Guyana gets five million euros for protected areas

The governments of Guyana and Germany have finalised another agreement to utilise five million euros in funds for the development of the Guyana Protected Areas System ( GPAS.) The funds are expected to be channeled through the German Development Bank, with the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA), under the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, functioning as the implementing agency for the continuation of the project. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud said the funds will help to realise the Protected Areas Commission, a major component of the National Protected Areas Act. This act was passed in the last Parliament and assented to by former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Persaud said in addition to protect ed areas identified in GPAS Phase One which include: the Kaieteur Falls, Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach, others will be added.

He said the new resources will allow government not only to have institutional arrangements put in place, but also ensure that the areas are properly managed, consistent with national and international obligations.

“ While we have a very aggressive policy in terms of utilisation of our natural resources: forest and minerals... we will insist that this is done within a sustainable development framework,” the minister said.

Persaud noted that the project will not infringe on or affect Guyana’s ability to utilise the natural resources, the forest and other areas which possess natural wealth. It will however give greater capacity to proper utilisation of these resources and will be consistent with the sustainable development trust. Persaud believes that the project will also create a greater impact, with emphasis to be placed on the Low Carbon Development Strategy LCDS. EPA Director Dr Indarjit Ramdass said his agency has been working on the GPAS project over the past five years. EPA has made interventions since its implementation 2006.

Dr Ramdass explained that two pilot areas were selected initially: Shell Beach and the Kanuku Mountains.

The project was extended and later involved the EPA creating 46 other community projects, especially in the Mazaruni River in Region Seven.