SEVERAL events unfolded last Tuesday related to Guyana’s forests and the environment that were interesting but, perhaps more importantly, spotlighted the local emphasis being placed on conservation.

Early Tuesday morning a new rainforest research centre, the Sophia Point Research Centre, was inaugurated at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus. United Kingdom (UK) Parliamentarian David Lammy, who has Guyanese roots, co-founded the centre with his wife, Nicola Green.

According to its website, the research centre is touted as a space that will immerse students and researchers in the heart of some of the planet’s most intact and biodiverse rainforests.

And Mr. Lammy highlighted that the centre will be a space where local research can help develop Guyana instead of being extracted overseas. He hopes the accessible centre would also help to inspire the next generation so that they, too, can value forest-conservation efforts.

Afterwards, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, moderated a conversation on Guyana and the environment featuring Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. They talked about low-carbon development, balancing developmental needs (and financing those needs) with environmental protection, and the need for Guyanese to work together to herald the country’s anticipated level of development.

What was particularly noteworthy was Mr. Blair’s support for Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). He also opined that Guyana has a distinct level of credibility to provide global leadership on sustainable forest management, given the environmental stewardship the country has demonstrated for years.

It wasn’t noteworthy for me because I think we need any validation from a former leader of the nation that once governed my country. It was noteworthy because here is a leader from the developed world clearly accepting the need for sustainable development and incentives to encourage developed countries such as Guyana to continue environmental-protection efforts. Here is someone who once led a country that managed to develop itself on the basis of the exploitation of people brought to Guyana and other countries in the region and the exploitation of natural resources found in this corner of the world. It is an interesting take, to say the least, but the sentiments are important regardless.

Both Mr. Blair and President Ali talked about the need for countries with big ambitions such as Guyana, to be supported in cash and kind. President Ali called for a more responsive carbon-credits system so Guyana can rake in more money than it already has.

For context, Guyana has lobbied for a global system that pays the country for keeping the forest intact for over a decade. Once deforestation rates remain intact, Norway was the first to buy in, signing a deal for USS$250 million.

Last year, a US$750 million (minimum payment) end-user agreement for carbon credits was signed with the oil company Hess Corporation. The Hess deal, Guyana’s first carbon-credit deal so far, was brokered after the country issued special carbon credits last December. Those credits are like a tradeable permit or certificate that represents removing a certain amount of carbon dioxide from the environment by trees.

President Ali noted that Guyana is keen on marketing more of its credits, so the country can get paid to keep its forests intact.

After the conversation, I hopped across to the ongoing National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre where Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo was slated to talk about the LCDS and its connection to indigenous communities. History lessons aside, he did what he always does — champion the strategy like no one else does. And he, too, spoke about the carbon-credits venture but in this case, more specifically on the government’s decision to directly allocate 15 per cent of whatever carbon-credit payments are earned to the Indigenous peoples, since they are the custodians of the forest.

What made the day even more interesting was that several toshaos spoke about what they’re using the carbon credit funds for in their communities, be it new machinery, farms or other projects. I even saw the Toshao of Bethany, Sonia Latchman, present on her village’s use of the funds.

I was happy I managed to hear from some of the leaders because there have been concerns about mismanagement of the funds in some communities and questions about whether the government should intervene. Some think any government intervention would mean removing Indigenous people’s agency. It’s interesting to see how this plays out. Interesting day, for sure.

I think these were all good developments, even if any of the events called for a closer look at improving resource management. I hope Guyana maintains its environmental stewardship and this seemingly revitalised focus on environmental leadership.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com