Did you know that the Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, covering an area of approximately 6.70 million square kilometres (km²) and shared by nine countries in South America, including Guyana? The Amazon is home to about 10 per cent of all known species on Earth, making it one of the most biologically diverse places in the world. These are all facts that underscore the ecological significance of the Amazon and highlight why initiatives like the Amazon Sustainable Landscape Project are important.
What is the ASL-Guyana II project all about?
The Amazon Sustainable Landscape Project is a large-scale conservation and sustainable development initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with support from partners including the World Bank and national Governments. In Guyana, the project functions under the theme “Securing a Living Amazon through Landscape Connectivity in Southern Guyana.” It aims to strengthen landscape connectivity and improve conservation of the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area and the North Rupununi Wetlands by enhancing protected area management and sustainable land practices. The project is executed locally by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with support from partners like the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
Recent Strategies Adopted to Advance the Project’s Goals
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a series of community-driven assessments aimed at informing and strengthening environmental and landscape protection, conservation, and sustainable management in the North Rupununi, one of Guyana’s important ecological and cultural landscapes.
The assessments were focused on land use, livelihoods, and water quality and are designed to support smarter planning, stronger community involvement, and long-term environmental protection across the North Rupununi.
Local Communities at the Centre
Local communities and key stakeholders were engaged before the fieldwork began. They were briefed on project activities and provided feedback. Engagements were done to ensure that local priorities and traditional knowledge guided the process. In late 2025, community participants were equipped with practical skills in digital mapping and socio-economic data collection. Training carried out at the Bina Hill Institute in Annai was focused on using mobile tools to support long-term community planning, while subsequent sessions focused on strengthening the capacity of local enumerators in ethical survey practices, household and village data collection, and documenting traditional ecological knowledge.
Furthermore, the first round of water-quality assessment in selected North Rupununi communities was completed. The data will establish a baseline for tracking changes in rivers and wetlands and guide future conservation and management actions.
Building Resilient Landscapes and Livelihoods
Together, these activities mark a major step forward in a multi-stakeholder (including local communities) effort and strengthening of local capacity to ensure effective conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity, culture, and livelihoods in the North Rupununi.
The EPA, through the ASL Guyana Project II, continues to work alongside communities to ensure that Guyana’s natural heritage is protected not just for today, but for generations to come.
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