Wild Tobago

Dr Anjani Ganase wants our government to be the exemplary marine conservators and managers. Poor marine governance limits national development. But progressive (island) states that take care of their extensive marine territory present limitless possibility for healthy happy populations.   I’ve had enough of the false narrative that conservation and environmental management restrict national development and progress. Over the last fifty years, Trinidad and Tobago has seen significant “development” in the form of endless construction projects, while environmental protection and management falls decades behind. In 1986, T&T acceded to the Cartagena Convention which includes local commitment to SPAW Protocol (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife) and LBS Protocol (Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution) in which T&T is a contracting part. Yet, the local legislation for the most part continues to lag in effective marine management and alignment with the ...

Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, urges everyone to visit the reefs of Tobago. Photos of Tobago reefs courtesy the Maritime Ocean Collection. The Reef is calling. Will You answer?   Visit ten coral reefs in 2026. This is the challenge to know your marine backyard and help drive its protection. Exploration can take different forms: swimming, snorkelling and diving. There’s also virtual exploration through Google StreetView, or via the Maritime Ocean Collection (maritimeoceancollection.com). All images are available in 360-degrees and can be uploaded to a VR headset for the immersive vibe.   See to save the Reef Our coral reefs need you to visit them now more than ever! Coral reefs are important to living on islands and should be regarded as precious assets. At this time, their health is critically compromised, and we must actively support their management and protection. Having eyes on them and knowing what to look for when they are not doing so...

Birding is for Everyone!  Faraaz Abdool presents twelve of the many reasons that we should all be bird-watching!   Oh, birds! We’ve all experienced them at some point. Whether in passing or deliberately, birds, their superhuman abilities, and their symbolic representations have captivated humans for millennia. Presently, the term “birder” is a person who enjoys birds, irrespective of degree or methodology. While some may argue to the contrary, a person who cracks a smile upon hearing the sweet song of the wren in the morning is as much a birder as the person who sloshes through kilometres of flooded forest, battling millions of mosquitoes to catch a glimpse of a roosting potoo that looks like nothing more than a broken branch.   Being a birder is both a right and a privilege. There is no specific dress code, nor a thousand-strong species list needed to qualify one’s status as a birder. Being a birder does not make anyone into an authority either...

Pat Ganase recommends shopping for outstanding local products. Published in the Newsday on December 11, 2025 (Photos by Pat Ganase)   The malls are decorated with nutcrackers and fairies and wonderlands foreign to our tropical weather. The grocery aisles are energized by Christmas classics, from traditional carols to soca parang. All in the effort to drive sales. Businesses, corporations and some economists promote the positive effects of Christmas: more (even temporary) jobs in retail and service sectors, increases in production and spending, uptick in travel and tourism, and in some instances, generous donations to charities. While Christmas revenues in Western countries may amount to one-fifth of annual income, there is a downside to Christmas production and spending that ought to be considered: stress for consumers especially those who just cannot make ends meet; the ensuing financial struggle for those with credit cards; over-consumption and waste that result in environmen...