The University of the West Indies (UWI) has kicked off a five-year initiative aimed at tackling some of Trinidad and Tobago’s most pressing environmental problems: degraded farmland, shrinking biodiversity and a climate that is becoming harder to plan around.
The Bio Resilience Project: Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient Landscapes in Trinidad and Tobago was officially launched by UWI’s Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA), with backing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) worth US$3.5 million. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing the project, UWI is executing it on the ground, and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development is serving as the national coordinating body.
At its core, the project is about restoring soil and land that have been worn down by years of use, while also building the country’s resilience to climate shocks and shoring up food security.
Rayanna Boodram-Pulchan of the Faculty’s Project Management Unit has been named National Technical Project Coordinator. She said the work will combine research, collaboration with stakeholders and hands-on fieldwork to produce practical tools for improving soil health, strengthening climate resilience and reinforcing food security nationally.
The project was formally introduced through two inception workshops — one at the University Inn and Conference Centre in Trinidad, the other at the Division of Food Security in Tobago — that drew together government agencies, academics, international partners, civil society groups and private sector representatives. The sessions were held to align everyone’s strategies as the project gets underway, forming part of the wider global Blue and Green Islands Integrated Programme.
As executing agency, UWI will oversee implementation, provide technical guidance, lead engagement with stakeholders and manage how knowledge generated through the project is shared. The Faculty of Food and Agriculture will be central to that effort, supporting evidence-based decisions, innovation and skills development across multiple sectors.
Planned outcomes include the creation of a National Natural Capital Accounting system, restoration of degraded agricultural land through nature-based methods, and initiatives to boost soil health and productivity. The project will also work to encourage nature-positive investment from the private sector and build up long-term monitoring capacity.
Among the key interventions is the Recarbonization of Agricultural Soils (RECSOIL) initiative, along with demonstrations of sustainable farming practices and the development of policy and financial tools designed to reward environmentally responsible investment.
Participants at the inception workshops stressed that the project’s success will depend on continued cooperation across sectors, better data systems and strong buy-in from local communities.
The Bio Resilience Project is one piece of the GEF’s broader Blue & Green Islands Integrated Programme, which supports island nations across the region in pursuing more nature-positive paths to development.