Caroni Swamp

The Caroni Swamp is the largest mangrove forest and the second largest wetland in Trinidad and Tobago. It is located on the west coast of Trinidad, south of Port of Spain and northwest of Chaguanas, where the Caroni River meets the Gulf of Paria.

The Caroni Swamp is an estuarine system comprising 5,611 hectares of mangrove forest and herbaceous marsh, interrupted by numerous channels, and brackish and saline lagoons, and with extensive intertidal mudflats on the seaward side. The swamp is an important wetland since it is ecologically diverse, consisting of marshes, mangrove trees, and tidal mudflats in close proximity. The wetland provides a variety of habitats for flora and faunal species and is a highly productive system that provides food and protection and is a nursery for marine and freshwater species.

The Caroni Swamp is a 12,000 acre swamp located on the west coast of the island of Trinidad, making it the largest mangrove forest on the island. The Caroni Swamp is protected under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. The Caroni Swamp runs along the banks of the Caroni River and contains numerous channels, brackish and saline lagoons with intertidal mudflats. The Caroni Swamp also contains fresh water and saltwater marshes and is also known as a bird sanctuary. The central section of the acreage is designated as a wildlife sanctuary and is a major home for one of Trinidad and Tobago's national birds, the scarlet ibis. The Caroni Swamp is the largest roosting place for the scarlet ibis and is also the home of over 100 avian species.

The Caroni Swamp is protected under the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It all started during the 1960s when people became concerned about the increasing loss and the degradation of wetland habitat for migratory birds. The treaty was first adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. The Ramsar Convention is the oldest intergovernmental environmental agreements which came into force in 1975.

The Caroni Swamp has a total of 20 endangered species and is ecologically diverse. It provides a variety of habitats for flora and fauna. Caroni Swamp supports a rich biodiversity. It is a productive area of wetland that provides food (organic production) and also provides protection. It is also a nursery for marine and freshwater species. The Caroni Swamp is important economically and is a popular site for ecotourism.

The swamp has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a significant population of scarlet ibis as well as other waterbirds. It is also important for silky anteaters and crab-eating raccoons.

The Caroni Swamp is visited by thousands of nationals and eco-tourists per year, and is important to local communities. The Caroni Swamp is not only an attraction for tourism but it also provides goods and services to local communities and to the island of Trinidad. For example, the swamp provides coastal storm surge protection, carbon sequestration (the uptake and storage of carbon by trees and plants that absorb carbon dioxide), and sediment filtration for near-shore ecosystems.

In 2011 a project was started in order to evaluate the TEV, total economic value, of the Caroni Swamp. The study looks at the way the Caroni Swamp provides for Trinidad and Tobago and to the wider Caribbean. The study also predicts the potential damage that climate change can have on wetlands and ecosystems such as the Caroni Swamp. This study may provide strategies for preventing damage to other wetlands as well.