Projects

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Empowering Communities Through Reforestation

Since 1982, the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project (FACRP) has pioneered a wide range of initiatives that restore ecosystems while empowering communities. Our work spans bush and forest fire prevention, with community-led patrols, firebreaks, and awareness campaigns to safeguard watersheds; reforestation efforts through our Clean Trees Organic Nursery, which produces thousands of native seedlings each year; and the FACRP Field School, which offers hands-on training, internships, and citizen science opportunities for local and international students. We also lead wildlife monitoring projects, documenting the return of biodiversity to newly restored landscapes, and integrate culture and community engagement, blending music, art, and traditional ecological knowledge to inspire environmental stewardship. Together, these projects reflect FACRP’s holistic approach to conservation, climate resilience, and community-driven transformation.

Below is a snapshot of some of the initiatives we have undertaken over the decades, and we look forward to inspiring even greater collaborations in advancing our work.

Gayap Toolkit Initiative

This initiative was designed and piloted in 2023 with 6 community-based organizations in Trinidad, geared towards sharing traditional and indigenous problem solving strategies for community-based action, disaster relief, and mitigation

Publication of the Gayap Toolkit

This toolkit was published in 2024 to be used as a learning tool for communities to effectively onboard Gayaps within their communities. It includes activities, examples of best practices used by FACRP. This knowledge product is the first of its kind and has been showcased in regional forums held in Bahamas and Trinidad.

FACRP in collaboration with Birds Eye View Productions, produced this short film in 2023 capturing the experiences of 5 community led Gayaps and their experiences, lessons learnt and impact. This toolkit pairs well with the toolkit for future instalments of the Gayap toolkit initiative. FACRP welcomes partners to join our team to amplify this initiative.

Spirit of Gayap Documentary Film

Annual Bush and Forest Fire Prevention Campaigns

Each dry season, FACRP leads a national call to action against bush and forest fires. Through community firebreaks, education drives, and advocacy campaigns, we empower citizens to make safer choices, protect watersheds, and build resilience. Our annual campaign transforms awareness into action, reminding the nation that fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility.

Development of FACRP’s new Fire Tower

In 2024, FACRP completed the construction of its 24-foot fire tower, located in the hills of Fondes Amandes. Built between 2023 and 2024 with funding support from NICaR, the tower is a vital addition to our bush and forest fire prevention efforts. Overlooking high-risk areas, it allows for early detection of smoke and fire, improves coordination of community response, and strengthens year-round monitoring. This investment not only enhances fire prevention capacity but also protects the forests, watersheds, and communities that depend on them.

The Draft National Bush and Forest Fire Policy outlines and creates recommendations for creating a more responsive, resilient, and inclusive policy for fire management in Trinidad and Tobago. The policy promotes sustainable land management, supports research and data-driven decision-making, and aims to build resilience to climate change while protecting lives, livelihoods, and biodiversity.