The Board of Directors of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) led by Chairman Doolar Ramlal, Deputy Chairman Neeala Mongroo and Directors Kadeem Williams, Nova Johnson, Keston Daniel, Avinash Phagoo, conducted a site visit to the Aripo Savannas. The field exercise was facilitated by the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which provided technical guidance and on-the-ground expertise throughout the visit.
The specific objectives of the visit included:
· to support the EMA’s ongoing commitment to transparency and regulatory oversight under the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) process.
· to provide an opportunity to directly observe and assess environmental concerns within the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), including potential breaches associated with the construction of the Elmina Clarke–Allen Highway.
· to evaluate the cumulative impacts of development activity on the savannas’ fragile biodiversity, as well as increasing human pressures on the ecosystem including the extent of squatting in the area.
The engagement further highlighted the critical importance of sustained inter-agency collaboration. Emphasis was placed on coordinated action among regional corporations, the Commissioner of State Lands, the Forestry Division, the EMA, and surrounding communities. These partnerships are essential to strengthening enforcement, improving land management, and ensuring the long-term protection of the savannas’ unique ecosystem.
“We cannot afford to lose the ecological integrity of the Aripo Savannas to unchecked activity and weak coordination. This is a national asset, and protecting it demands urgent, unified action,” said Doolar Ramlal, Chairman of the EMA.
The Aripo Savannas continue to face significant environmental challenges, particularly illegal hunting, squatting, and bushfires, all of which contribute to habitat degradation and threaten the ecological integrity of the ESA.
The EMA reiterated its commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that development activities are conducted in accordance with national environmental legislation and sustainable development principles.
The Authority will continue to strengthen its monitoring and enforcement efforts to address non-compliance and safeguard the Aripo Savannas for future generations.
About the Aripo Savannas: The Aripo Savannas, a designated ESA and one of the country’s most unique ecological landscapes, is under increasing threat from development activity and human encroachment, underscoring the urgent need for stronger oversight and coordinated environmental management.
