The Pointe-a Pierre Wildfowl Trust, now in it’s 37^th year is an independent, national, not for profit, environmental, non-government, volunteer, membership organization, encompassing 2 lakes and about 25 hectares of land within a major petrochemical and oil refining complex, complex, PETROTRIN. LINKAGES are pivotal in the management of our area and programmes, offering a model of wise-use.

The PaP Wildfowl Trust, a wetland habitat, is a peaceful haven where members (approx. 2000) and visitors may relax; enjoy bird watching, photography and interpretative trails.  The LEARNING CENTRE   houses information dealing with living organisms and their habitats, an unique mollusk collection and a small, but comprehensive Amerindian Museum.

We are actively involved in the research, breeding and translocation of endangered wetland birds into existing natural wildlife areas in Trinidad and Tobago.  We promote and implement the judicious use of our natural assets AND lobby for improved environmental policies, which integrates socio-economic and health linkages.

In 1979, the Trust initiated an environmental education programme with audio-visuals; the first to be taken into primary, secondary and comprehensive schools and community groups throughout Trinidad, and later on, occasionally in Tobago.  In 1982, the Trust started ‘hands on’ field work, at the Trust and initiated guided field trips for schools’ ‘scouts’ and ‘guides’ groups to The Asa Wright Nature Centre, Toco and Matura.  Through the years, general and specific activities have been provided at the Trust.  These are adapted to suit ‘students’ and ‘teachers’ needs and the subjects being taught at school.  Included, are film and video shows with interpretation.  Fieldwork at the Trust includes aquatic sampling, pond, leaf and feather labs, and quadrat and transect sampling.  In our daily environmental education programmes, we teach about LINKAGES, we discuss all aspects of the natural environment and their interactions with and links, to human health and well-being, and to social & economic impacts, problems and solutions.  We teach about wetland ecosystems, from forests to coral reefs and their links to people.  Thus, we have a holistic approach to teaching.

The Trust also believe that ‘hands on’ experiences in nature are invaluable to awakening a young child’s senses and that  environmental education should be taken a step further, so, we launched a special programme for pre-schoolers with the concept of ‘touch’, ‘feel’, ‘smell’, and  sometimes, ‘taste’.  This awakens tremendous wonder and interest in a child.  The Trust also holds workshops to train school teachers and members of community-based organizations.  Environmental education can and must be infused in every curriculum subject, whether English, Geography, History, Maths, Social Studies, Music, Art or Drama.  Environmental education must be included in the State’s Teacher training programmes.

As a result, we built a boardwalk along much of the Trust’s first lake, the longest in Trinidad and Tobago, and probably in the Caribbean.  Out of a population of 1.4 million people, between January 1^st and December 31^st, approximately 21,600 people visit the Trust, 16,000 of whom are students.

In support of our Environmental Education Programmes, the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, over the years, has researched,  designed and produced locally, publications to assist teachers and students with the modern approach to environmental management, to stimulate the understanding of the inextricable LINKAGES with our socio-economic well being and our good health.

Between 1992 and 2002, with grand funding from the American Women’s Club, British Gas(Trinidad), the Canada Fund, Carib Glassworks, Crown Papers, FIZZ, the Fernandes Trust, NGC, Nestle, Petrotrin, T&T Methanol, the UK Women’s Club, we have published:  “A Collection of Occasional Papers on the Environment”, “Wonders of Wetlands, A Teacher’s Pack”, a Conservation Poster Colouring Book, “Energy Flow in a Mangrove Swamp”, ”Sea Turtles and their Habitats, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean”, "Medicinal Plants of the PaP Wildfowl Trust”, “The Importance of Wetlands, Linkages and Values” and “Wetlands Information Sheets".  To stimulate pride, awareness and support, the Trust produces wildlife tee shirts, which are sold as a fund-raiser.

We initiate and sustain advocacy, together with other NGOs, to promote linkages and the sustainable utilization of our natural assets.  This has resulted in the accession to the CITIES convention (1984), the protection of our NATIONAL BIRD THE SCARLET IBIS (1986/87), a two year hunting moratorium (1986/87), the protection of the Port-of-Spain (Mucurapo) wetlands (1989/1990), resulting in the formation of the Council of Presidents of the Environment (COPE).  In 1993, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago acceded to the RAMSAR Convention, listing the NARIVA WETLANDS as a Site of International Importance, a direct result of our active advocacy since 1990.  In November 1996, the Government removed the illegal rice farmers from the protected area of the Nariva Wetlands and began an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which for the first time offered an economic valuation of that natural asset. Again, a direct result of our active advocacy.  The Government ratified the Convention of Biological Diversity (CDB) in 1996 another result of our persistent advocacy.

We believe that women have a tremendous capacity and opportunity to do good, influencing the children and the men in their lives, at home, at school and at work.  If you help your children to understand and to develop respect, love and a kinship for and with all life around us, you will find that they will love and respect you as well.