250th Anniversary Awards for Main Ridge Forestry Contributors
May 1, 2026 — Tobago’s crown jewel, the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, is being celebrated not just for its age, but for the people who keep it breathing. At a grand gala ceremony held on Thursday night at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, over two dozen conservationists were honored for their lifelong dedication to the oldest legally protected forest in the Western Hemisphere.
The event served as the climax of a week-long series of activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the reserve’s establishment on April 13, 1776. Chief Secretary Farley Augustine delivered a stirring feature address, urging Tobagonians to recalibrate their perspective on the island’s natural heritage.
“We often walk past greatness every day and begin to view it as ordinary,” Augustine remarked. “The Main Ridge is not just a collection of trees; it is a global monument to foresight. These awardees are the guardians of a legacy that predates most modern nations. We must stop treating this extraordinary resource as commonplace.”
Honoring the Guardians of the Ridge
A total of 25 Tobagonians—representing foresters, researchers, tour guides, and community activists—received special commemorative awards for their roles in preservation and education. The awardees were recognized for their work in various fields, including:
Reforestation & Maintenance: Long-serving forest rangers who have patrolled the ridge for decades.
Eco-Tourism & Education: Guides who have transformed the reserve into a classroom for international visitors and local students alike.
Scientific Contribution: Individuals who assisted in the documentation of the island’s endemic species, such as the White-tailed Sabrewing hummingbird.
A Week of Reflection and Action
The commemorative week, led by the Main Ridge 250 Committee chaired by Bheemal Ramlogan, included several high-profile events:
The Main Ridge Day (April 30): A ceremonial moment of reflection held within the forest itself.
Historical Reenactment: Secondary school students brought to life the 1776 British parliamentary debate that led to the forest’s protection.
Infrastructure Upgrades: The official opening of the Main Ridge Orientation Centre, designed to enhance the visitor experience and streamline conservation data collection.
Secretary of the Environment, Climate Resilience and Energy, Darren Henry, noted that while the 250-year milestone is a triumph, the next century will require even stricter vigilance against the threats of climate change and illegal encroachment. He emphasized that the “all hands on deck” approach seen during the anniversary celebrations must become the new standard for environmental policy on the island.
Reporter Aaliyah Balgobin has the details on the awardees’ stories and the future of the reserve.
