& Resource Use
the history of land use, communities and resource use in the
and map land use and land types / vegetation types forest types
within the landscape
which forest resources are used and who uses them
where natural resources are sourced
the value and importance of resources to users
spatial and seasonal patterns of resource use and availability
local knowledge related to forest resources and their status
access to and governance of resources
expectations and views on Matura National Park
The use of the forest and its resources (plants, trees, animals,
rivers, scenery, etc.) is studied through participatory and ethnobiological
research in seven communities around Matura National Park, as well
as with users from outside like hunters, tour guides, visitors,
Matura National Park is surrounded by a larger forest area and positioned
within the larger region of north-eastern Trinidad. Resource use
within the park is influenced by resource use in the region. Use
of resources therefore also needs to be studied within the larger
region, with an aim to distinguish which uses occur within the park
and which outside. E.g. timber extraction may only take place in
forest outside the park.
Selected communities for research are Matelot, Grande Rivière,
Sans Souci, Toco, Anglais, Rampanalgas and Salybia.
In each community group forums are held with men, women and children
to assess past and present land use; the importance and value of
land types, natural resources and species; resource access and governance;
seasonality of resource use; and aspirations regarding resource use.
These are assessed for the wider area of northeastern Trinidad using
tools such as participatory mapping, scoring, timelines, calendars
and transect walkswas
Forest resource use is studied in detail through semi-structured
interviews with minimum 20 key informants (forest users or people
with specialist environmental knowledge). Interviews focus on quantification
and valuation of forest and resource use; time allocation, marketing,
seasonality and views and aspirations on Matura National Park and
In order to place forest use within the context of the entire population,
a random household survey will be done using questionnaires, with
30 to 50 households in each community. These focus on forest and
resource use and views and aspirations on Matura National Park and
The survey was led by Dr.
Veerle Van den Eynden.
Community participants in the survey are Shonel O'neil, Aqeel Harper
and Brian Koonhow of Salybia; Winston Thomas of Rampanalgas; Angel
Taylor and Kristy Bruce of Toco; Marcia Barker of Grande Rivière;
and Renwick Roberts of Matelot.