Wild Tobago

Two years after the worst effects on humans from the Covid-19 pandemic, Anjani Ganase reports on how it affected the natural world. The lessons still to be learned involve reducing human activities to allow nature to thrive.   During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns, there were numerous reports about the return of wildlife to urban spaces. These were the positive feel-good side notes while we were restricted in lockdown. Much of what was observed reveals the much-needed respite for the natural world from humans. Two years on, scientists have finished crunching the data on the significance of changes observed in natural ecosystems during lockdowns.   Here in Trinidad and Tobago, the beaches were closed for over a year.   Face mask at surface. Credit:  The Ocean Agency / Ocean Image Bank Our carbon footprint Apart from the obvious declines in traffic and congregating, the declines in outdoor activities equated to significant drops in carbon dioxide emissions at a ...

  Dr Anjani Ganase provides an update on the problem that has grown through the pandemic, and likely to continue unless there are more committed approaches at personal and industrial levels (Photos by Pat Ganase)   We have a plastic problem. While the pandemic rages on - we know it will continue to be around for some time - there are other issues that have never gone away, indeed have escalated.   Plastic pollution is a major issue for us and our natural environment; and it will exacerbate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. Here is an update on the latest research on plastic pollution for 2021.   Even a pristine landscape like Toco collects plastic trash   Pollution and the pandemic   We have diligently followed the rules – mask up, sanitise and socially distance – to protect ourselves from the corona virus. While pollution from single-use plastics continues to grow (increasing by 31 % in 2025 compared to 201...

Sometimes, only the wildest ideas can take us out of ourselves with courage to face the gravest challenges. Pat Ganase resorts to “blue sky thinking” with practical supports from marine scientist, Dr Anjani Ganase. The people of Tobago may – at this point – be relatively unscathed by Covid-19. The economy is in shambles but we have health! We are fortunate that our leaders closed borders early; and we have not imported any infected persons for four weeks. With the prioritized restart of commercial and industrial activities (announced by the Prime Minister on May 9, 2020), borders may open with caution after the end of June.   Many Tobago hotels have been posting friendly messages on their web pages about travel restrictions and re-booking; about extra care in cleaning procedures and sanitization. Will this messaging cut it to bring international visitors this far south on the Caribbean archipelago? What about the countries that are our markets? ...

Dr Anjani Ganase, marine scientist, talks about new developments for Tobago in the face of climate change and Covid-19. Living with Covid-19, what do you think is the main challenge(s) for business in Tobago? Businesses in Tobago will be hard pressed to recover financial losses in the short term, while trying to secure livelihoods in the long-term against future threats – diseases but also threats related to climate change. While Tobago is the beneficiary of an oil and gas economy, its other natural resource – rich biodiversity and island beauty - has driven a fairly passive tourism industry. Unfortunately, both industries are high risk ventures as the world moves away from fossil fuels., Small islands are also at risk they continue to be ravaged by extreme storm events, flooding and severe water shortages.   It’s time we started protecting our natural environment for our own benefit. If and when, there are visitors again, they can enjoy wi...

Dr Anjani Ganase tells us how Covid-19 can bring us closer to freeing our species from its addiction to consumerism and save natural ecosystems   Over the past year, Australia has suffered from climate change fueled bush fires that last longer and burn more intensely than ever. In the past weeks, large sections of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are also “burning” under another mass coral bleaching event brought on by abnormally high ocean temperatures. This is the third major bleaching disaster in the recent five years and, as many scientists have predicted, the warming climate has caused an increase in the frequency and intensity of coral bleaching events (and bush fires for that matter) that result in mass mortality and loss to livelihoods.  Aerial view of bleached coral reefs (seen by the white colouration underwater) on the Great Keppel Islands, Southern Great Barrier Reef. Photo Credit: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Stu...