Solar power for rural electrification in Suriname
A report from the Inter-American Development Bank on Suriname’s first solar power plant for rural communities: The plant, with a capacity of 500 kW, will provide 24 hours electricity to the rural community of Pokigron and to Atjoni under the operational responsibility of EBS, the state-owned electric utility of Suriname, …
Trinidad and Tobago to ban Styrofoam with effect from 2019
Yet another Caribbean country announces a ban on Styrofoam products. It’s official. Come 2019, polystyrene products, such as Styrofoam containers, will be illegal in Trinidad and Tobago. Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis made the announcement while speaking at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary on Thursday evening. She said the …
Public consultations on mangrove conservation in the Cayman Islands
As World Mangrove Day 2018 draws to a close, our final piece of mangrove-related news for the day comes from the Cayman Islands, where several proposals intended to strengthen protection for mangrove ecosystems have been presented to the public for review and feedback. These include three new protected area nominations. …
Volunteers help plant mangroves in Trinidad and Tobago
More encouraging news to mark World Mangrove Day. Trinidad and Tobago’s Environmental Policy Planning Division, in conjunction with the Institute of Marine Affairs, recently organized a mangrove planting activity on Trinidad’s west coast: Dozens of volunteers descended on the Brickfield mudflats, Orange Field in Carapichaima [on June 24, 2018] to …
New regulations to protect mangroves in Belize
Belize recently passed new regulations to improve protection and conservation of mangroves: On June 15, 2018, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development, and Immigration, Godwin Hulse signed the Forests (Protection of Mangroves) Regulations 2018 [to] come into effect on June 23, 2018, upon publication in the …
July 26 is International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
Beginning in 2016, July 26 has been celebrated as International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, also known as World Mangrove Day: Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea. These extra ordinary ecosystems contribute to the wellbeing, food security, and protection …
Dominica to ban plastics and Styrofoam by January 2019
Dominica is the latest Caribbean country moving to prohibit the importation of plastics and Styrofoam: Government has announced a decision to ban a number of items considered to be inimical to the environment including plastic and Styrofoam containers by 1 January 2019. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit …