Trinidad and Tobago: State of the Environment 1997 Report

This report provides a review of the state of biodiversity resources in Trinidad and Tobago, examining the harvest and management of a fraction of the nation's vast range of species and ecosystems. The document highlights the significant challenges in obtaining reliable data on resource exploitation, noting that while species diversity is relatively well-documented, habitats and ecosystems are not. It quantifies the economic value of the annual harvest from timber, fisheries, and game at approximately $94.5 million between 1980 and 1996. The report identifies key threats to biodiversity, including population growth, mismanaged development, pollution, and the over-harvesting of commercially valuable species. It also evaluates the existing legal and administrative frameworks, pointing out that much of the primary legislation is outdated and ineffectively enforced.