Strategic Environmental Assessment

for the National Adaptation

Strategy

Mary M. Matthews, Ph.D.

Glenroy EnnisSEA Consultants for European Delegation

OverviewSEA ObjectivesSEA Parameters and DirectionPolicy & Institutional FrameworkBaselineAlternatives - Sectors

Environmental Concerns for AlternativesAgricultureResidentialIndustrial

Recommendations for improving conditions and reducing costsDiscussion

Strategic Environmental Assessment Objectives

To identify concerns, priorities and roles of key stakeholders pertaining to the specific planning, programme and policy making processTo identify negative environmental impacts and positive environmental effects of the divestment from Caroni (1975) Ltd.To make recommendations within the current institutional context towards more sustainable and beneficial environmental efforts.

SEA Parameters

Caroni (1975) Ltd.

Affected areas and issues

Assessment within context of what is already being done

Agriculture - Mega Farms & 2 Acre Plots

Residential - EMBD Housing Estates

Industrial - E-Teck and NEC Plans

Methodology Used

Policy & Institutional Framework

Vision 2020 Development StrategyEnvironmental Policy and Institutional FrameworksAgricultural Policy and Institutional FrameworksResidential Policies and PlansEnergy and Industrial Policies and StrategiesWide Range Planning Mechanisms (WASA, Town & Country, International Etc.)

BaselineCaroni (1975) Ltd. Properties

Prior to 2004

Baseline Environmental IssuesISSUES BASELINE CONDITIONS

Water Rain fed crops (predominantly) River withdrawal ponds Water generated from sugar processing WASA potable water – Small for residential

Soil Acidic, heavy urea fertilizers Poor soil structure Minimal erosions Agro chemical application

Air Quality Fly ash in sugar mills (scrubber) Aerial spraying Burning and particulate matter

Climate Change

CO2 sequestration in sugarcane Burning release CO

Bio Diversity Mono culture Aerial Spraying/pesticide use resulting in: Loss of fauna – birds and fish, mammals and reptiles Loss of beneficial insects Food web disruptions

Baseline Social IssuesISSUES Baseline Conditions

Human Health Frequent medical check ups for workers Affordable health facilities available

Social Inclusiveness Direct and indirect employment Provide social amenities Social infrastructural development More cohesive communities “company towns”

Cultural Heritage Landscape

Preserve little cultural heritage Deterioration of sugar estate Deterioration of sports club

Economics Employment driven economy 7000+ employees Dependence on subsidies Access to economic security Good apprenticeship programme

Material Assets Ongoing infrastructure network Ongoing maintenance programme Generated power and water

Caroni Land Allocation Acres

13 Mega Farms 2,263

2 Acre Plots 20,319

Caroni Non-cane Agriculture 11,109

Agricultural Squatters 4,222

Existing Tenants 11,861

39 EMBD Residential Estates 4,053

NEC Industrial Estate 3,500

6 E-Teck Industrial Estates 578

Unassigned Lands 16,703

Total 76,608

Agricultural Impacts - Env.CONCERNS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - Agriculture

Water - Increase demand for water resources- Increase pressure on aquifer- Silting of waterways due to erosion- Susceptible to flooding events

Soil - Short term crop lowers soil fertility- Frequent tillage and erosion- Loss of useful soil organisms

Air Quality + Improved due to a lack of burning of cane - Potential problems with excessive agro chemical uses

Climate Change - Loss of sugarcane as a carbon sink+ Improvement of other carbon sequestering crops

Bio Diversity + Improved biodiversity health without aerial spraying of pesticide/herbicide+ Increase in beneficial insects

Agricultural Impacts - SocioEcon

CONCERNS SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS - Agriculture

Human Health - Exposure to harmful chemicals+ Increase in access to affordable foods

Social Inclusiveness + Strengthening farming communities+ Improved inclusion of segments of society into agriculture - schools, labor, etc.

Cultural Heritage Landscape

+ Maintaining cultural linkages to agriculture

Economics + Guaranteed market for farm produce+ Increase rural income & employment+ Strengthened agricultural enterprises

Material Assets - Demands on existing infrastructure- Potential demand on water infrastructure+ Possible use of grey water/ drainage water

Residential Impacts - Env.CONCERNS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS - Residential

Water - Increase flooding and silting of waterways- Increase water consumption- Potential sewerage overflows during storms

Soil - Erosion (wind and rain)- Lack of recharge/flooding due paving- Contamination runoff from automobiles etc

Air Quality - Increased dust during clearing and construction- Particulate matter- Fumes from building, painting, operation

Climate Change - Increased energy consumption, air conditioning etc- Loss of carbon sinks

Bio Diversity - Loss of habitats- Loss of indigenous flora and fauna

Residential Impacts - SocioEcon

CONCERNS SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACT - Residential

Human Health - Exposure to harmful chemicals+ Improved living conditions

Social Inclusiveness - Neighborhood “adjustments period”+ Improved social networking

Cultural Heritage Landscape

+ Stronger community- Loss of “natural” landscapes- Potential vacant lot syndromes, dumping

Economics + Construction sector employment+ Increase in personal capital investment+ Strengthened agricultural enterprises

Material Assets + Improved infrastructure development- Increase demand on existing infrastructural systems (road, water, electricity)

Industrial Impacts - EnvCONCERNS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - Industrial

Water - Increase flooding due to paving- Contaminated surface & ground water - Increase demand on water resources- Increased effluent discharges

Soil - Soil contamination due to spills, - Soil Erosion in construction- Decline in soil quality, increase silting due to construction

Air Quality - Increased emissions- Increase particulate matter during construction

Climate Change - Loss of carbon sinks- Increase use of energy and Carbon Emissions

Bio Diversity - Loss of habitats and sensitive species- Potential impacts on sensitive coastal estuaries

Industrial Impacts - SocioEcon

CONCERNS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - Industrial

Human Health - Exposure to harmful chemicals- Noise pollution

Social Inclusiveness + Increased workforce opportunities

Cultural Heritage Landscape

- Potential damage to coastal landscapes

Economics + Improved employment opportunities+ Growth of GDP and downstream industry+ Strengthened industrial enterprises

Material Assets - Increase demands of existing infrastructure - roads, water, power- New infrastructure developments required

Recommendations for Mitigation & Enhancement Macro Level

Integrated Water Resource Management Plan with all impacting and affected sectors

Climate Change Adaptation Strategy with realistic and realizable objectives

Socio-economic Assessment, focusing on Labor Availability and Capacity Needs Assessment specific for each sector

Recommendations for Mitigation - Agricultural

Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Education Programme at all levels

Concerted soil remediation and water retention management scheme

Interagency/ multi-stakeholder capacity building efforts for low impact, high yield sustainable agriculture

Recommendations for Mitigation & Enhancement - Residential

Increase mixed use, high occupancy dwellings with enhanced green spaces surroundings

Incorporation of social infrastructure with development plans and responsibilities for development assigned

Institutionalize access to Green Fund for local/individual kitchen, community gardens, and park developments

Recommendations for Mitigation & Enhancement - Industrial

Enhanced use of Best Available Technologies, including citing of industry for all new industries

Develop mixed use facilities with significant green buffer zones to all water ways

Consult with local stakeholders to enhance the social support for projects early on and incorporate their suggestions into project design (social infrastructure)

Questionsand

Comments Please?

Please keep thinking!

We need your inputs and ideas to make a sustainable Trinidad and Tobago a reality. Please feel welcome to contact us at dr.mary.matthews@gmail.com andgenkosi@hotmail.comAND please visit the SEA blog for documents, ideas and inputs at:

http://seaforttnas.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU!!!