World Wetlands and Climate Change
Once considered spaces and areas where refuse should be dumped, wetlands are now recognised integral components of marine and terrestrial environments and are also valued as sources of economic contribution to the sustainable development of many economies. The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) joins the Government of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Global Community in observing World Wetlands Day 2019. The theme this year, World Wetlands and Climate Change, makes a ‘clarion’ call for all of us to recognise and act on carrying out activities that would conserve our wetlands. The Library is pleased to share the following link, which provides access to download/view/read a power-point presentation on World Wetlands Day...
Our Wetlands: Our Defence
by Dr. Rahanna Juman Deputy Director or Research The frequency of disasters worldwide has more than doubled in just 35 years; and 90% of these disasters are water related. More and more, climate change is driving weather-related hazards such as flooding and hurricanes. This pattern is already having a significant impact on Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean; and it’s unlikely to get any better. The most we can do is to develop strategies to manage the impacts of climate change and reduce carbon emissions and this is where wetlands come into their own importance. In the Caribbean Region, it is estimated that changes in...
IMA presents Marine Biology Award to UWI Graduate
On Thursday 3rd January 2019, the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) presented University of the West Indies (St. Augustine Campus) Graduate, Ms. Hannah Lochan, with the IMA – Richard Laydoo Memorial Prize for 2017 – 2018. IMA’s Director, Dr. Ahmad Khan delivered remarks during the short award presentation at the IMA’s head office on Hilltop Lane Chagaramas saying “We acknowledge and reward the outstanding academic performance, which would have been rooted in dedication, hard work and a desire to excel. Ms. Lochan exemplified those ideals by attaining the best academic performance in Marine Biology.” He added “This donation of the awards reflect our core values of excellence, collaboration and innovation and the Institute’s unwavering support...
Community Research Symposium “Transforming Tobago: Understanding and Conserving our Natural Ecosystems.”
The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) hosted its 5th Community Research Symposium, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th October 2018. Addressing the communities of Betsy’s Hope, and Scarborough and environs over the 2 two-day period, the IMA, the Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago Project (IFPAMTT), and other stakeholders shared details about research conducted by the respective organizations on coastal and marine related issues such as beach/coastal erosion, The invasive Lionfish, Sargassum, and the status of coral reefs and the importance of other protected areas. In addition to...
10 SIMPLE GREEN CORPORATE RESOLUTIONS TO ADOPT
Prepared by Ms. Lorraine Barrow, Institute of Marine Affairs Our marine environment is a major and important source to support livelihoods, employment and income, address food security, alleviate poverty and contribute to economic growth and development. As business corporations we continue to see, every year, a number of extreme weather conditions caused by climate change, indiscriminate human activities and lack of legislative enforcement of environmental laws. We need to ask ourselves if we wish to continue seeing the ongoing destruction of our marine environment, or do we wish to make a change. The years 2017 and 2018 have already gone on...
World Environment Day 2018
Every bit of plastic ever made still exists By: Jeunisse Mohon, OJT, Institute of Marine Affairs “As much as 51 trillion microplastic particles – 500 times more than stars in our galaxy – litter the seas.”- The United Nations The themes this year for both World Environment and World Oceans Days, celebrated on June 5th and 8th respectively are centered on reducing plastic pollution. Plastics have become an almost essential item in today’s world. Their popularity stems from a host of desirable features such as resistance to corrosive chemicals and they are also known to be a good heat and electrical insulators. They are generally lightweight with...
THE IMA Celebrates 40th Anniversary
1978-2018 The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) is the only multi-disciplinary coastal, marine and environmental research organization in the CARICOM states, established to conduct inter-disciplinary studies. Mandated to provide advice to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the IMA continues to conduct and foster research on the sustainable management of the coastal and marine spaces and resources of Trinidad and Tobago. The IMA is celebrating 40 years of providing reports, data and advice, through its robust monitoring and research programmes, on the marine environment, including land-based activities with an impact on the oceans, which must be managed more effectively to address the increasing...
The Institute of Marine Affairs is now a regional institute
On Wednesday 4 April, 2018, the Minister of Planning & Development signed an agreement to have the IMA recognized as Regional Activity Centre of the Caribbean Environment Programme of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Planning & Development Minister told a captive audience that the “Parties [The IMA and UNEP] agreed that the IMA be the designated Regional Activity Centre for the English speaking islands of the Caribbean, undertaking activities aimed at implementing the Protocol on Land-Based Sources (LBS) of Pollution at the regional level. The LBS Protocol is a set of procedures developed to protect the marine environment and human health from land-based...