Guyana and EU Forge Partnership to Safeguard and Responsibly Handle Local Mangrove Ecosystems

The Government of Guyana and the European Union (EU) have formally signed an agreement to create a comprehensive program aimed at safeguarding and effectively managing the priceless mangroves in the region. This initiative is a component of the EU/Guyana partnership agreement, which was endorsed during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 27 held in Egypt the previous year. The partnership agreement is valued at around 4.6 million euros, and its primary focus is to address climate change and related challenges. H.E. President Dr. Irfaan Ali declared that they have made a commitment to expand the protected area system in Guyana. Currently, the protected area system covers 8.3 percent of the country's total land area, and the aim is to increase it to 17 percent initially, with a long-term goal of reaching 30 percent. These targets are being actively pursued and are fully integrated into their planning and policymaking frameworks. Guyana boasts a vast forest covering approximately 18 million hectares, and within the coastal region alone, the valuable mangrove ecosystems occupy over 200,000 hectares. To safeguard the coastal areas, the country has implemented a coastal sea defence system that spans 425 kilometres. Additionally, inhabited regions are further protected by an additional 100 kilometres of earthen embankments along rivers. President Ali emphasized the importance of the project focusing on the earthen embankments and riverine areas, where the population may be small but agricultural productivity is significant. In addition to this, the project will encompass various activities such as monitoring the planting of mangrove seedlings, rehabilitating existing forests, and establishing robust nursery programs to support aggressive replanting initiatives. Vice President Timmermans expressed his enthusiasm in witnessing Guyana's progress in major development, and he emphasized the significance of strengthening bilateral ties between the EU and Guyana, particularly in preserving the country's vast natural resources. He recognized the crucial role of mangroves in combating the climate crisis. Timmermans identified forestry as a key area for close examination and cooperation between the EU and Guyana. He praised President Ali's ambition to pursue economic development, including the fossil fuel industry, while maintaining a high commitment to climate neutrality and the preservation of natural resources.

Source(Department of Public Information, 2022)

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15 Jun 2023 16:15 | by anaraine

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