THE Board of Directors of the proposed Protected Areas Commission (PAC) held its first meeting recently, after being constituted as a body. The statutory meeting was attended by Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud  and Head of the Office of Climate Change, Mr. Shyam Nokta and Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively.
Other members of the board include Sharon Austin, Indrajit Ramdass, Shanomae Rose and Bertie Xavier.
Representatives of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Attorney General‘s Chambers have also been appointed to the board of ex-officio members.
According to a release, the establishment of the board is the first step in the plan to create an effective, globally recognised national protected areas system.
The board will bring to bear decades of international experience in shaping a protected areas system that is contextual to Guyana, effective and, ultimately, sustainable with support from the ministry.
High on the Board’s list of priorities is  establishment of the PAC, which will have primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the system.
The board will work closely with the PAC in strengthening the management of national protected areas, through capacity building, education and awareness, job creation and livelihood development, the release said.
It added that a national system of protected areas is a key component of the government’s vision for Guyana’s development, as protected areas must serve as a tool for both conservation and income generation.
Along with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the creation of an effective national protected areas system will further solidify Guyana’s position at the forefront of new, innovative approaches to conservation and sustainable development, the release said.
The Board of Directors of the PAC was named following the landmark Protected Areas Act of 2011, subsequent to which Cabinet made a decision.
The multi-disciplinary board is made up of representatives from academia, indigenous communities and natural resources sector agencies, the release said.