Georgetown : As Guyana joined the world in observing International Day of Forests and the Tree, Head of State, President Donald Ramotar gave a commitment on his government’s behalf that local forests will remain safe from risky harvesting practices and other ills which face other countries with similar forests.
He joined with others in recognising the environmental and climate change mitigation contributions of sustainably managed forests, noting that at the last FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) meeting there was a call for countries, “individually and collectively, to place much more emphasis on identifying and properly quantifying the real socio-economic benefits of forests, along another calling the development of accurate data on the important role of women and indigenous peoples in forest utilisation, giving greater recognition to them”.
Addressing a full to capacity auditorium at the Guyana International Conference Center, the president highlighted the fact that Guyana has long been managing its forests and resources, contained wherein, in a sustainable and transparent manner for decades, even under the previous administration, where Guyanese displayed a “high degree of environmental consciousness”.
The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), President Ramotar said, that is currently being implemented successfully, proves that sustainable forest management and utilisation along a low carbon trajectory is absolutely achievable and adaptable to other countries’ economies.
The donation by Guyana to the world of 360,000 hectares of prime virgin state forest lands under the Iwokrama Initiative to serve as “a research and development center while testing models of sustainable forest utilisation with local community partnerships” is in “deep jeopardy” due to the lack critical financing. The global community he added, “with very few exceptions simply has not supported the activities of Iwokrama, and we have the unenviable situation where the government of Guyana has to inject monies to allow for its continuity”. This issue was raised at the United Nations last year, he said, during a sub-committee meeting in which he challenged other nations to put their money where their mouth is, but to no avail.
President Ramotar also revealed that Guyana was the first to set up a small conservation concession, but after number of years, this failed after the holders who paid a small annual fee to government, indicated that they were unable to continue doing so, hence it was reverted to state control. “Despite these disappointments, Guyana continues to show its unwavering commitment to good forest governance and as it practices sustainable, multiple use of forest activities”, he added. “Government will continue to demand that all large scale forest utilisation projects be done in keeping with the relevant legislation inclusive of a publicly transparent environmental and social impact assessment,” he further added.
The forest of Guyana was described as a “lifeline” by the president and hallowed territory for the Indigenous people, and offered the assurance that Guyana will continue to keep abreast of international developments and on the role of forests in the fight against climate change. The monitoring and reporting system of local forests, show that Guyana has had one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world, for the past 23 years, ranging between 0.02% and 0.078% annually. The president said forests will be a main focus of the UNFCC meeting scheduled for Parris, France in December later this year. Important discussions will arise from this and other international sessions and Guyana is preparing for these.
Other important developments, President Ramotar added, will take place nationally, such as the piloting of the ‘Opt In’ mechanism soon to be implemented. This will lay the platform for indigenous communities to participate by their choice, and be part of a national system of payments of forest carbon services. “This will see even greater benefits flowing to villages that will transform village economies across the hinterland of Guyana.”
The president vowed that government will work with sector stakeholders “to enhance efficiencies, adding value; and further harmonising the forest multiple use legislation, policies, capacity building and monitoring amongst others”. He described the future of forests in Guyana as very bright, adding, “We will continue to work with our local forest industry, and other stakeholders; along with international partners, such as the Government of Norway to advance common goals regarding forests, climate change and development”.
In brief remarks, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud said while all are acutely aware of the untapped climate change mitigation potential that forests have, this continues to be a global paradox. “Even though forests are scientifically proven to represent the lowest-cost climate abatement solution, yet the political will of the developed countries to provide the required enabling finance is simply not there, or mired in unbelievable bureaucracy”. This has proven to be a real challenge, the minister noted, especially those that have large expanses of prime tropical forests which are “the lungs of the world, the reservoirs of biodiversity, the homes and very livelihoods of many especially the Indigenous peoples, the source of essential products for mankind and so forth”.
Minister Persaud indicated that tropical forested countries face a real dilemma as they must utilise the forests for the socio-economic development of country and people, even as they are being lectured on the dire consequences for humanity, if these multiple use forests are utilised. He noted, “Even more tragic is that they speak of social equity; however, they fail to provide any viable alternatives for the socio-economic development and empowerment of our peoples, especially the indigenous persons and those living in the villages. Guyana, however, has demonstrated that irrespective of the lip service being paid by some voices, we will continue being a responsible nation, both nationally and globally”.
According to Minister Persaud, being blessed with in excess of 18 million hectares of pristine tropical dense timbers, covering almost 86 % of Guyana’s land area, it is obvious that the nation’s developmental activities necessitate the utilisation of this renewable natural resource. This is done under a stakeholder informed multiple use National Land use plan, modern and relevant land-use sector specific legislation, appropriate multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms, internationally acknowledged environmental best practices and guidelines- all under the coordination of one umbrella Ministry: the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, he explained. He listed some of the initiatives implemented by the sector ministry, adding that a strategic plan has also been developed for its operation.
The rights of indigenous peoples have been recognised by government which has ensured that their traditional access to the forest is enshrined in the law, the minister said. “Our caring Government has even gone beyond this by facilitating land titling and extension of Amerindian land through a transparent process as dictated by the Amerindian Act.” Government has also ensured that Indigenous Peoples and other Communities which live in or near to the forest resources, have direct access to state forest, “For example, under the GFC Community Forestry Programme, a total of 72 Community Forestry Associations have been given access to approximately 470,000 hectares of state forest.” With over 3000 people benefiting directly and several thousands more indirectly, Minister Persaud explained that the Community Associations also contribute directly to the development of their communities, “Of course, this Community Forestry Programme has had a direct positive impact on empowering the members socio-economically and otherwise”. It was also explained by the minister that government has also partnered with donors to improve the skills, capacities, efficiencies and sustainability of these community organisations,
International Day of Forests, March 21, was established by resolution of theUnited Nations General Assembly on November 28, 2012. Each year, various events celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests, and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations. Countries are encouraged to undertake efforts to organise local, national, and international activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns, on International Day of Forests.
The Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with theFood and Agriculture Organisation, facilitates the implementation of such events in collaboration with governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, and international, regional and sub-regional organisations. The day was observed for the first time on March 21, 2013.
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