TT-M1018 : Development of Traditional Crafts

3 coastal rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago are nesting grounds for the endangered leatherback turtle. National statistics show the corresponding areas as being the poorest in Trinidad and Tobago, and given their physical location in remote coastal areas, access to mainstream support and other services, as well as to formal employment opportunities is limited. Due to the high levels of unemployment and poverty in these communities, efforts have been made with some success to involve community members directly in the promotion and organisation of a niche eco tourism product for visitors wishing to view the endangered leatherback turtle during the nesting season. This strategy has involved communities in services linked to turtle watching activities, which deliver a stream of income from both local and international visitors. The approach has also heightened awareness of and implementation of conservation strategies to ensure the survival of this species and the sustainability of economic benefits to the rural communities involved in related ecotourism activities. To expand the flow of sustainable economic benefits to the community, Turtle Village Trust has developed a project aimed to organise and strengthen the creation and marketing of traditional crafts by artisans in these communities.