Photo Blog Reflection

Photo Courtesy: Nisha Kong

Over the past ten weeks it has been a very enlightening educational journey posting to our blog. We set out with a new open eye towards our beautiful island of Trinidad in order to capture various instances of which urbanization has impacted negatively on our country. Visiting places from north to south of Trinidad we captured a variety of photos which efficiently illustrated the various negative impacts urbanization has caused. It is our hope that these photos capture the attention of our blogs viewers and educates them so that these effects can be reduced. 

We placed an emphasis on the degradation caused by urbanization mainly on the environment as it leads to a large number of interconnected impacts of which needs to be reduced for the betterment of society. This core theme has been visited by our fellow classmates, which indeed shows it is a cause for concern as it receives much attention. We have chosen three blogs which relate to ours in order to spread the awareness and show the severity of importance in taking action to reduce said negative impacts.

The three interrelating blogs to our theme were:

Darryl James and Jenice Culzac

http://costofurbanisation.blogspot.com/  

Related- pollution, traffic congestion

Darryl and Jenice's blog was one of our most interesting reads, it was written in a style that captures and keeps your attention while informing and educating you throughout the reading. They focused on topics similar to ours such as pollution, traffic congestion and to a lesser extent crime and air pollution. The incoperation of academic models within the posts further aided in their explanations of what their photo depictions show.

Kaaria Quash and Jameel Smith

http://urbangeographers.wix.com/port-of-spain 

Related- pollution traffic congestion

Kaaria and Jameel's blog focused mainly on the urban centre of Port of Spain, and they highlighted both the highlights and shortcomings of the city. The blog was insightful as we have not been to some of the places included, so it was a kind of mini-field trip of sorts. They backed up their photos and explanations with strong academic sources and reasoning. Their blog post on traffic was able to link with ours to show that the urban areas are high density areas plagued by traffic congestion issues. Similarly both blogs had posts which showed the pollution generated within the cities during the Carnival celebrations. This blog showed that issues highlighted in our blog were also present elsewhere, as seen in this blog.

Ryan Dhanraj and Rommel Dookeran
http://urbanslums.blogspot.com/ 

Related- Shows negative impacts of urbanization in the form of slum creation

The blog done by Ryan and Rommel was most definitely a very very long read, but also one that contained a tremendous amount of information as it contained posts that related to numerous areas within the country, and  also links to current events in the country with examples. They often showed the historical background of some places which further aided in showing how places developed to their current from. The blog focused on a similar topic of ours, which was the negative impacts of urbanization, they chose to be specific to the slum areas, and thus focused on the lower income, squatter settlements. They still showed that even in these areas issues such as pollution and crime, which was not only present in the urban centers, but also the suburban landscape and slum areas.

As we close the blog post, we will like to thank all of our readers and to our peers who often offered advice on our topics and posts. This had indeed been an eye opening experience as we both see urbanization and development from a different perspective, and question the implications of each stage of becoming developed. It also took us on a semester long journey across the country, compiling photos everywhere of possible topics and discovering places we have never visited previously. In closing we would like to thank Ms. Priya Kissoon and Ms. Karina Ali for allowing us to have this assignment which engaged our interest in the field of Urban Geography, our country and our environment. Thank You!!!

Urban Power Centres

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The above photos shows a view overlooking the Port of Spain area, from Westmoorings, while the second photo shows an overhead photo which was taken from an airplane. Both photos show a lovely well lit sight that forms across the landscape. But lets look deeper!!

Why does the capital city need all of that lighting? After all it follows the urban model set forward Harris and Ulman, so the CBD should not have that many inhabitants at night, yet it seems to have the most lighting. 

Most of the lighting is used for advertising, aesthetics and security purposes. But even as a security measure, better alternatives can be used such as camera systems, or even using only half the lighting. This is compounded by Mycoo(2006), who states that,"The upsurge of crime in the poststructural adjustment years of the 1980s is associated with drastic cuts in public spending, unemployment, and poverty that became entrenched among the masses." This simply shows that the rising crime ha led to increased security being needed to cope with possible robberies or looting.

The photos shows high energy consumption by the residents and business owners alike, heightened by the Regulated Industries Commission has ranked Trinidad and Tobago as having a level of energy consumption per capita in 2011 of 6,264 kWh per annum, the 28th highest consumption per capita level in the world..

These problems are only made worst by the fact that almost all of the energy used in the urban areas comes from conventional power generation practices which includes the burning of fossil fuels, and not much alternative sources of energy. These power generation methods expel high concentrations of gasses which contribute to global warming and the smog which often covers the city area.

