About COPE
Formed around 1989-90 following a successful campaign to protect the wetlands of Port-of-Spain, the Council of Presidents of the Environment (COPE) is the national umbrella body for environmental NGOs in Trinidad and Tobago. It brings together autonomous, not-for-profit organisations and community-based groups with specialist interests in environmental concerns, providing a unified voice for the environmental movement.
By connecting organisations across specialisations, from forestry and marine conservation to wildlife protection and environmental education, COPE facilitates collaboration, strengthens collective advocacy, and holds seats on key national committees including climate transparency, biodiversity strategy, and UNEP plastics reduction.
COPE's reach extends into the highest levels of environmental governance in Trinidad and Tobago. Its member organisations engage Parliament and government ministries through formal submissions, open letters, and direct consultations, ensuring civil society has a voice on everything from land use planning and biodiversity policy to climate adaptation and waste management. When environmental crises arise, COPE coordinates the sector's response. When legislation threatens wildlife or habitats, COPE mobilises expert voices. As a coalition it carries a weight in public discourse that no single organisation could wield alone.
WEPTT's connection to COPE runs deeper than membership. WEPTT has served at the highest levels of COPE's governance, including as a Board Director and as chairman of the COPE board, and is among COPE's most active national committee representatives, holding named seats on four government advisory bodies: the ESA/ESS Management Advisory Committee (Environmental Management Authority), the BIOREACH Project Technical Sub-Committee (Ministry of Planning), the Sargassum Management Capacities Committee, and the EMA Officers Programme. The ESA/ESS committee directly oversees the designation and review of Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Species in Trinidad and Tobago.
WEPTT has led and co-led joint actions under the COPE banner on some of T&T's most pressing conservation issues. In 2021 WEPTT spearheaded the campaign that became COPE's national petition to secure government permission for environmentalists to patrol sea-turtle nesting beaches at night, gathering over 9,300 signatures and achieving a direct policy change. WEPTT has also led coalition positions on issues such as wildlife protection legislation, species classification, and environmental policy reform, working alongside COPE member organisations.
COPE's Core Functions
Environmental Policy Advocacy & Governance
COPE engages with government agencies and legislative processes to influence environmental policy, regulatory frameworks, and national development planning. This includes submissions, consultations, and stakeholder representation on issues like land use, biodiversity, and pollution control.
Public Education & Awareness
COPE supports and amplifies environmental education initiatives: campaigns, workshops, and outreach aimed at improving public understanding of conservation, sustainability, and environmental rights.
Coordination & Networking of NGOs/CBOs
A central function of COPE is to unify diverse environmental groups, facilitating collaboration, information-sharing, and joint action across organisations with different specialisations, including forestry, marine conservation, and wildlife protection.
Environmental Monitoring & Advocacy Action
COPE and its member bodies monitor environmental issues, including deforestation, quarrying, and coastal degradation, and mobilise responses ranging from public statements to legal and community-based interventions.