Tobago Enhances Protection at Hemisphere’s Oldest Nature Preserve

Above: Tobago

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Tobago’s rainforest is the oldest nature preserve in the Western Hemisphere, and the island is working to ensure it stays that way.

The Tobago House of Assembly, with help from the European Union, has now certified three sites in the country to the ISO 14001 international environmental standards.

The sites include the ANR Robinson International Airport, the Adventure Eco-Villas and the Argyle Waterfall Riverdale Lodge.

The European Union provided Tobago with around $136,289 USD in technical and financial assistance to “design and implement the Environmental Management Systems of the three selected sites,” according to a statement from the Tobago House of Assembly.

“Thanks to the assistance of the EU, and the many dedicated people working at the three sites, Tobago is leading the way in promoting environmentally sustainable tourism as well as safeguarding the responsible growth of our future. We’re especially delighted that the ANR Robinson International Airport is the first airport in the Caribbean to receive this certification,” said Tobago Chief Secretary Orville London.
“Every nation blessed with outstanding natural beauty has an extra responsibility to preserve that heritage for generations to come. Tobago is actively working to limit its impact on the environment, and ISO 14001 certification is an invaluable part of that work,” London said. “We are proud to be taking such an active role in this international initiative, and fully committed to continuing this good work in the future.”