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Location of Nariva Swamp in Trinidad
Nariva Swamp
Nariva Swamp is the largest wetland, as well as
the largest freshwater swamp in Trinidad and
Tobago. Located on the east coast of Trinidad
it covers 11,343 hectares and is an ecologically
diverse system of estuarine and basin
mangroves, freshwater marsh, freshwater
swamp-wood forest, palm forest and small
sections of upland forest within its boundary.
Flora and fauna is high in diversity within the
ecosystem, making it one of the most unique
wetlands in the Caribbean. The diversity of this
swamp, along with its size, is of great economic
and ecological importance because it facilitates
agriculture and the exploitation of aquatic
resources.
Water running off the Central Range is
prevented from reaching the Atlantic Ocean
by sand barriers/sand spits and instead,
accumulates within a coastal basin. The only
outflow of this swamp to the sea is
through the mouth of the Nariva River,
which is not a true river but a semi-enclosed
coastal lagoon.
Water lilies thrive in the predominantly
freshwater marshes at Nariva
Red Howler monkey
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A total of 319 macro-plant species distributed
into 4 wetland types and 15 communities have
been reported for Nariva Swamp, in addition to
614 species of fauna (Bacon et al., 1979).
The swamp provides habitat for approximately:
• 45 species of mammals
(32 of which are bats)
• 39 species of reptiles
• 33 species of fish
• 204 species of birds
• 19 species of frogs
• 213 species of insects
• 15 species of molluscs and several
species of arachnids, protozoa and
crustaceans.
The Nariva Swamp is the main habitat of
the West Indian Manatee which is globally
threatened. The endangered Leatherback Sea
Turtle also nests along Cocos Bay.
Director
Institute of Marine Affairs
P.O. Box 3160, Carenage P.O.
Trinidad & Tobago,
West Indies
Tel: (868) 634 4291
Fax: (868) 634 4433
[email protected]
www.ima.gov.tt
ima.gov.tt
@IMACHAG
An Agency of
the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
West Indian Manatee
http://www.gopixpic.com/
Flora/Plant Communities
The main plant communities are the freshwater marsh with large areas of Elephant’s
Ear, sedges, and common reeds.
Nariva Swamp supports one of two communities
of Moriche palm (Mauritia setigera) in Trinidad.
Palmiste palm (Roystonea aleracea) is also
found and is presently under threat because of
unsustainable harvesting of the meristems (palm
hearts) mainly used in local cuisine. Trees are
also destroyed by poaching of nests of young
parrots for the pet trade.
Swamp wood forest is defined by the presence
of species such as Swamp Bloodwood
(Pterocarpus officinalis), Cajuca/Wild Nutmeg
(Virola
surinamensis),
Yellow
Mangue
(Symphonia globuifera), and Swamp Immortelle
(Erythrins fusca).
There is upland forest within the wetland
boundary at Bush Bush, Bois Neuf and
Sand Hill dominated by seasonal evergreen
forest (hardwood) of the Crappo-Guatecare
(Carapa guianensis – Eschweilera subglandulosa).
Cocorite palm (Atlalea maripa) is also abundant
in Bush Bush.
Closer to the coast where conditions are brackish,
mangrove forest is found. The mangrove
forest in the Nariva Swamp was approximately
580.7 ha, representing 5% of the entire
Nariva Swamp. Six of the seven mangrove
species reported in Trinidad and Tobago are
found in Nariva. These include Red Mangrove
(Rhizophora mangle, Rhizophora harrisonii and
Rhizophora racemosa), Black Mangrove
(Avicennia germinans), White Mangrove
(Laguncularia racemosa), and Buttonwood
mangrove (Conocarpus erectus).
Along the beach, there is woodland dominated
by species such as Seagrape (Coccoloba
uvifera)
and
Manchineel
(Hippomane
mancinella).
Fauna/Animal Communities
Animals in the Nariva Swamp include:
(Common name, Scientific name)
BIRDS
• Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
• Great Egret, Egretta alba
• Snowy Egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Green-backed Heron, Butorides striatus
• Red-billed Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna
autumnalis
• Limpkin, Aramus guarauma
• Moorhen, Gallinula martinica
• Wattled Jacana, Jacana jacana
• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga
• Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago
chimachima
• Savanna Hawk, Buteogallus meridionalis
• Blue and Yellow Macaw, Ara ararauna (highly endangered locally)
• Red-bellied Macaw, Ara manilata
• Dickcissel, Spiza americana
MAMMALS
• Red Howler Monkey, Alouatta seniculus
• White-fronted Capuchin Cebus albifrons
• Lappe, Agouti paca
• Three-toed Anteater, Tamandua
longicaudata
• Two-toed Anteater, Cyclopes didactylus
• Agouti, Dasyprocta agouti
• Tree Porcupine, Coendu prehensalis
longicaudatus
• West Indian Manatee, Trichechus manatus
FISH and SHELLFISH
• Cascadura, Hoplosternum littorale
• Freshwater Conch, Pomacea urceus
• Blue Land Crab, Cardisoma guanhumi
• Mangrove Crab, Ucides cordatus
• Mangrove Oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae
REPTILES
• Caiman, Caiman sclerops
• Iguana, Iguana iguana
• Ground Lizard, Ameiva ameiva
• Matte, Tupinambis nigropunctatus
• Giant Anaconda, Eunectes murinus gigas
• Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea
Buttonwood Mangrove fruit
After designation as a Ramsar site, a number
of initiatives were undertaken by the
Government to demonstrate its commitment
to the Convention. An Environmental Impact
Assessment and Management Plan were
completed in 1998 and 1999 respectively by the
IMA.
Blue and Yellow Macaw
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Conservation Measures
Human activities significantly impact this valuable
wetland, in particular:
• habitat alteration and
• large-scale rice farming
The hydrology of the swamp was altered by
illegal large scale rice farming in the 1990s, which
resulted in considerable ecological changes to
the wetland.
Nariva Swamp is legally protected through
forestry and wildlife legislation. In 1993, it was
designated a wetland of international importance
under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar,
Iran, 1971), when the Government of Trinidad
and Tobago became a Contracting Party.
In 1999, a restoration initiative for Nariva Swamp
was commissioned, which outlined two major
programs: a hydrology and aquatic vegetation
restoration program of heavily impacted
areas, and a fire-fighting program. In 2006,
Nariva Swamp was declared an Environmentally
Sensitive Area under the Environmentally
Sensitive Areas Rules, 2001.
In 2011, the Nariva Swamp Restoration, Carbon
Sequestration and Livelihoods Project was
initiated. The Project aims to restore forest cover
in the Swamp to maximise the capacity of this
cover for carbon sequestration and wildlife
habitat, while creating sustainable livelihood
opportunities for neighbouring communities.