EFFORTS to protect and effectively manage protected areas in Guyana received a boost last week when contracts for the construction of a G$28 million Protected Areas Commission’s (PAC) Head Office were formally signed between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Satar Mohamed and Son Construction, and Hardware Supplies and Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services.

Construction of this edifice will commence shortly, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The PAC Head Office is being built under Phase II of the Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS) Project, which is funded by the German Government through the German Development Bank (KfW).
The building at Thomas Lands which currently houses the National Parks Commission (NPC) will be extended and upgraded to accommodate the PAC’s Head Office.
The PAC was established — following enactment of the Protected Areas Act in 2011 — to provide protection and conservation of Guyana’s natural heritage and natural capital, through the coordination and management of the National Protected Areas System (NPAS).
Four National Protected Areas: Kaieteur National Park, Shell Beach, Kanuku Mountains and Iwokrama, have so far been designated, and currently constitute the NPAS system.
Under the Protected Areas Act, 2011, the NPC will eventually cease to be an independent entity, and its functions will instead be absorbed by the PAC.
Germany’s involvement, through the Guyana Protected Areas System Project, started in 2004 with Phase I. A US$6.2 million agreement for Phase III of the Project was recently agreed between the Governments of Germany and Guyana.
Implementation of this Phase will commence in 2014.
The project is being implemented by the EPA, which falls under the MNR&E.