The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust began the celebration of its 45th anniversary with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)with the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus on January 4.
Since 1981 there has been collaboration with the Faculty of Sciences and Agriculture, through the late Professor Peter Bacon; Professor Emeritus Julian Duncan; Professor Richard Brathwaite, who has been a director of the PaP Wildfowl Trust since 1981; Professor Dyer Narinesingh; Professor Indar Ramnarine; Professor John Agard; and Dr Mary Alkins-Koo, among others.
The Trust's work in aviculture, environmental education, and public awareness was recognised with the formal signing of a MOU with Pro-Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal of the St Augustine campus, Professor Clement Sankat.
In 1979, the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust introduced Environmental Education into the School system in Trinidad, and later into Tobago.
In the 1980's the need for hands-on, outdoor, out-of-classroom learning was recognised, and the Trust was utilised as a living laboratory. These programmes, linking fundamental aspects of human health and well-being to social and economic impacts problems and solutions, continue today, benefitting numerous young people, many of whom have become leaders in the field of environmental activism.
Learning resource materials and publications locally produced and published by the Trust include
A Collection of Occasional Papers on the Environment;
Wonders of Wetlands,
A Teacher's Pack;
Sea Turtles and their Habitats,
Trinidad & Tobago & the Caribbean;
Medicinal Plants of the PaP Wildfowl Trust;
Medicinal Plants of Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean; and,
A Poster Colouring Book for Primary Schools with relevant wildlife information.
Posters include
Wetland Birds of Trinidad & Tobago, 1 & 2;
Energy Flow in a Mangrove Swamp;
Importance of Wetlands,
Linkages & Values;
and, Are We Changing the World's Climate?
The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust has designed and implements environmental therapy programmes for the physically and mentally challenged, and victims of abuse and substance dependency. The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with the university is another significant step in all the steps that the Trust has made in the field of waterfowl, and some avian wetland species research and breeding. UWI and the PaP Wildfowl Trust will also collaborate with programmes in the areas of education and research, including conservation, biodiversity and aquaculture.