| Overview : *EXTENDED from 4th Nov 2019 to 18th Nov 2019 Biodiversity assessment, monitoring and conservation. Carry out biodiversity assessment, develop and implement priority conservation and monitoring programmes for the Morne Trois Pitons National Park (MTPNP) and immediate surroundings. Create baseline from which to assess and monitor threats and manage biodiversity and ecosystem services within the MTPNP and its buffer zone. Biodiversity assessment will extend to other terrestrial PA sites so as inform PA system planning, including connectivity and priority sites for management intervention. Conservation and management programmes will be developed and implemented for key biodiversity and ecosystems identified and known, including for endangered species and key ecosystem services (i.e. threatened watershed). Database and terrestrial habitat maps will be developed, along with ongoing monitoring programmes. Management and control programmes will be initiated or supported for invasive species and pathogens. Outputs of assessment will help with zonation within the core zone (resource management zones) to be included in the management plan. Training of existing staff at the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division to carry out assessments and monitoring will be an integral part of this activity. Specific biodiversity conservation programmes will also be supported. The biodiversity assessment, monitoring and conservation activities include;
• Biodiversity assessment of vegetation, birds, invertebrates (incl. butterflies), herpetofauna, and threatened species.
• Support to conservation efforts for the following species, noting that additional specific programmes may be identified through outputs of the biodiversity assessment: 1. Amazona arausiaca (dispersal/habitat connectivity issues, population census, foraging and phonological data); 2. Amazona imperialis (breeding biology, population status, foraging and phonological data); 3. Mountain Chicken Leptodactylus fallax; 4. Forest Thrush Turdus lherminieri (population census), 5. Laurier de rose species Phoebe elongata Lòwyé di-wòz (status), 6. Black capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata (population status/verify possible accounts), and Puerto Rican Crested Anole (population census).
• Identification of threats, including current and potential climate change impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, (including rainfall, watershed, forest structure and composition) hunting impacts and monitoring plan. Assessment, monitoring and management plans for introduced and invasive species (lemongrass, tilapia in freshwater lakes), and pathogens (chytridiomycosis). The project will coordinate with the World Bank Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (RDVRP) which is carrying out a forest inventory, soil and hydrometeorological studies and monitoring.
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