The second research site was located adjacent to the Nariva
Swamp, which at seven thousand hectares, is the largest wetland
in Trinidad and Tobago (Nathai-Gyan, 1996). Its ecosystem supports
a diverse population of flora and fauna. Nariva swamp also
offers recreation in the form of hunting, fishing, and eco-tourism.
Furthermore, the swamp supports subsistence agricultural production,
including rice and vegetable farming and natural sources of
freshwater fish and conchs (Kacal, 1999; Carbonell et al., 2007).
However, agricultural production by local residents, who do not
have legal ownership of land, causes serious environmental damage
to the swamp (Carbonell et al., 2007)