COMMISSIONER of Forest, Mr. James Singh has assured Amerindian leaders that their communities will be allowed every possible opportunity make inputs on discussions about how the forests are managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He gave the assurance while talking to those elected in French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana, on the issue of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), a United Nations (UN) initiated mechanism which seeks to compensate countries for doing so.

Singh said Guyana’s REDD plan has nine components and one is dedicated to outreach.

The REDD Secretariat will involve input and collaboration from agencies such as indigenous communities and their leaders and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the National Climate Committee (NCC), members of which are indigenous peoples and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including other such indigenous groupings,” he explained.

Singh said the function of those agencies, together with the REDD Secretariat and the Government of Guyana will be to discuss, plan and implement on a national basis.

Acknowledging that REDD is a relatively new and evolving topic in this country, he said it is, therefore, imperative that there be a common understanding among all stakeholders.

Singh recalled that a sensitisation exercise on REDD was undertaken, from September 2008 to January 2009, when it provided initial information to indigenous communities on the concept but pointed out that it was just the first such meetings.

Much more will be done,”he promised, noting that consultation and outreach will involve all stakeholders in discussions to examine the REDD concept And resolve any misconceptions.

The outreach will also clarify issues regarding the protection of the rights and benefits of indigenous peoples and their agreement with international negotiations on the issue of the management and use of Guyana’s standing forests as carbon sinks,” he said. (CLIFFORD STANLEY)