There must be stricter regulations put in place around energy consumption, as the low cost may be one of the driving factors behind the high consumption patterns. Also more solar panels can be introduced to power these lighting fixtures instead of using traditional methods of power generation.

References:

1. The retreat of the upper and middle classes to gated communities in the poststructural adjustment era: the case of Trinidad Michelle Mycoo
   http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/file.php/32678/mycoo_2006_Trinidad_gated_communities.pdf
   
2. PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
   http://www.ric.org.tt/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Promoting-Energy-Efficiency.pdf

Is Rivers Becoming Our New Landfills!!!

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 There is always the saying that Trinidad and Tobago's landfills are nearing capacity, so will we have to find  a new area to utilize??? It seems some citizens have began to use the Guapo River in Point Fortin as their landfill, as is seen in the photos above.

Illegal dumping is prevalent here, as trucks use the track shown in photo 1, to cross the river and dump their contents in the bushes behind. however much of the refuse also falls onto the river bank and the rivers course. Since most of these materials are not biodegradable it poses serious threats to the ecosystems health. Risks such as flooding also come into question with the build up of materials in this slow meandering lower course stream.

This raises the point made by Rees(1992) who stated that the developing countries will place higher emphasis on development, and less on the ecological repercussions. Indeed there will be repercussions as the chemicals released by the reuse will enter marine organisms. Bio-accumulation and bio-magnification  can then directly affect humans as the concentrations of these chemicals builds up in these organisms over time, and consumption will allow the chemicals to enter our bodies.

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The second series of photographs depicts other activities at the same site, opposite the location where the illegal dumping occurs, is an oil sand quarry. This quarry also affects the river as its runoff effluent is seen on the river's surface as slicks of oil (photos 8 and 9). The close proximity of this industry to a water course adds more danger to the ecosystem.

Forestry Versus Economic Gain

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Recently there has been quite a stir in the news due to a mass deforestation project which is occurring in Las Cuevas, North Trinidad. These photos shows the extent to which the said project has stripped the land of is natural covering. It is important to note that the entire area was densely forested as its surroundings prior to the deforestation.

While the area looks big, it is actually bigger than the few photos may show, as an approximate 468 acres are being cleared for development by a private owner. This clearing of the land poses a question on which is values more, the natural environment or economic gain, as the rising calls to protect the environment in the face of rising global warming seems to be out the door as the land is stripped to facilitate the development of another concrete jungle.

Is this really development?!?!?!?!

The clearing of land so close to the coast will result in increase run off into the rivers, which will affect the freshwater/saltwater balance on the coast, and have a harmful effect on the lives of the fishermen in the village. This will also cause disruption and fragmentation in the habitats of organisms. This can greatly affect feeding relationships and affect food webs for species who thrive in that area.

Concern will also be on the cards for the Las Cuevas beach, which was granted the "Blue Flag Beach" title, the first of any Trinibagonian beach to achieve that status. Effluent runoff into the waters will make the waters running into the beach more pollute, which can cause the beach to lose the status it currently holds.

Additional concerns must arise over the slash and burn technique which is being use to clear the land. This not only releases greenhouse gases into the air, but contributes to a decrease in the carbon sinks. These fires can easily spread into the nearby forested areas causing large forest fires, which can harm the forest, its animals, as well as human lives and homes.

More must be done by the relevant authorities to regulate land clearance for development, and also the conduction of an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) to determine the full extent of the damages the project may cause, and then determine its feasibility.

More news articles on the project can be seen below:

1. Las Cuevas project sparks fisherfolk worry - http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-04-01/las-cuevas-project-sparks-fisherfolk-worry

References

1. Las Cuevas first T&T beach to be designated as a 'Blue Flag Beach' - http://www.looptt.com/content/las-cuevas-first-tt-beach-be-designated-blue-flag-beach

Disregard For Authority With Illegal Dumping of Tyres

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The irony of seeing heaps of garbage at the base of a no littering sign, yet this is a very common occurrence in many areas of Trinidad and Tobago. 

In the above photos, taken along the Southern Main Road in Curepe, we see heaps of old tyres an crates, stacked on the side of the side of the pavement, in close proximity to the main road and a near by sign that warns against littering. Clearly the large hole in the pavement which is also a health risk to commuters also shows neglect by the regional cooperation, as it does not seem to be a newly formed hole. 

This must be a source for concern as the tyres can accumulate water which will lead to the breeding ground for rats, cockroaches and mosquitoes, which harbor diseases which are harmful to human health, such as dengue and more recently the zika virus. The close proximity within the urban sprawl can lead to mass breakouts of these viruses.

