of developing a detailed
monitoring plan. This monitoring plan is limited in scope: it includes recording the response of
reforestation activities and monitors biodiversity through key species. In particular the proposed
monitoring plan includes:




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Vegetation –how vegetation communities react to reforestation and the rehabilitation of
hydrological system
Avifauna-with special emphasis on migratory birds
Aquatic fauna
Manatee monitoring; and
Carbon Sequestration
4. Safeguard policies that might apply
[Guideline: Refer to section 5 of the PCN. Which safeguard policies might apply to the project
and in what ways? What actions might be needed during project preparation to assess
safeguard issues and prepare to mitigate them?]
Safeguard Policies Triggered (please explain why)
Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01)
Yes
x
Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04)
x
Forests (OP/BP 4.36)
x
Pest Management (OP 4.09)
x
No
TBD
Cultural Property (OPN 11.03)
x
Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10)
x
Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12)
Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37)
x
x
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Safeguard Policies Triggered (please explain why)
Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50)
Yes
No
x
TBD
x
Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60)
A regional environmental impact assessment approach will be done. The assessment will comprise the
information needed in order to mitigate possible impacts and would also help evaluate possible triggering
of other safeguard policies.
5. Tentative financing
Source:
BORROWER/RECIPIENT
CARBON FINANCE
USDA Forest Service
Budgetary allocation from Ministry (It is not a firm commitment yet)
PHRD Grant
Total
($m.)
2.45
0.78 up to
year 2012
0.625
2.0
0.340
6.195
6. Contact point
Contact: Walter Vergara
Title: Lead Chemical Engineer
Tel: (202) 458-2705
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
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