1 week ago
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The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) have launched a 12-week community-based wildfire training programme, in a bid to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s wildfire prevention and response capabilities.
The initiative, officially opened on August 13 at UTT’s Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (ECIAF) campus, is part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project Biodiversity Conservation and Agroecological Land Restoration in Productive Landscapes of Trinidad and Tobago (BIOREACH).
A total of 33 participants from community-based organisations (CBOs) across the island will receive training in wildfire dynamics, legal and institutional guidelines, community roles in wildfire response, and practical fire suppression techniques.
The programme is led by UTT’s Department of Biosciences, Agriculture and Food Technology, which brings over seven decades of expertise in forestry and agricultural sciences. The Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries is also lending technical support.
Organisers aim to use this pilot project to create a nationwide training model, empowering communities to better manage wildfires, strengthen conservation efforts, and promote sustainable livelihoods.
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