ABSTRACT
The main objective of ProEcoServ-T&T was to demonstrate how to best use findings of ecosystems and their services in policy and decision making. In particular, the work plan was developed across three main components: (1) develop and introduce ecosystem value maps and an associated decision support system into spatial development planning in Trinidad and Tobago; (2) explore the potential for developing natural capital accounting into the Trinidad and Tobago national accounts; (3) develop and test a pilot eco-finance scheme, which was developed with the Caura Valley community in Trinidad as a case study. From an operational viewpoint, the work was carried out by a multidisciplinary team from the University of the West Indies, at St. Augustine Trinidad and Tobago, and developed across four different sites. The ProEcoServ-T&T work went hand-in-hand with (4) various strategies for mainstreaming that delivered communication and outreach and co-production of knowledge, supported the integration of ecosystem services into national policy and dialogue (including the production of national ecosystem service maps) promoted public-private cooperation for ecosystem management, developed ecosystem-service models to inform investments, and established a framework for investment in ecological infrastructure that in turn has been adopted in national policy and planning.
