US$8.5M trust fund launched to finance management of protected areas system – as Guyana’s stellar climate change leadership lauded

Georgetown, GINA, July 27, 2012 -- Source - GINA

President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud, President of Conservation International Dr. Russ Mittermeier, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues - Birkett among gathering at the launch of CI’s Trust Fund at Umana Yana

The Government of Guyana in collaboration with the German Government and Conservation International (CI) this evening launched a multi-million dollar trust fund, the first of its kind for the country 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.

It was established in part to recognise the outstanding contribution of the PAS initiative for Guyana, the region and the world. The CTF was established in December 2011 and governed by a Trust Deed executed on December 20, 2011 and by-laws that were adopted in January 2012.

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.

Key piece of puzzle
         
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 Donald Ramotar delivers brief remarks at launch of Conservation International’s Trust Fund

The Protected Areas Act which came into force in November 2011 provides a framework for the establishment and management of a national system of protected areas and for the development of a National Protected Areas Trust Fund (NPATF), which will serve as a permanent mechanism for sustainable long-term financing of protected areas, into which the CTF will transition.

Minister Persaud explained that in its conception, the Guyana protected areas system was never designed to be an economic burden, as is often the case with such systems in other jurisdictions. Instead, a variety of income sources makes for a more resilient system in the long term, and as such the fund must be seen as the cornerstone around which a suite of revenue generating activities to channel funding into the protected areas system in Guyana must built.  

In this regard, reference was made to the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala, which generates an annual income of approximately US $47M, while creating employment for 7,000 people.

Recently, the Natural Resources Ministry collaborated with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) for the execution of a $33M project that will see the development of a comprehensive strategy that will be adopted as a policy for sustainable management of Guyana’s natural resources.

   
This will allow protected areas to take its place alongside sustainable forestry, mining, oil and gas, alternative energy development and other important natural resource based industries as they collectively contribute to Guyana’s sustainable development.

The Ministry is also focused on supporting the establishment of the Protected Areas Commission. The Board of Directors was appointed in February 2012 and Damian Fernandes who is currently working with the Ministry has recently been appointed Commissioner. 

President of Conservation International Dr. Russ Mittermeier, (right), President Donald Ramotar and German Ambassador to Guyana Mr. Stefan Schluter at reception following launch of the Trust Fund

“With this solid legislative and financial foundation, and with the help of our German partners and CI, we will shape a National Protected Areas system that is contextual, effective and ultimately financially sustainable. Along with the Low Carbon Development Strategy, this system will put Guyana on par with other nations at the forefront of new and innovative approaches to conservation and sustainable development,” Minister Persaud stated.

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Guyana, Stefan Schluter said that much progress has been made since the two countries began working towards effective management and protection of protected areas in 2005.

  
This work is being done in different phases; phase two is currently ongoing after which phase three will commence. At the end of the three phases, the German Government would have spent €11M.

“The cooperation with Guyana is part of Germany’s strong support to Latin America in the area of tropical forest and biodiversity protection,” the Ambassador said.

Stellar leadership
Meanwhile, 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.

  
Dr. Mittermeier also noted that protected areas are a fundamental part of the LCDS and lauded Guyana’s leadership role in the fight against climate change.
“The leadership role that your country has played has been stellar and I think if you move forward with the protected areas and all the other things that are being done under the LCDS, then you really deserve the full support of the global community,” he said.

The passage of the Protected Areas Act led to the creation of two new protected areas. These include: the Kanuku Mountain located in southwestern Guyana, and Shell Beach. These two areas now join the existing Kaieteur National Park, Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve, and the Community Owned Conservation Area at Konashen, collectively protecting almost nine percent of Guyana’s landmass.