Founded in 1966, the Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust is a not for profit environmental non-government organisation dedicated to environmental education and the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl . Located in Pointe-à-Pierre , Trinidad and Tobago , the trust contains two lakes and about 25 hectares within the Petrotrin oil refinery .
17-531: The Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust's goals are environmental education and public awareness; research, breeding and re-introduction programmes for locally endangered, wetland birds; improved environmental policies through lobbying; and the promotion and implementation of the wise use of natural resources. In their daily environmental education programmes, the Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust teaches about “linkages.” The trust discusses all aspects of
34-554: A site of international importance , a direct result of the trust's 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. Then in 1996, the government ratified the Convention of Biological Diversity (CDB). Another result of
51-556: A Hummingbird Medal (gold) in 1994 for its work in environmental education. The Vice president and secretary is Karilyn Shephard . Molly R. Gaskin Molly R. Gaskin (born 1941 ) is an environmentalist from Trinidad and Tobago, who is a co-founder, in 1966, and, as of 2024, President of Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust . She pioneered environmental education at the Trust, focussing on wetland habitat and herbal medicine . Educated at
68-479: A step further, so, it launched a special programme for pre-schoolers with the concept of ‘touch’, ‘feel’, ‘smell’, and sometimes, ‘taste’. The trust also holds workshops to train school teachers and members of community-based organizations. The trust strongly believes that environmental education must be included in the State's teacher training programmes. The trust has been involved with environmental education therapy for
85-453: Is an environmentalist from Trinidad and Tobago, who is a co-founder, in 1966, and, as of 2024, President of Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust . She pioneered environmental education at the Trust, focussing on wetland habitat and herbal medicine . Educated at the University of Wales , in 1978 she took on management of the organisation. In 1983 she introduced turtle patrols to protect
102-498: The University of Wales , in 1978 she took on management of the organisation. In 1983 she introduced turtle patrols to protect the reptiles laying their eggs at Matura Beach . She also led a successful scarlet ibis breeding programme at the trust, hatching its first chick in 1991. In 1993 she enabled the government of Trinidad and Tobago to join the Ramsar Convention . Molly Gaskin Molly R. Gaskin (born 1941 )
119-655: The Board of the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA, 1994/2001). The president, Molly Gaskin was enrolled in the UNEP Global 500 Roll of Honour She played an important role in getting Trinidad and Tobago to accede to the Ramsar Convention , an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands. She received the Hummingbird Medal (gold) in 1987. The trust also received
136-765: The Board of the Environmental Management Authority and EMA Trust Fund (EMA, 2002/2008 ), having served in 1995–97, and on the Board of the Green Fund. She also served on the Interim National Physical Planning Commission (INPPC). Karilyn Shephard served on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Marine Affairs (2002–06). Both serve as judges for the EMA, Tidy T&T, and FCB's CARE, schools and communities programmes. The trust has served on
153-683: The CITIES convention (1984), the protection of Trinidad and Tobago's national bird, the scarlet ibis, (1986/87), a two-year hunting moratorium (1986/87), the protection of the Port-of-Spain (Mucurapo) wetlands (1989/90), 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
170-587: The Canada Fund, Carib Glassworks, Crown Papers, FIZZ, the Fernandes Trust, NGC, Nestle, Petrotrin, Shell Trinidad Limited, T&T Methanol, and the UK Women's Club, the trust was able to publish: 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
187-520: The Caribbean , Medicinal Plants of the P-a-P Wildfowl Trust , The Importance of Wetlands, Linkages and Values , Wetlands Information Sheets , and Wetland Birds of Trinidad and Tobago 1 & 2 . The Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust initiates and sustains advocacy, together with other NGOs, to promote linkages and the sustainable utilization of natural assets. This has resulted in the accession to
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#1732883685172204-407: The Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust's persistent advocacy. Molly R. Gaskin (President) and Karilyn Shephard (Vice-President) manage and implement the environmental education, public awareness, research, aviculture, and translocation programmes, together with the day-to-day running of the trust, with the salaried help of professional staff, ground staff, and volunteers. Molly Gaskin once again serves on
221-999: The cabinet appointed National Wetlands Committee, contributing to the formation of the National Wetlands Policy (adopted 2001), and the Conservation of Wildlife Committee. The trust served as the environmental NGO on the Trinidad and Tobago delegation to the United Nations Conference of Small Island States (SIDS); Ramsar Conference of Parties, Kushiro, Japan; participated in World Bank/UNDP/UNEP/GEF workshops regionally: INBIO Pilot Biodiversity workshop in Costa Rica: UNECLAC workshops in SIDSPAC follow-up and Poverty Alleviation Ministerial meetings. The trust served on
238-478: The first to be taken into primary, secondary and comprehensive schools and community groups throughout Trinidad, and later on, occasionally in Tobago. In 1981, Molly R Gaskin became the president of the Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust. In, 1982, the trust started ‘hands on’ field work on site and initiated guided field trips for schools’ ‘scouts’ and ‘guides’ groups to The Asa Wright Nature Centre, Toco and Matura. Through
255-449: The natural environment and their links to human health and well-being, and to social & economic impacts, problems and solutions. The trust teaches about wetland ecosystems, from forests to coral reefs and their links to people. Thus, the trust has a holistic approach to teaching. The trust also believes that ‘hands on’ experiences in nature are invaluable to awakening a young child's senses and that environmental education should be taken
272-449: The physically and mentally challenged, the elderly, victims of substance abuse and battered women. The Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust was founded by Richard S.W.Deane who hunted around the refinery and John Cambridge in 1966. The name "Wild Fowl Trust" was derived from the wild birds that settled in the abandoned lakes. In 1979, under the guide of Molly R. Gaskin , the trust initiated an environmental education programme with audio-visuals;
289-479: The years, general and specific activities have been provided at the trust. These are adapted to suit students’ and teachers’ needs and the subjects taught included audio-visual shows with interpretation. Fieldwork at the trust includes aquatic sampling, pond, leaf and feather labs, and quadrat and transect sampling. Between 1992 and 2002, with grant funding from the American Women's Club, British Gas (Trinidad),
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