The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is marking this significant achievement with a series of events scheduled to begin this week and ending November 2016.
To help mark this momentous occasion, Dominica-born Baroness Patricia Janet Scotland of Asthal, PC, QC, who was recently elected secretary-general of the Commonwealth, on November 27 in Malta, and the first woman to hold this post in the 66 years of the Commonwealth’s history, will be the trust’s feature speaker at Petrea Place, Petrotrin Complex, Pointe-a-Pierre, on Tuesday.
The event starts at 4 pm.
President Anthony Carmona is also scheduled to give an address and presentation at the trust’s 50th anniversary first-day cover. Also carded to give remarks at the event is Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Maria Rivera, senior adviser—Americas, Ramsar secretariat, which oversees international cooperation on wetlands conservation, will give greetings at the celebration.
Petrotrin president Fitzroy Harewood will give greetings and remarks, and the trust’s president, Molly Gaskin, will give the welcome and remarks.
For further information contact Molly Gaskin at 678-3515/321-0565.
Wildfowl Trust: A haven
of beauty and diversity
The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust was founded in 1966.
It is a national, not-for-profit environmental organisation dedicated to environmental education, public awareness and the research, breeding and re-introduction into the wild of locally endangered waterfowl species and other wetland birds.
As an inland, freshwater habitat encompassing approximately 32 hectares and two lakes, the trust is uniquely situated within a major petro-chemical and oil-refining complex, making it the only one in the world.
It is also the second oldest, following the founding of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, UK.
In 1979, the trust pioneered environmental education with both outreach and in-house programmes with schools in T&T, which continue up to today.
The trust promotes and lobbies for the protection of the country’s biodiversity, the judicious use of its natural assets and improved environmental policies which integrate issues of T&T’s health and socio-economic well-being.
The trust has through the years made its mark on every aspect of the environment.
Over 86 species are recorded within the trust, breeding naturally in the forested and lake areas there.
It is a peaceful haven where members and visitors can relax and learn.
It is a perfect place for birders, botanists, photographers and researchers. Several natural walks and interpretive trails cross the domain of the trust, including Faerie Woods, Forest Walk, and Devil’s Ear Trail, and here it is possible to learn about some of the species that exist in our forests and wetlands and about the linkages between them, our wildlife and ourselves.
A boardwalk for the disabled surrounds part of the trust’s main breeding lake.
The trust’s aviculture programmes cover the breeding of five locally-endangered species of waterfowl (wild ducks) as well as T&T’s national bird, the Scarlet Ibis, and the blue and gold macaw.
Over the years, the trust has bred and released a few thousand birds.
The main building, the Learning Centre, houses information dealing with living organisms and their habitats, a unique shell collection and a small but comprehensive Amerindian museum.
Petrea Place, the trust’s nature retreat and full-service guesthouse opened in 2004, provides a scenic and harmonious environment for retreats, corporate workshops and seminars.
It is a serene place for visitors to enjoy breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.