Both Rees(1992) and Childe(1950) spoke on the large build up of surplus waste, which comes from the greater ecological footprint which these urban centers posses over the surroundings. Due to increased consumerism, more materials are used and discarded on a regular basis.it can also be safe to assume that the garbage collection does not collect such items as seen in the photos, so the owners left them on the roadway as their option of "getting it off their hands". Rees also said that the third world countries acks proper disposal systems, which would account for the build up of the old tyres.

Surely there must be more measures put in place to handle such persons who pose a threat to the environment and other humans in their surroundings. More enforcement of litter laws are required to deter persons from committing such acts, also insect vectors should also pass and spray areas to ensure that they eradicate any possible pests that may use these spaces as a breeding ground. Other systems of waste disposal will also assist in the removal of these items, which are not picked up by the regular garbage collection trucks. Finally, education is always the key to solving problems, and thus more public education should be done to educate, inform and deter persons from doing activities as shown in the photos above. The issue of the damaged manhole cover is also an issue which should be taken up with the regional cooperation, as it is a hazard to any one who may step into the hole. 

Mangrove Destruction as a Result of Urbanization

More Anthropogenic Encroachment?? 

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From the photos (Photos 1-3) seen above the mangrove area which is in close proximity to Maracus Bay is being destroyed to facilitate room for "development". Not only our forests are at risk but our mangroves as well?? This was an utterly disturbing sight to behold. As stated in Rojas 1989 due to the large population densities generated in urban areas agricultural lands are encroached upon for housing developments. This is similar to the situation at hand except for the fact that persons are not even receiving homes! The encroachment onto the wetland seems to be as a result of plans to better "develop" the beach facility at Maracus. This is hoped to generate income in the form of revenue by beach goers purchasing items...but at what cost??

Mangroves play very important roles in the environment they, like coral reefs and rain forests are extremely productive ecosystems that provides many services to marine organisms. A large variety of fish, shrimp, crab  and mullusk species find their habitat within mangroves. These sites act as large fisheries which act as a source of food for locals. It also acts as nurseries for many fish species including coral reef fish.

The thick rooting systems formed by mangroves also act to protect the coast as they trap sediments and filtering pollutants which flow along rivers and prevent them from entering the sea. They also help to stabilize the coastline and prevent erosion from waves and storms.



Photo 4

Photo 4 shows the machinery used to destroy these mangroves as well as gives an indication of the amount of mangrove already fully destroyed, this bare land was once thriving mangrove vegetation.The destruction of mangroves would lead to adverse effects on the environment, coasts would receive more erosion, siltation would occur as there would be no roots to hold back sediments and pollutants from entering the sea. This would increase turbidity levels and have an effects on the marine life existing in the sea. Also as it acts as a habitat to a large number of species, massive habitat destruction would occur leading to the reduction in biodiversity of the ecosystem. 

The government can assist in protecting said mangroves by initiating re-plantation and rehabilitation of already damaged mangrove sites. Implement laws with strict penalties and fines for anyone found damaging the mangrove or polluting it and stop "development" in these areas. This would yield major positive effects on the environment for our future generations to enjoy as we do. 

More articles on mangrove destruction can be found below:

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-09-08/invaders-bay-land-cleared

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-11-10/mangroves-threatened-highway-construction

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/Why-demolish--precious-riverbank-trees-and-mangroves-225611002.html

References:

Florida Museum of Natural History. "Importance of Mangroves." Florida Museum of Natural History. March 25, 2016. https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/southflorida/habitats/mangroves/importance-mangroves/.

Petrotrin. Petrotrin A Valued Partner. May 2015. Accessed May 25, 2016.

UKessays.com. "Effects Of Mangrove Destruction In Mumbai Environmental Sciences Essay." UKessays. March 23, 2015. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/environmental-sciences/effects-of-mangrove-destruction-in-mumbai-environmental-sciences-essay.php.

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Negative Impacts of Agriculture on the Environment Due to Large Urban Population

The Environment Pays Greatly For Us To Eat.

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Fires intentionally set to land? Who would do such as thing? Why would they? These are some questions I ask myself when thinking of slash and burn agriculture. As seen from photo 1 above slash and burn agriculture involves intentionally setting fire to a piece of land in order to clear it of existing vegetation for agricultural purposes. It surely has many deleterious effects on the environment, air pollution clearly as there is so much smoke produced, habitat loss for animals as their home is destroyed and aesthetic displeasure as the land is left bare and scorched. Shouldn't it be clear that this practice is largely degrading to the environment and as such not be practiced? Apparently not as this is one of many improper, unsustainable practices used in contemporary society for agriculture. 

