Nariva Swamp
Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago, covering approximately 23 square miles (6,000 hectares) on the southeast coast. This unique ecosystem is characterized by diverse vegetation, including Moriche Palms, mangroves, and agricultural plots, and is home to a variety of threatened species, such as the West Indian manatee and red howler monkey. The swamp holds significant ecological value and supports the livelihoods of nearby communities, who rely on its resources for activities like fishing, hunting, and small-scale agriculture.
Designed as one of Trinidad and Tobago's first protected wetlands under various conservation laws and policies, Nariva Swamp has been recognized for its biodiversity and importance within the Caribbean region. Despite this protection, the area faces challenges from human activities, which prompted the government to take formal action in 1992 by signing the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This commitment led to the implementation of conservation programs, including reforestation efforts and measures to manage illegal farming practices.
Ongoing initiatives by both governmental and non-governmental organizations aim to raise awareness about the swamp's ecological significance while promoting eco-tourism as a way to foster appreciation and education about this vital natural resource amidst the pressures of climate change and habitat degradation.
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Subject Terms
Nariva Swamp
- Category: Marine and Oceanic Biomes.
- Geographic Location: Caribbean Sea.
- Summary: A jewel nestled on the southeast coast of Trinidad and Tobago that straddles the line between conserving biodiversity and supporting livelihoods for the dependent human populations.
The Nariva Swamp, the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago, lies on the southeast coast of Trinidad and covers an area of approximately 23 square miles (6,000 hectares). Surrounded by a multitude of Moriche Palms and coconut trees, the swamp presents a myriad of opportunities for exploring both the natural beauty and built environments. The swamp has a forest reserve, Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary. The Forests Act, the Conservation Act, the State Lands Act, and the National Wetlands Policy protect the entire biome. As one of the first protected wetlands in Trinidad and Tobago (the Caroni Swamp and Bon Accord Lagoon are also protected), the Nariva Swamp has both ecological and anthropogenic significance for the wider Trinidadian public as well as for the communities that dwell in and around the resource.
The land use in this area is diverse; it consists of a mixture of natural and human landscapes. The vegetation includes stands of palms next to swamps, mangroves, forested areas, and agricultural plots. It has rich flora and fauna, many threatened species, including the globally threatened West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus. The swamp is the natural habitat for several species in Trinidad and Tobago, and is important for maintaining the biological diversity in the Caribbean region. It is also known for the red howler monkey (Alouatta macconnelli) and the blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna), the latter of which has been only recently repatriated into its natural habitat.
Reliance and Protection
The Nariva Swamp is almost entirely state or government owned. There are some surroundings that are private property; however, in many cases these lands are either leased or are occupied by squatters seeking redistribution letters from the state. Several human communities in the wetland are dependent on the resources for their social and economic needs, which include hunting, subsistence fishing, rice cultivation (which is no longer practiced in large volume), catching of conch and crabs, and the gathering of firewood and plant products for use in the craft industry. Birds are also caught and sold for the pet market.
With this relatively high human dependence on the Nariva Swamp for livelihoods, the area has been threatened by these stressors, and as such has led to a governmental and nongovernmental push to protect the ecosystem for further damage.
Trinidad and Tobago took action to protect the Nariva Swamp formally in 1992, when it signed the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This international policy, which was created in 1971, reflects a commitment by countries to provide guidelines for wise use and protection of wetlands. By making a commitment to this convention, Trinidad and Tobago began to prioritize the sustainability of Nariva Swamp, and launched programs that attempted to reduce and rectify the damage that had been sustained by the ecosystem.
One of these initiatives involved an extensive study conducted in 1999 and updated in 2005 by the international conservation group Ducks Unlimited—in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago national government and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service—to outline areas that needed extra management in the swamp. This initiative recognized several issues, including fire protection during the dry season; reduction in rice farming, which was damaging the soils; and reducing or managing deforestation.
Through its recommendations, there is now an ongoing reforestation project along both the entire coastal strip and a major portion of the inland margin of the swamp, where illegal rice farming once had taken place, as well as a volunteer fire patrol system where villagers monitor fires to ensure that they do not get out of control. In addition, rice cultivation has been banned, even though villagers still engage in small-scale, short-term cash crop farming in order to maintain their families. Several nongovernmental organizations, including the Nariva Environmental Trust and the Manatee Conservation Trust, along with nature-based tourism providers engage in eco-tours of the swamp to promote awareness and increase the education of the general public—local, regional, and international—about the value of this precious resource.
A study published in 2012 analyzed the effects of climate change on the region, which has been underexplored in the Caribbean, especially in regard to wetland management. Researchers noted that rising sea levels and stronger storms are damaging these habitats and cited the importance of mangroves to help fight climate change.
Bibliography
Baptiste, April Karen, and Richard C. Smardon. “A Review of Wetland Use and Management of the Nariva Swamp, Trinidad.” Caribbean Geography, vol. 27, no. 1, 2012, pp. 73-91. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273001155‗A‗review‗of‗wetland‗use‗and‗management‗of‗the‗Nariva‗SwampTrinidad. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Baptiste, April K. Evaluating Environmental Awareness: A Case Study of the Nariva Swamp. State University of New York Press, 2008.
Mohlenbrock, Robert H. “Nariva Swamp, Trinidad.” Natural History 102, no. 10 (1993).
“Nariva Swamp.” Destination Trinidad and Tobago, www.destinationtnt.com/nariva-swamp/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Nariva Swamp Development Project. Studies on the Biological Resources of Nariva Swamp, Trinidad, Vol. 1. University of the West Indies, 1979.
Sletto, Bjorn. “An Alluring Course for Trinidad’s Wetlands.” Americas 50, no. 5 (1998).
Surhone, Lambert M., Mariam T. Tennoe, and Susan F. Henssonow. Nariva Swamp. Betascript Publishing, 2011.
Trinidad and Tobago Environmental Management Authority (EMA). Nariva Swamp Restoration Initiative, Trinidad and Tobago—Terms of Reference for the Development of a Reforestation Scheme for the Nariva Swamp. Trinidad and Tobago EMA, 2006.