THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), on Monday, launched the project “Securing a Living Amazon through Landscape Connectivity in Southern Guyana” under the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes (ASL) Program.

The ASL is a regional effort for conservation and sustainable development in the Amazon, aiming to connect people and institutions to conserve and manage landscapes. Guyana’s national ASL project, is an initiative that is part of the second phase of the ASL Programme, and seeks to improve integrated landscape management and conservation of ecosystems in targetted areas of the Amazon region.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Government of Guyana, the project is implemented by the WWF. The EPA has been appointed the lead executing agency in partnership with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).

The initiative is set to be executed over a period of five years, ending in 2028 and has a budget of US$5,152,753.

It targets the enhancement of landscape connectivity through strategic management improvements of the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area and the North Rupununi Wetlands—two of Guyana’s most biologically diverse landscapes.

The project is structured around four main components: (I) Integrated Protected Landscapes, (II) Integrated Productive Landscapes, (III) Policies/Incentives for Protected and Productive Landscapes, and (IV) Capacity Building and Regional Cooperation.

These efforts aim to bring 611,000 hectares of the Kanuku Mountains’ terrestrial protected area and 901,800 hectares of the North Rupununi Wetlands under improved management, integrating sustainable land and water management practices that support the conservation of these critical ecosystems.

The project also emphasises carbon emission reduction, with an expected mitigation of approximately 847,406 metric tons of CO2, which contributes significantly to global climate change efforts.

The project engages 700 direct beneficiaries, including ensuring 40 per cent female participation, which promotes gender-sensitive development and diversified management of natural resources.

This timely initiative underscores the Government of Guyana’s commitment to preserving biodiversity as outlined in the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.

Over the next five years, the project will foster collaborations with various governmental and non-governmental organisations and indigenous communities.

Stakeholders attending the launch included representatives from the EPA, PAC, GFC, WWF – Guianas, Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group, North Rupununi District Development Board, South Rupununi Conservation Society, Sustainable Wildlife Management, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Iwokrama Centre for Rainforest Conservation Inc., Conservation International, Regional Democratic Office Nine, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana Tourism Authority, Ministry of Public Works, Civil Defence Commission, Ministry of Agriculture – Hydromet & Fisheries Department and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.

This collaborative approach is poised to pave the way for a more inclusive and comprehensive environmental governance structure, essential for Guyana’s sustainability pledge.

The strategic focus on community involvement and gender-sensitive practices is set to position this project as a model for conservation efforts worldwide, promoting sustainable development and environmental stewardship in one of the world’s most vital natural habitats.