Trinidad and Tobago’s food security and the protection of its flora and fauna received a boost with the launch of three new publications on Monday.
Celebrating nature, promoting biodiversity conservation, and safeguarding pollinators were just a few of the areas the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development focused on at the launch of its three new guides.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Satee Boodoo, said the books are valuable assets.
“The Meliponini Management Guidelines will serve as a resource for farmers, beekeepers, and communities interested in managing stingless bees responsibly. Whether it’s for crop production, honey production, or biodiversity education, these guidelines promote practices that are both environmentally sound and economically beneficial.”
Assistant Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme, Sharifa Ali-Abdullah, outlined some of the project’s parameters.
“The project focused on pollinator and pollinator-friendly practices with a particular emphasis on stingless bees. These bees, as you know better than I do, are ecologically, culturally, and economically important to sustainable development. They are pollinators of local plants and crops, providers of medicinal honey, and symbols of the interdependence between people and nature.”
The UN’s Assistant Food and Agriculture Organization Representative to Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, Janelle Joe, said the medicinal plant guide will preserve these plants for the next generation.
“The creation of a field guide on selected native and exotic medicinal and edible plants of Trinidad and Tobago. This publication contributes to the preservation of traditional knowledge and highlights the rich biodiversity that supports food, health, and cultural heritage in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Trinidad and Tobago boasts diverse ecosystems which support a wide variety of plant and animal life.