Environment of Trinidad and Tobago explained

The environment of Trinidad and Tobago reflects the interaction between its biotic diversity, high population density, and industrialised economy.

Environment of Trinidad and Tobago

Biota/Fauna

See main article: Fauna of Trinidad and Tobago, Flora of Trinidad and Tobago and Endemic flora of Trinidad and Tobago.

See also: List of mantids of Trinidad and Tobago.

The flora of Trinidad and Tobago is believed to include about 2,500 species of vascular plants.^[1] There are about 50 species of freshwater fish (plus 30 marine species which are occasionally found in freshwater)^[2] 400–500 marine fish species,^[3] 30 amphibian species, about 90 reptiles,^[2] 469 species of birds, and 98 mammal species.

Geography

See main article: Geography of Trinidad and Tobago.

Water

Climate change

See main article: Climate change in Trinidad and Tobago.

Environmental policy and law

Treaties and international agreementsTrinidad and Tobago is a signatory to a number of treaties and international agreements:

party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Environmental issues

Environmental issues are water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion.^[4]

Trinidad and Tobago had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.62/10, ranking it 69th globally out of 172 countries.^[5]

See also

• List of environmental issues

External links

• Environmental Management Authority

Notes and References

1. Van den Eynden. Veerle . Michael P. Oatham . Winston Johnson. 2008. How free access internet resources benefit biodiversity and conservation research: Trinidad and Tobago's endemic plants and their conservation status. Oryx. 42. 3. 400–07. 10.1017/S0030605308007321. free.
2. Book: Kenny, Julian. Julian Kenny

   . Julian Kenny. The Biological Diversity of Trinidad and Tobago: A Naturalist's Notes. 2008. Prospect Press. Port of Spain. 978-976-95082-3-1.

3. http://trinbagobiodiversity.gov.tt/trinidad-tobago-biodiversity/index.htm Trinidad and Tobago Biodiversity
4. CIA World Fact Book
5. Grantham. H. S.. Duncan. A.. Evans. T. D.. Jones. K. R.. Beyer. H. L.. Schuster. R.. Walston. J.. Ray. J. C.. Robinson. J. G.. Callow. M.. Clements. T.. Costa. H. M.. DeGemmis. A.. Elsen. P. R.. Ervin. J.. Franco. P.. Goldman. E.. Goetz. S.. Hansen. A.. Hofsvang. E.. Jantz. P.. Jupiter. S.. Kang. A.. Langhammer. P.. Laurance. W. F.. Lieberman. S.. Linkie. M.. Malhi. Y.. Maxwell. S.. Mendez. M.. Mittermeier. R.. Murray. N. J.. Possingham. H.. Radachowsky. J.. Saatchi. S.. Samper. C.. Silverman. J.. Shapiro. A.. Strassburg. B.. Stevens. T.. Stokes. E.. Taylor. R.. Tear. T.. Tizard. R.. Venter. O.. Visconti. P.. Wang. S.. Watson. J. E. M.. Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material. Nature Communications. 11. 1. 2020. 5978 . 2041-1723. 10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3. 33293507 . 7723057 . free.