Overview
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) is taking a strategic step toward mapping a sustainable solution to combat the problem of coastal erosion and ooding. Through the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT), Coastal Protection Unit (CPU), the Comprehensive National Coastal Monitoring Programme (CNCMP) has been initiated. The programme will support the monitoring of the state of Trinidad and Tobago’s coastal areas and serve as a central repository for coastal data. Ultimately, the CNCMP will promote the adoption of environmentally and economically sustainable solutions to preserve and protect the coast.
To this end, the programme will equip coastal managers with relevant information to assess overall risk and to inform sustainable shoreline management decision and policy making thereby mitigating the risks of coastal erosion. The CPU, in partnership with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment (DIQE), and the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), will achieve innovation by providing a tangible and efficient service that delivers value to a wide cross-section of Trinidad and Tobago’s society.
From the university student seeking research data to the policymaker seeking constituent information based on coastal metrics, the CNCMP will store information that will be easily accessible at the click of a button. In so doing, the vision is to establish Trinidad and Tobago as one of the regional leaders in shoreline management practices
