A NEW Site Level Committee (SLC) has been established to enhance the management and protection of the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area, marking a major step toward collaborative conservation governance in Guyana’s hinterland.
The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) announced that the inaugural meeting of the committee was successfully held on March 11 in Quarrie Village, Region Nine, bringing together key stakeholders and partners with direct interests in the protected area.
Formed under the framework of the Protected Areas Act of 2011, the committee provides a formal mechanism for shared responsibility and coordinated decision-making. It comprises representatives from five surrounding communities, Rupunau, Yupukari, Kumu, Nappi and Katoka, alongside a range of government agencies and conservation organisations.
Participating entities include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Defence Force, Environmental Protection Agency, the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine, as well as non-governmental partners such as Conservation International Guyana, Frankfurt Zoological Society Guyana, the South Rupununi Conservation Society, the South Rupununi District Council and the North Rupununi District Development Board.
A key feature of the meeting was the formal handover of the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area Management Plan for 2024–2028.
The document outlines strategic priorities to guide the committee’s advisory role to the PAC, including strengthening protection measures, promoting sustainable resource use, expanding stakeholder involvement, and advancing education and public awareness initiatives.
The PAC expressed appreciation to Quarrie Village for hosting the meeting, as well as to the participating communities, partner organisations and the Protected Areas Trust for their continued collaboration in safeguarding one of Guyana’s most significant ecological landscapes.