Gov’t makes US$10M contribution to National Protected Areas Trust Fund
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud with the Board of Trustees of the National Protected Areas Trust Fund
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud with the Board of Trustees of the National Protected Areas Trust Fund

– recommits to improved environmental practices and sustainable development

WITH a resolute recommitment to improved environmental practices and sustainable development, the Government of Guyana yesterday announced a US$10M contribution to the National Protected Areas Trust Fund (NPATF).

Confirming this was Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud, who while addressing the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the NPATF, noted: “We in Guyana have been very firm and committed in terms of playing our part and contributing in terms of mitigating… within the broader context and the broader commitment of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).”
He expressed concerns over the current global situation of climate change, citing a United Nations report which posited that there had been increases in greenhouse gas emissions by some 1.3% between 1970 and 2000 with a further increase to 2.2% between 2000 and 2010.
The NPATF which was set up through the Protected Areas Act 2011 is separate and apart from the Protected Areas Commission. Before the establishment of this commission, the Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), valued at some US$8.5M, provided long-term financing for the management of Guyana’s intact Protected Areas System and supported efforts by the Government, along with local communities, to manage such areas.
The CTF was established in December 2011 and will be dissolved with all assets transferred to the newly- commissioned National Protected Areas Trust Fund. Confirming this was Chair of the Conservation Trust Fund and representative of the major donors to the Trust Fund, Dr. David Singh.
Singh, in brief remarks, spoke about the role of Conservation International (CI) in setting up the fund. He said: “CI established the global conservation fund and since then… has been helping to design and support innovative financing mechanisms for delivery of a steady flow of funds to protected areas.”
He also noted the importance of Conservation International’s work in Guyana, citing the “global value of Guyana’s biodiversity.” CI’s successful partnership with the German bank KfW, according to Singh, follows a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006 aimed at protecting the global biological diversity with the other goal of improving social and economic conditions.
This is evident, according to him, “in some of the world’s most important ecological regions.” The Chairman further cited the joint effort of CI and KfW in Madagascar to protect an area in the Makira forest.
Following the introduction of environmentally friendly techniques to farmers, Singh noted the benefits of the trust fund to the local farmers. “Through the introduction of environmentally friendly agricultural techniques to farmers, the trust fund has allowed for the farmers to better irrigate lowland rice fields and produce higher yields without having to clear more land.”
Further, he stated, that through work of these organisations, protection of these lands, has resulted in the creation of new jobs in some local villages, “whose members manage and patrol the area.”
With more works being done in the Region, Singh alluded to CI’s collaboration with the Governments of Brazil and Norway to establish the Kayapo Fund to support five indigenous lands in the Regions. “The fund was started by some $12M and includes funding from CI and the Government of Norway through its bilateral climate agreement with the Government of Brazil.”
The trust, Singh added, is neither meant to replace nor substitute the Guyana Government’s efforts for biodiversity conservation but will instead “require much more effort from the Government and the people… including the private sector.”
It is envisioned that the expected “financial returns from the trust are expected to complement the Government’s efforts and the trust itself will create opportunities for public and private partners to form a new alliance for nature,” Singh said.
Minister Persaud interjected that the strides made in developing the protected areas system came as a result of support from the German Government as well as from Conservation International.
In terms of financial contributions, Minister Persaud stated that there was a US$5M from the German Government and US$3.5M or so from
Conservation International.

EXTRACTIVE SECTOR
The Natural Resources Minister announced that support had been received from Cabinet for US$10M to be placed in the fund. “These resources are coming from revenues from the extractive sector, more so from the mining sector where the GGMC (Guyana Geology and Mines Commission) will be investing $2B immediately into the fund.”
The Minister said this is a significant injection and is also considered a novel approach which speaks to striking a balance between conservation and development. He expressed his hopes that this will see the donor community contributing more to the vibrant and economically viable initiative working in the interest of the country.

(By Derwayne Wills)

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