Due to the ever growing population of Trinidad and Tobago, food production is essential to sustain the lives of its people and ensure there is food security. In Childe 1950 it was stated that due to the introduction of irrigation cultivation, the social "surplus" were large enough to support a number of resident specialist who had been released from food production. This led to the formation of the first cities "units of settlements ten times greater than any neolithic village". What can be taken from this is that due to the increase in "surplus" of food production, the carrying capacity of the land increase and as such more and more people inhabited the area, forming what was known as cities. This is similar to contemporary society where because of the large population in urban areas, there are lands specified for agricultural purposes to grow food to feed the population. This large demand leads to intensified agricultural practices to meet said needs.

Agriculture plays many important roles for Caribbean countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, most notably are its contributions to foreign exchange, GDP & GNP, food security and employment. Hoever agriculture involves many practices which can lead to deleterious effects on the environment such as deforestation, coastal degradation, water shed degradation, soil degradation, flooding and reduction in biodiversity. The impacts of improper agricultural practices on the environment are described below:

Forests are vital for life as they provide a habitat for animals, protect soil from erosion, create oxygen and store carbon dioxide which helps to control climate . According to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP (2010) unsustainable acts of agriculture include the major use of slash and burn (as seen in photo 1) in order to prepare lands for planting. This leads to high levels of deforestation, as seen in the case of Trinidad according to Environmental Management Agency (EMA 2001), there was a net loss of 11.6% of forested area from 1990 to 1998. This is as a result of fires going uncontrolled which according to the UNDP also resulted in protected areas such as El Tuchuche being destroyed after lower hillside areas were ignited for the purpose of preparing land via the slash and burn method by farmers. These forests once destroyed are not able to return to their original state as secondary growth takes place. Slash and burn agriculture also leads to habitat destruction for animals as well as food sources are lost and animals are killed in the process resulting in reduction of biodiversity (UNDP 2010). 

Further negative results of deforestation include water degradation, river and coastal degradation. In a national report done by the Water Resources Agency (WRA 2001) agricultural practices was stated as a major threat to wetlands in Trinidad. These practices included deforestation via slash and burn agriculture and excessive use of pesticides, insecticides and synthetic fertilizers. After slash and burn is performed the protective vegetative layer is removed. This makes the soil highly unstable as there are not roots to stabilize it, no protective layer to reduce raindrop impact and increases surface runoff which all lead to increase levels of erosion. This causes heavy siltation in rivers as were seen to affect the Caroni River, north Oropuche and Aripo Rivers. This siltation runs out to the sea via rivers and in the case of Tobago where the coral reef is present it would have major deleterious effects as corals require clear water to grow as well as the silt could suffocate and kill them as they are highly sensitive. Siltation as a result of poor farming practices also blocks passages causing flooding also seen in an article published by GUARDIAN MEDIA LIMITED, 2014 and  it also affects breeding behaviours of the manatee in the Oropuche River. 

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Photo 2 taken at a farm in Barrackpore Trinidad shows the improper application of fertilizer to crops. This fertilizer was nitrogen and is suppose to be diluted before applying it to plants, however profit oriented farmers throw the undiluted fertilizer onto the land in hopes of gaining faster and bigger yields. On large farms the use of fertilizer is in excess again in order to maximize profits, but at what cost? Sadly major environmental degradation...The WRA report reviewed showed the effects of excessive use of agrochemicals led to eutrophication in rivers and coasts. This was a result of the high nutrient availability which cause algal blooms creating hypoxic conditions when carrying capacity was reached by the algae. As the algae decomposes it reduces the oxygen available and leads to marine organisms such as fish being staved of oxygen so they die. Furthermore agricultural waste produced such as agrochemicals, slurry and faeces from animals also led to coastal eutrophication when washed into waterways after heavy rains seen in Golden Grove Estate Tobago, this also greatly affects Rivers for example the Caroni River basin as illustrated by the report. Also in an article by the UNDP 2016, a Maracas Bay farmer, Mr. Ramnarine Rampray stated that heavy and excessive use of agrochemicals “kills the useful organisms in the soil like earthworms and bacteria that add natural nutrients to the soil” making it less fertile in the long term. 

