Forest countries need investment to thrive, sustain biodiversity – President Granger

FOREST countries, including those of the Guiana Shield – Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and Venezuela – require investments to spur “green economies” which would ensure their prosperity and at the same time protect its unique plant and animal life, or what is known as biodiversity.This was the view shared by President David Granger Monday evening when he opened the fourth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield. It is the most significant scientific conference on biodiversity to be held in Guyana.

The President said that incentives are needed for countries in the Guiana Shield to keep their forests intact while investment is needed for sustainable development. He posited that “green” economies require investment to sustain protected areas and for sustainable energy.

Mr Granger said that the absence of investment will place pressures on the governments of the Shield as they move towards greater natural resource extraction, including increased deforestation and mining, both of which have adverse effects on biodiversity.

Present at the event were Chairman of Guyana Society for Biodiversity and Eco-systems Dr. Patrick Williams; Chairman, International Society for Biodiversity and Eco-systems Professor Dr. Marten Schalkwijk; Vice Chancellor of University of Guyana Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith; UNDP Resident Rep Ms. Khadija Musa; foreign delegates, and other stakeholders.

Listing the benefits of the Guiana Shield, the President noted that it is one of earth’s oldest geological formations; one of the largest blocks of tropical forest remaining on planet earth; one of the most biologically rich and diverse in the world and one of the homes to many rare and unique species of fauna.

Explaining that the shield is a zone of giants, President Granger said it is home to some of the world’s largest anacondas, ants, anteaters, armadillos, fish, and jaguars, amongst others.

He said the Shield possesses thousands of species of freshwater and marine fish, birds, plants, trees,and insects.

Adding that the Shield’s pristine forests, largely uncontaminated aquatic ecosystems, and other intact ecosystems, also contain 15 per cent of the world’s freshwater reserves.The Head of State noted that the Shield is essential to enriching and replenishing the world’s biodiversity and, consequently, is essential to the planet’s survival.

The Shield is vast; it is spread over 2.7 million km² and extends from the Brazilian state of Amapá to Pará, Roraima and Amazonas in the east; it includes all of La Guyane (French Guiana); Suriname and Guyana and the Venezuelan states of Delta Amacuro, Bolívar and Amazonas, and continues into Colombia in the west.

He explained that the Shield’s biodiversity provides ecosystem services such as food, freshwater, medicinal products timber and non-timber products.

It aids in the regulation of climate, the water cycle, water quality and pollination. Its biodiversity reduces soil degradation and enhances soil nutrition. Its forests provide storage for carbon and mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

“We have only one world; the world has only one Guiana Shield. Our responsibilities as the Shield’s trustees impose on us the responsibility to protect and preserve this unique patrimony,” the President asserted.

He said that the current congress, which runs until Friday, has an important role to play in presenting the Shield’s importance to the Continent, the Caribbean and to the world. He explained that in order to save the Shield, a three-prong approach is needed for this challenge. This would include institutions, information, and investments as means of ensuring the Shield’s ecological integrity.

In underscoring his points, President Granger said a permanent institution aimed at protecting, conserving and sustainably managing the Shield’s biodiversity must be established with a functional scientific research institute and an administrative secretariat which coordinates the efforts and combines the work of the Shield’s six member states at the international level.

He added that the Shield commands a common regional resource which, if it is to be effectively managed, requires a regional cooperation and coordination.

Further, President Granger said policies to protect and preserve the Shield’s biodiversity require mechanisms for data and information sharing, since the Shield provides environmental services to all of humanity.

The International Society for Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield (IBG), through the hosting of its international congresses, has been engaged in the exchange of scientific information of the Shield.

The IBG congresses have been instrumental in bringing researchers, governments, natural resource practitioners, non-governmental organizations and communities together to discuss issues and share experiences related to conservation and sustainable use of the Guiana Shield. It has enabled international cooperation such as the Guiana Shield Initiative and the Guyana Shield Facility.