THE Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) organized a two-day trip to Guyana for a delegation from the Korea Forest Service. The purpose of the visit was to examine a potential collaboration initiative on mangrove restoration that was submitted by the Korea Forest Service (KFS), and a second area on exploring REDD+ cooperation project with the Government of Guyana.

The Korea Forest Service has expressed interest in collaborating on REDD+ initiatives in nations around Latin America and the Caribbean, including Guyana, since its initial visit in March 2023. Guyana has been involved in REDD+ which means avoided deforestation in Guyana’s context, since 2009 and has a high percentage of forest cover (over 87%) as well as a low rate of deforestation (an average of 0.06% annually over the last 10 years).

During this visit, the KFS delegation met with high-level officials in Guyana, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Forestry Commission, senior officials within the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Agriculture, including the Head of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), to evaluate possible projects of joint interest in the short, medium, and long term, including an invitation to participate in capacity-building courses for the development of national REDD+ capacities; basic research for REDD+ cooperative projects; and technical training for satellite-footage utilization and analysis.

A Korean group visited Guyana for a two-day mission in March 2023 as a follow-up to the country’s initial scoping mission, which had been successful in facilitating several significant discussions, engagements, and contacts. Members of the commercial sector and Korean Forest Service officials made up the high-ranking delegation from Korea.
The discussion of potential areas of cooperation between Guyana and Korea was the visit’s primary goal. Meetings with senior officials were held during the visit in order to better comprehend the needs and potential for cooperation in the country’s growth and to fortify ties in the forestry sector.
The visiting delegation which included Dr. Bae Jae Soo (President of the National Institute of Forest Science) and other senior officials from the Korean Forest Service such as Ms. Kim Jina (Director of the International Cooperation Division), Mr. Min Byeongsan, (Deputy Director, International Cooperation Division), Ms. Ju Youngran (Assistant Director, International Cooperation Division), Mr. Yang Hwajin (Programme Officer, National Institute of Forest Science), Mr. Hong Seong Hoa (former Ambassador to Mexico), Mr. Yoo Hee suk (Vice President, SK Forest Co.), Ms. Lee Sookyoung (Team Leader, SK Forest Co.) and Mr. Maeng Churl kyu (Senior Manager, Global Infrastructure Business & Marketing Team, Hyundai Engineering Co.), discussed the potential for cooperation and partnership in the reforestation of mangroves, as well as the sharing of technology and capacity, with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture under the direction of the Permanent Secretary Ms. Delma Nedd.

The KFS indicated interest in collaborating with the government to protect against this effect of climate change, realizing the need for coastal defence against rising sea levels, particularly for vulnerable countries such as Guyana.

By fostering an environment that will lead to managed natural mangrove restoration is a main goal. More conversations about this concept took place during the visit. Representatives from both teams went to the project sites after the meeting to see first-hand the area of the proposed intervention.
The delegation also went to a third site that had been restored, where mangroves had grown naturally as a result of a different kind of intervention. Mangrove depth in this location has expanded from 50 to 300 metres from the coast during a period of two years following the intervention. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of treatments and to personally demonstrate their effectiveness, a visit to this place was made.

To discuss cooperation between the two nations and the various agencies, the group also met with Guyana’s minister of foreign affairs. These efforts will lead up to the World Expo 2030 in Busan, which plans to concentrate on three themes, which was one of the topics of debate. 1) The effects of climate change; 2) the drawbacks of the digital revolution; and 3) inequality between countries.

In order to propose further collaboration in reforestation, training, and economics,
the team also met with top representatives from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC).
Representatives include Mr. Nikolaus Oudkerk (DECC), Mr. Edward Goberdhan (GFC Commissioner), Ms. Vaness Benn (GFC Chair), and other GFC executives.
During the discussion, the national MRV system for the nation, REDD+, and Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 were highlighted. The topics of further conversation included the exchange of information between the two nations’ programmes, national policies, and the carbon market. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) provided support, the Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the gathering, and the Guyana Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Commission provided the venue.

At the conclusion of the visit, the KFS agreed to extend the participation of technical officers from Guyana to take part in a summer training session in Korea in the form of knowledge exchange in REDD+ and MRV. Additionally, the KFS expressed hope to invite Guyana to take part in the 50th anniversary of the reforestation programme it will be hosting later this year.
With technology and capacity exchange included, the potential funding opportunity for mangrove replanting has progressed; a formal answer is anticipated later this year. The government of Guyana also promised to extend invitations to attendees of the various conferences and give the government of Korea the chance to send representatives. Both nations have agreed to foster their relations and work together.

This is part of a weekly series on LCDS.) The author can be contacted at cparkinson0206@gmail.com.