Based on the island-nation of Trinidad, Paria Springs Trust was founded in December 1998. It oversees the Paria Springs Estate which currently covers 47 acres. The Trust hopes to eventually acquire over 500 acres with the help of TRC. Scientific studies funded by public and private institutions and universities will be conducted over an area of 20,000 acres in close proximity to the Paria Springs Estate. Eco-tourism may provide a future source of income to the estate.

The Paria Springs Trust's undertaking shall be the development and promotion of conservation of the natural resources of Trinidad and Tobago through the development, promotion, and effecting research, into the natural history, bio-diversity, ecology, culture and communities of Trinidad and Tobago and education and training of local, national, and international persons in matters of conservation and related topics, along with the acquiring of land for the stated undertaking.

Objectives:

1. Take censuses of the flora and fauna
2. Identify endangered flora, fauna or habitats
3. Study community uses of natural products
4. Evaluate the future carrying capacity for ecotourism
5. Reforestation of disturbed areas
6. Encourage researchers to conduct research projects on site
7. Establish permaculture—a system that is ecologically similar to the rain forest but using plants and animals that have an economic or other value to humans, that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Geography:
The Northern Range of Trinidad is a series of strongly upfolded metamorphic formations of Upper Jurassic to Cretaceous age (approximately 130 million years ago). This includes Trinidad's highest mountain El Cerro del Aripo, 3085 feet, and Trinidad's oldest rock formations. It is the eastern most expression of the Andean mountain chain. This mountainous range is covered with various types of forests, starting with Littoral Woodlands along the coastlines, Evergreen Seasonal Tropical Forests in the lower elevations, Lower Montane Rainforest in elevations from 500 to 2,500 feet, Upper Montane Rainforest in elevations above 2,500 feet, and Elfin Woodlands covering the highest mountains' peaks. The Northern slopes meet the Caribbean Sea, and the southern slopes end in the Caroni plains. Paria Springs Estate is located in the centre of the Northern Range, on the windward, northern slopes of El Cerro del Aripo at the end of Gomez Crown Trace as shown on ward sheet 14c.

The relief of the estate is that of rolling hills with some flat and some steep areas. The eastern portion of the estate is a ridge that runs north/south. The top of the ridge is flat and the sides are quite steep. On the western side of this ridge is a feeder stream to the Paria River, this runs in a north westerly direction, of which the sides are gentle on the southern end, but as it traverses to the northern boundary the slope becomes steep eventually meeting a waterfall just north of the estate. West of this stream is the Paria River, which the stream joins north of the estate. This forms a peninsula between the river and stream. The top of this peninsula is rather flat. This flat area is the area selected for construction of Paria Springs Trust's Learning Centre. West of this flat area is the Paria River which runs in a northerly direction. It creates a shallow valley, and has two water falls on it, one near the southern boundary and the other near the northern boundary. West of the Paria River is the flat area that houses a cocoa shed.  The southern boundary rises steeply towards El Cerro del Aripo, and the virgin lower montane rainforest begins here.

Flora:
Climate is the dominant factor that shapes the vegetation with modifications produced by variations in soil and relief. The precipitation in this area is among the highest in Trinidad, over 100 inches per annum. Brasso Seco, Paria has the ideal climate relief, soil and precipitation for cocoa and coffee, hence this area was a natural choice for the cocoa and coffee estate owners at the turn of this century when cocoa was the "gold" of that time. The flora is that which would be expected of an abandoned cocoa estate of the area, with many of trees being cocoa, coffee and estate related trees such as Immortells, or citrus.  Several large hardwood trees make up a very loose canopy forming at about 90 feet, from hardwoods such as cedar, balata, cypre, silk cotton, black rubber, and serrette. These trees are in various stages of growth from very young to mature trees, most are nearing maturity. Just below this is a second canopy made up of maturing hardwoods and some softwoods, along with several cecropias such as balsa and bois cano and fruit trees like breadfruit, breadnut, and pommcynthe. This shows that the first stage of succession to climax forest is underway. Below this is the understory canopy layer, cocoa and coffee making up the majority of trees of this height. At the floor level there exist several species of flowering shrubs and root crops. The fauna is very diverse and rich as the estate is bordered on the southern side by climax lower montane rain forest. The fauna enters the estate in search of food, which is provided abundantly by the mixture of rain forest and fruit trees along with manicou crabs, fresh water prawn and other prey.

Lower Montane Rain Forest used to dominate this entire area. Though now it only dominates the  southern part of the estate, as the forests were cleared to plant cocoa and coffee at the turn of this century. These forests are in climax and rise to an elevation of 2,500 feet where Montane Rain Forest begins, which is dominated by bois bande and guatacare. Lower Montane Rain Forest is a true Rain Forest with a very biodiverse flora and fauna, and a complex ecology. It is dominated by Bois Gris and Serrette and has a canopy forming at 90 to 120 feet. Elfin Woodlands cover the mountain summits above 3000 feet. In the lower reaches there are Seasonal Evergreen Tropical Forests, Mora Forests and on the coasts Littoral Woodlands may be found.

Fauna:
The avifauna is very diverse and abundant as many are not affected by hunting.  However many are affected by a change in the flora, but as the estate's flora is reverting back to rainforest this provides food for a diverse population of avifauna. Rare species of avifauna found on the estate include the Little Tinamou, Large-billed Seedfinch, and the Trinidad Piping Guan (Pawi). It must be noted that the Piping Guan is a Trinidad endemic, and is endangered due to hunting and loss of habitat. Hence declaring the area a conservation area and reforestation to rainforest will go a long way to preserving this beautiful bird.

Mammalian fauna have been identified by actual sightings, tracks left, or evidence left in the way of teeth marks in fruit, or droppings. Agouti, tattoo and deer are the most frequently seen tracks, collared peccary tracks are often seen on the banks of the river as they forage for the crabs and prawn in the rivers. Red howler monkeys have been heard by hunters high in the hills as there is only a very small population left after the yellow fever outbreaks. Ocelots are making a bit of a come back in the area, but they too are a very small population that only resides at the tops of the mountains, and only seen by those very frequently in the forest.

The streams are full of life with several types of fresh water prawn, and manicou crabs, also in the deeper ponds guppies, guabeens and gobies are to be found. Fauna found living in the Paria river as it passes through the estate indicates that the river is pristine. With all the clearing that went on around it the river managed to remain undisturbed, steps must be taken for this to remain so.

It must also be mentioned that many other fauna have been seen, such as bats, frogs, snakes, insects and others that are an essential aspect of the ecology. However, surveys of these are yet to be carried out

Volunteer Information:
There are no available volunteer opportunities at this time.