Georgetown : The Government of Guyana in collaboration with the German Government and Conservation International (CI) last evening launched a multi-million dollar trust fund at the Umana Yana in Kingston.
The ‘Conservation Trust Fund’ (CTF) valued at US$8.5M will provide long-term financing for the management of Guyana’s intact protected areas system (PAS) and will support efforts by the government, along with local communities, to manage such areas. The German Government provided €4.024M, while US $3.5M was acquired through CI’s Global Conservation Fund.
Speaking at the launch, President Ramotar said that 20 to 25 years ago, the dangers of climate change had not yet fully penetrated people’s consciousness; however, today this is no longer the case, as people are more aware of the importance of the environment.
He explained that it is very difficult for small countries like Guyana to dedicate the kind of resources that are needed to preserve the environment through conservation programmes and as such a trust fund such as this will be of great help to the country.
“I believe that more and more Guyanese are aware and conscious of what we have as resources and we are aware of what an important role our standing forests make and can make in the fight against climate change, but we need international support,” the Head of State said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Robert Persaud in his remarks said that protected areas are seen by Government not just as important tools for the conservation of biodiversity, but also as a key piece of the sustainable development puzzle.
“This fund represents a major piece of the protected areas puzzle, as it provides the basis for the long-term, sustainable financing of Guyana’s Protected Areas, as later this year, the trust fund will be rolled into the statutory National Protected Areas Trust Fund under the Guyana’s Protected Areas Act,” Minister Persaud said.
President of CI, Dr. Russ Mittermeier spoke highly of the Guyana’s rich and diverse biodiversity, cultural diversity and pristine forest. He even, said that like Paramaribo, the City of Georgetown too should be a World Heritage site; noting some its unique and historical structures.
He singled out the important role that Indigenous People play in the whole process of preserving biodiversity and, said that now they now stand to be a major beneficiary in the protected areas system.
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