Centeno, Trinidad - August 14, 2025 - The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in partnership with the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), officially launched its Community-Based Wildfire Training Programme on Wednesday 13^th August 2025 at UTT ECIAF Campus in Centeno.

The initiative forms part of the broader BIOREACH Project, co-executed by EMA and NAMDEVCO, and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management practices across Trinidad and Tobago.

The orientation session welcomed community members from wildfire-prone areas across the country. The event featured opening remarks from Dr Andell Edwards, Assistant Professor, Bio-Sciences, Agriculture and Food Technology, a welcome address by Mr Asif Khan, Technical Advisor for the BIOREACH Project and greetings from Mr Rishi Singh, Director (Ag) of the Forestry Resources and Information Management Unit of the Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.

Mrs. Kimberly Singh, UTT's Coordinator for this project and Senior Instructor, Bio-Sciences, Agriculture and Food Technology, introduced the comprehensive wildfire training programme titled "Be Wildfire Ready! - A Wildfire Community Preparedness Training Program." The training is specifically designed to build the capacity of Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in wildfire management, equipping them with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills for prevention, suppression, and mitigation of wildfires.

Participants also engaged in an interactive session led by Mr Lakshman Lochan, Instructor I, Bio-Sciences, Agriculture and Food Technology, who is also the Facilitator and Community Liaison for the project. He guided discussions on the training modules, the role of CBOs, and expectations for the coming weeks of field and classroom-based sessions.

The training will span over a three-month period, involving selected communities in wildfire-prone areas across Trinidad. Participants will benefit from hands-on demonstrations, use of wildfire suppression equipment, and field visits to high-risk areas. Modules will cover fire science, mitigation strategies, community resilience, and relevant legislation including the Agricultural Fires Act.

This initiative underscores UTT's commitment to environmental resilience and community development, leveraging its decades-long expertise in forestry education through its ECIAF Campus.

The Community-Based Wildfire Training Programme is being delivered by The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) through its consultancy services, leveraging the institution's technical expertise to support national development while advancing its revenue diversification thrust, with strategic support from the International Office and Grant Funding (IOGF) Unit. The project team is led by Mrs Kimberly Singh and supported by Mr Lakshman Lochan and other experienced forestry professionals. The programme will culminate in a Final Evaluation Workshop, with the awarding of "Wildfire Ready" certificates to participating community members, underscoring their strengthened capacity for wildfire preparedness and response.

Dr Andell Edwards – Assistant Professor, Bio-Sciences, Agriculture and Food Technology bringing opening remarks

Mr Rishi Singh – Director (Ag.) of the Forestry Resources and Information Management Unit brings greetings on behalf of the Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries

L-R - Mr. Ryan Henderson, Technical Assistant I, Forestry; Mr. Asif Khan, Technical Advisor - BIOREACH, Mrs Kimberly Singh, Senior Instructor, Bio-Sciences, Agriculture and Food Technology and Technical Lead; Mr Lakshman Lochan, Instructor I, Bio-Sciences, Agriculture and Food Technology and Facilitator and Community Liaison