PULL QUOTE: ‘With respect to technological support for field staff, the GGMC is currently working on its capability to process satellite images so that operatives can get early warning of illegal mining and illegal forestry’
THE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment  (MNR&E) is reviewing a range of technology which can be utilized in early detection of illegal mining and  forestry activity in remote areas in the hinterland.

The options  include  use of satellite imagery, the use of cameras  on private and commercial aircraft crisscrossing  the hinterland and even  the use of drones, unmanned aircraft, for early detection and effective  corrective action.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mr. Robert Persaud  disclosed this while lamenting the current  inability of regulatory agencies to effectively stamp out the illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources.
During an address to stakeholders at an environmental stakeholders workshop at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kingston, Georgetown on Friday, he stressed the need for the MNR&E and all other stakeholders  to ramp up the activities needed to ensure that illegal activities in the extractive sector  are eliminated in the interest of preservation of the Guyanese patrimony and the economic future of the country
He stressed that Guyanese must be aware that use of the natural resources has enabled  the country  to survive the  economic difficulties and minimize the hardships of the economic crisis.
“We cannot ignore  that our prosperity, our survival as a country economically and socially depends on how well we  use our natural resources.”
He noted that he was happy with the wide range  of legislation and policies  which protect the environment.
“We in Guyana have  the most comprehensive legislative framework in terms of managing the environment. From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC)   to the various other agencies which look at regulations for  environmental issues, including the Protected Areas Commission (PAC),  the Wildlife  Conservation and Management systems, the  comprehensive wildlife bills that will be going to the National Assembly soon, I think we have been  proactive  and  we have done very well.”
He said that the  area of weakness, however,  is in the  institutions which have the job of  conservation and preservation of the environment.
He said: “We have had some good cases but ensuring compliance in the natural resources sector   is an area in which we have been weak in terms of consistency. Our agencies have not been able to fully ensure that there is compliance. We recognize that there is a weakness  in terms of consistent monitoring   and in  ensuring  compliance.”
He said that with respect to the issue of compliance with  forestry  regulations there had been some mixed results but  greater diligence is needed   in terms of  ensuring that operators both at the community level as well as concession holders  are responsive to regulations and are responsible in their extractions.
In view of this, he said, he was appealing to all  stakeholders,  including residents of hinterland communities, to support the regulators such as the GGMC and the GFC to become more efficient  in terms of monitoring  issues such as  illegal forestry, pollution of waterways,  land degradation and inadequate work on   land reclamation and rehabilitation after mining.
All concerned, he stressed, should seek to involve communities  in becoming key players  in managing the environmental impacts of activities which involve the utilization of  the forest  for  biodiversity  activities and for the extractive purposes  such as mining and forestry and not merely be spectators, he said.

ENVIRONMENTAL BONDS
In connection with the issue of land reclamation after mining, he disclosed that local gold and diamond  miners  will soon be required to lodge more money  with the GGMC for the purpose of   Environmental Bonds which aim at ensuring the successful rehabilitation and reclamation of mined-out areas.

According to the mining  regulations, every large and medium-scale prospecting and mining licence and holder must lodge an Environmental Bond in the form of money  in favour of the GGMC for the restoration of mined-out lands to a safe and usable form after mining is completed.
If after the mining activity the area is not restored to the satisfaction of the GGMC, the GGMC will  give the miner three months to restore the environment of the mined-out area.
If the miner fails to do this, the GGMC will use part or all of the Environmental Bond to restore the environment.
With respect to technological support for field staff, he said that the GGMC is currently working on its capability to process satellite images so that operatives can get early warning of illegal mining and illegal forestry.
He said that drones have been used to monitor  forests in some countries  and this  is an area the ministry   will  want to explore in terms of knowing  what is taking place in remote areas.
The ministry will also take steps to further strengthen manpower and the skills of staffers in the regulatory agencies.
He said that the challenges  in managing the environment in an expanding extractive sector are many. However, he urged all stakeholders to assist in bringing harmony and balance in natural resources development and the environment. Minister Persaud also called on them to assist with helping the country to do so and  at the same time stay on track   in terms of developing  a green economy consistent with the  Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
Written By Clifford Stanley