Environmental policy and administrative management

The project addresses the use of FM community radio to promote and strengthen community advocacy in all aspects of development as it relates to the rural communities from Matura to Matelot. This is the first community radio project in Trinidad and Tobago. The general emphasis of Radio Toco will be on sustainable development in northeastern Trinidad. Specifically, broadcast material will focus on environmental awareness and advocacy against development activities in northeastern Trinidad which are perceived to have negative impacts on the rich biodiversity of the terrestrial, riverine and coastal habitats and ecosystems of northeastern Trinidad, as well as the attendant cultural and social impacts. The main GEF/SGP focal areas to be addressed by Radio Toco will be the protection of biodiversity and the prevention or reduction of pollution of international waters (rivers and coastal waters). Additionally, the radio will be used to inform and share the results of a Tobago Community Water Watch Network Project, initiated in 1997 with GEF/SGP grant support, among the communities and stakeholders in both northeastern Trinidad and southwestern Tobago. The grant will assist Radio Toco Project in conducting a community survey in the development of the programming content and the broadcast schedule of "Radio Toco"; the development of a marketing strategy to address the sustainability of "Radio Toco", and human resource strengthening of "Radio Toco" in the first year of operation.

Trinidad and tobago