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Photo 3 shows a tractor used on farmlands at a farm in Barrackpore. This is just one of the many different types of heavy machinery used in contemporary farming. These degrade soil quality as its shear weight running over the soil leads to soil compaction. Soil degradation was also by other means of agricultural practices according to GRACE Communications Foundation (GCF, 2016) and John VanDyk. 2004 of Iowa State University. GCF 2016 showed the environmental impact of monocrop farming was that it resulted in soil degradation as one type of crop is grown and no rotation occurs. Different crops use different nutrients from the soil and as such the practice of monocrop farming leads to soil degradation in the form of nutrient loss from soil. Also stated was the high use of mechanization on commercial farms resulted in soil compaction and erosion.  

Furthermore the effect of high mechanization was also illustrated by John VanDyk 2004 where it was seen that the use of tillage to prepare lands for planting resulted in negative contributions to soil quality. It was stated that fractures are produced in the soil after tillage, this causes disruption in soil structure which coupled with increase raindrop impact due to less crop residue leads to acceleration in surface runoff and soil erosion. Also “approximately half of plant-available phosphorus is concentrated in topsoil as is nearly all of the plant-available potassium” as erosion removes topsoil essential soil fertility levels are decreased. Tillage also leads to soil compaction occurs by the weight of the heavy machines driving over the soil which kills important microorganisms such as earthworms which help aerate the soil. 

The list is endless and something really needs to be done about this as the environmental cost is far too great. The profit driven mentality of farmers need to be changed and the improper practices need to be stopped. More sustainable approaches to agriculture should be conducted such as hydroponics and aquaponics. More sustainable practices can be read in the links provided.

Sustainable Agricultural Practices:

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/sustainable-farming-practices.php

http://www.wikihow.com/Practice-Sustainable-Agriculture

http://www.iied.org/five-ways-make-farming-more-sustainable

http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,195274.html

More Articles on the effects of agriculture can be viewed below:

http://www.tt.undp.org/content/trinidad_tobago/en/home/ourwork/crisispreventionandrecovery/successstories/smallscalefarmers.html

https://guardian.co.tt/business-guardian/2011/06/30/issue-flooding

Reference:

The Water Resources Agency. "NATIONAL REPORT ON Integrating The Management of Watersheds and Coastal Areas in Trinidad and Tobago." March 2001. http://www.oas.org/reia/iwcam/pdf/trinidad and tobago/trinidad and tobago national report.pdf.

UNEP.org. "'PEOPLE AND THE NORTHERN RANGE'" 2004. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.unep.org/maweb/documents_sga/Trinidad Final Report.pdf.

Environmental Management Authority. "REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY." September 2009. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.ema.co.tt/new/images/policies/national-environmental-policy2006.pdf.

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. "ISSUES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MARACAS VALLEY TRINIDAD & TOBAGO." July 2010. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://maracasvalley.org/MVAC/Docs/Volume 1.pdf.

"Deforestation." Deforestation and Climate Change. 2014. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.climateandweather.net/global-warming/deforestation.html.

"Soil Quality." GRACE Communications Foundation. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.sustainabletable.org/207/soil-quality.

"Industrial Crop Production." GRACE Communications Foundation. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.sustainabletable.org/804/industrial-crop-production.

Jacobsen, Michele. "Complementary Research Methods." Complementary Research Methods. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://people.ucalgary.ca/~dmjacobs/phd/methods/.

Lucas, Floyd, and Mary Alkins-Koo. "WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT A CASE STUDY IN POLLUTION IN A MAJOR RIVER CATCHMENT, TRINIDAD." Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cef-2/FLpollriv.pdf.

Simpson, Leslie Anthony. "POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON HILLSIDES IN THE CARIBBEAN." Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cef-2/LASagripra.pdf.

"The Issue of Flooding." The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper. Accessed March 24, 2016. https://guardian.co.tt/business-guardian/2011/06/30/issue-flooding.

"Good Agricultural Practices." Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : Newsday.co.tt :. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,195274.html.

Turner, B., and Rachel Catherine Allen. "What Are the Different Types of Crop Plants?" WiseGeek. Accessed April 05, 2016. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-crop-plants.htm#didyouknowout. 

United Nations Development Programme. "Safer Farming Practices Aids in Crisis Prevention." UNDP.org. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.tt.undp.org/content/trinidad_tobago/en/home/ourwork/crisispreventionandrecovery/successstories/smallscalefarmers.html.

"Global Warming Effects on the Economy." Union of Concerned Scientists. 2011. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-effects/economy.html.

VanDyk, John K. "Frequent Tillage and Its Impact on Soil Quality | Integrated Crop Management." Integrated Crop Management. June 28, 2004. Accessed March 24, 2016. http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2004/6-28-2004/frequenttill.html.  

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[1] Image taken from http://www.climate-change-guide.com/deforestation-and-climate-change.html Laurent Cousineau, 2016