With Norway agreement implementation…
THE sum of US$5M has already been earmarked to further support the Amerindian people, from the US$30M that Guyana expects, this year, under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and Norway agreement. This was disclosed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Monday, at the opening of a regional two-day workshop, themed ‘Conservation experiences of local and indigenous communities in protected areas of the Amazon region’, at Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.
He said the money will be used in regard to the Amerindian land demarcation process and a small grants facility for communities and community projects focused on improving and securing livelihoods.
Mr. Hinds said the Amazon is widely recognised as constituting a big portion of the Earth’s remaining largely untainted areas, with a significant role in the battle against climate change and loss of biodiversity.
“It is only fit and proper that we, who live in this area, should live up to the heavy responsibility which history, location and circumstances have thrust on us. It is but our duty as citizens of the world, as members of the human race,” he contended.
Hinds conceded that it is good to get together to share experiences and learn from each other and, from individual experiences, discern guidelines and rules to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of what they have been doing.
“We are being responsible but we, developing people, want to become developed also. Are there low carbon pathways to the developed status?” he asked.
Hinds said: “We want to conserve but we also want to develop ourselves and share in what modern society offers.”
He said Guyanese have been facing that question on how to conserve and protect and, at the same time, develop.
Alluding to the Kyoto Protocol, the Prime Minister said President Bharrat Jagdeo and other like- minded persons from developed and developing countries have campaigned, successfully, so that today, under reduced emission from deforestation and degredation (REDD) and REDD plus, it is recognised that standing forest protected areas should be rewarded.
Hinds said: “Here, in Guyana, we believe that the work we are doing, through our LCDS and our partnership with Norway, can provide this model.”
DEVELOPMENT PATH
He said the LCDS sets out a new development path for the country, based on Guyana deploying its forest to mitigate global climate change and, in return, receiving payments from the world for the carbon service that the forests provide, without either compromising its sovereignty over the forest or affecting the development prospects of its people.
Hinds said the financial resources garnered would allow the country to implement another generation of reforms that will transform the economy, by investing in low carbon opportunities in agriculture, information technology, hydropower, tourism, education, health and for adaptation purposes.
“This way, we will be able to provide better livelihood opportunities for our people and also respond to climate change,” the Prime Minister posited.
He said it is a bold new approach to development in which Guyana stands in the forefront.
“And we have a chance to offer, to the world, the needed reassurance that avoiding deforestation is possible and provide a working model,” Hinds said.
He reminded that, since the launch of the LCDS in June 2009, the agreement reached with Norway has been established and could realise up to US$250M in performance based payments for avoided deforestation between now and 2015.
“The agreement is being implemented and Guyana expects to receive approximately US$30M this year,” Hinds maintained.
He continued: “While we recognise the potential of Guyana’s efforts and the LCDS, the real success will be measured by the involvement and participation and benefits derived by our people.”
Hinds pointed out that the LCDS approach adopted has seen one of the most comprehensive and ongoing stakeholder engagements at the national level, involving all stakeholders and, in particular, Amerindian communities, this being monitored and verified by a reputable international organisation.
“We recognise the stewardship of our Amerindian people with regard to protecting and maintaining our forests and Amerindians remain in the forefront of our ongoing stakeholder engagements in seeking involvement and participation,” he assured.
FINANCING MODEL
Hinds said the LCDS financing model is, at this time, based only on State forests, with Amerindian communities being given the option to decide, at times of their choosing, whether they want to have their titled lands as part of the strategy.
“The mechanism for opting in is being developed and will be done with the inputs and involvement of Amerindian communities. There is no pressure to opt in and communities can do so whenever they wish,” he stated.
Hinds said some of the key issues recognised and being worked on at this time include forest protection and maintenance.
“And with it, the objectives of biodiversity, conservation and eco-system protection which are critical components of Guyana’s LCDS,” he said.
Hinds said the success of the LCDS has the potential for Guyana to demonstrate how this new opportunity of REDD plus can create a new approach to affect biodiversity conservation.
“Our approach to people’s involvement is part of the LCDS and, in particular, our Amerindians are some who we feel can be a positive examples to the world on indigenous people’s involvement and participation, on which we will continue to build,” he said.
He said, as well, that Guyana could very well become a centre for biodiversity studies and understanding of the link between people, biodiversity and development.