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Regional Development Planning
77.
The sum of $0.5 million was utilised in 2013 for the commencement of the development
of the Tobago Spatial Development Strategy (TSDS) by the THA. Conceptually, the TSDS seeks
to further support the land development policy issues and prescriptions as outlined in the
National Spatial Development Strategy (NSDS) which was completed by the Ministry of
Planning and Sustainable Development, after extensive consultations with all stakeholders.
While the NSDS provides the overarching framework that will spatially represent the socio-
cultural, economic and environmental development priorities for both Trinidad and Tobago, the
strategies and policies of the TSDS, will articulate the Assembly’s vision for sustainable
development of the sister island.
Environment
78.
The environment as an economic asset is a new concept in economic accounting. It is
also a key component of the development strategy for Tobago as outlined in its Comprehensive
Economic Development Plan 2013-2017 (CEDP) and is closely aligned to the areas of Branding
Tobago as Clean, Green, Safe and Serene, and to Environmental Sustainability.
79.
Apart from the sea defense work conducted at Petit Trou in 2013, a number of other
initiatives continued to be rolled out including:
•
Forest Plantation Inventory Study
•
Urban Forestry Programme
•
Veteran Trees Husbandry Programme
•
Improvements to Reefs at Buccoo and Speyside
•
Ecological Monitoring Reef Check
•
Oil Spill Contingency Management
•
Watershed Management Pilot Project
