Consultation starts for REDD+ GRM mechanism

Community consultations have begun in Guyana, so as to develop a Grievance and Redress Mechanism (GRM), which is expected to boost the implementation of Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
The discussions, which were held at Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini); and Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) will be moved to Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); and Annai and Anna Regina, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in the coming months.
At these engagements, the REDD+ stakeholders – which are made up of Indigenous people and residents of forest dependent communities – are assisting with recommendations for a REDD+ GRM. This is done by highlighting the existing mechanisms and identifying gaps in these measures, while suggesting ways in which they can be addressed so as to better the functions of the systems. The stakeholders are also being updated on the historical analysis of REDD+ related grievances and existing GRMs.
In December 2017, the activities were contracted to a local firm, The Consultancy Group (TCG), by the Natural Resources Ministry under the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Project (FCPF).
Upon conclusion of the consultancy, the company is expected to develop a national coordinating structure and procedures to receive, process and investigate complaints from affected communities under the REDD+ implementation in Guyana.
The new mechanism will be based on dialogue and engagement with the people and must be transparent and impartial.
Over the last five years, indication has been shown that the grievances surrounding REDD+ and natural resources management in Guyana are classified into two categories – institution-related grievances and land-related.
Institutional grievances refer to stakeholder concerns about the functioning of specific Government agencies, management and the overall management of natural resources in Guyana. Land-related grievances involve miners, foresters, farmers and moreover, the Indigenous communities.
The FCPF Project is ensuring that a GRM is available from the earliest stages of REDD+ Readiness in Guyana.