“Biodiversity Through My Eyes”,
Environmental Photographic Competition
The United Nations (UN) has declared 2010 to be
the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). It
is a celebration of life on earth and of the
value of biodiversity in our lives. We are all
invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the
variety of life on earth.
The Environmental Policy and Planning Division of
the Ministry of Housing and the Environment
(MHE) is therefore calling for entrants into our
“Biodiversity
Through My Eyes”, Environmental
Photographic Competition to
showcase the diversity of life in and
around this beautiful twin island Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago.
Winning photographs will be displayed in the IYB
Museum at the 10th Meeting of the
Conference of the Parties (COP) in Nagoya,
Japan, October 2010; as well as at the 66th
Session of the UN General Assembly, New York,
September 2010, as part of the International
Year of Biodiversity’s Activities.
Rules and Instructions
The subject for the Photographic
Competition 2010 is “Biodiversity Through My Eyes”. The theme is open to individual
interpretation but entries must
have the natural world at their
heart. Photographs of animals in
captivity (such as zoos) and
family pets are not eligible.
Entries must be taken in the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Entrants can submit one photo
in colour or black and white.
All entrants must submit high
quality prints and negatives as
appropriate.
Images may be digitally enhanced
to remove spots or scratches,
but not manipulated. Entrants
can enhance the picture to make
it brighter, clearer etc, but
not manipulate the content. The
MHE and the judges reserve the
right to exclude any image they
believe may have been
excessively treated so as to
alter its authenticity.
The competition is open to
Trinidad and Tobago residents
only.
MINISTRY OF PLANNING, HOUSING AND THE
ENVIRONMENT NOW TWO MINISTRIES
(June 7th, 2010)
The general election was held on May 24,
2010
The Ministry of
Housing and the
Environment will
fall under the
purview of the
Honourable
Roodal Moonilal,
Member of
Parliament for
Oropouche East
and the Ministry
of Planning,
Economic and
Social
Restructuring
and Gender
Affairs will be
led by Senator
the Honourable
Mary King.
Senator King
will be
supported by the
Honourable
Ramona Ramdial,
Member of
Parliament for
Couva North, who
has been named
as a
Parliamentary
Secretary in the
Planning
Ministry.
At present both Ministers are becoming
acquainted with their respective portfolios.
Keep checking this website for updates with
regard to both Ministries.
For further information you may contact us at
.
Dr. the Honourable
Roodal Moonilal
Minister of Housing and Environment
Senator the Honourable Mary King
Minister of Planning, Economic and Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs
The Honourable
Romana Ramdial
Parliamentary
Secretary in the
Ministry of
Planning,
Economic and
Social
Restructuring
and Gender
Affairs
Message from the Minister of
Housing and the Environment
on World Day to Combat
Desertification 2010
Every year on 17 June, we
celebrate the World Day to
Combat Desertification. It is a
day that serves to strengthen
the global effort to face the
challenges of desertification
and land degradation in all the
regions of the world. It is also
a day to reflect upon the
impacts of this environment
challenge - the gradual loss of
fertility of lands – and
consequently on the lives, well
being and development of people.
This year’s observance of the
World Day to Combat
Desertification is being
celebrated under the theme
"Enhancing soils anywhere
enhances life everywhere" and
highlights the inter linkages
between healthy soils, healthy
ecosystems and the well
being of mankind. The
biodiversity of the soils has
its own unique function within
the ecosystem. They are the
primary driving agents of
nutrient cycling, regulating the
dynamics of soil organic matter,
soil carbon sequestration and
greenhouse gas emission. Soil
biodiversity also helps to
modify the soil’s physical
structure and water regimes,
enhancing the amount and
efficiency of nutrient
acquisition by the vegetation,
and of plant health. Healthy
forest ecosystems which result
from healthy soils encourage a
rich flora and fauna
biodiversity and serve critical
functions of water capture
through its watersheds, wind
breaks whilst providing a myriad
of habitats.
Current global consumption and
production patterns need to
become more sustainable to
ensure the well being of our
soils’ ecosystems. Further
unsustainable production
patterns may lead to
consequences that may include
further global food crises,
continued desertification, land
degradation and periods of
drought. As usual, the
poorer in society will be the
first victims of these
unsustainable production
patterns, and the last to
recover.
The primary mission of the Policy and Planning
Division (Environment) is to ensure that there is a balance between Government’s
efforts to increase the pace of socio-economic development and the need to
ensure conservation of Trinidad and
Fondes Amandes Community Group to protect the st. Ann's watershed
Read more
Earth Day 2010
2010 marks the fortieth year of the celebration of Earth Day, and though
individuals are more aware of the value of our natural environment, the world
today still faces great environmental challenges.
Click here for more details
