For the next few days, Guyana will be the host of the 17th Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC), spearheaded by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The opening ceremony unfolded on Monday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD) with 125 countries represented to share their contribution.
The opening session of the 17th Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre
Receiving major support from the People’s Republic of China and member states from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the convocation will give special attention to drought and the approaches which can be used in a monitored area. The importance lies within practices which can alleviate droughts beforehand via improvised techniques in farming and land management.
The feature address was shared by the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who noted that Guyana is aware of the importance of implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
This is evident in the country’s engagement with countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Japan to preserve forestry resources, which evidently shows its commitment towards environmental development.
“Evidence of the importance of Guyana’s role as a partner in the global environmental movement can be seen in the agreements that we have entered into with the kingdom of Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Japan, as well as international organisations such as Conservation International, for the protection of our forest,” said Harmon.
He added, “We have a deep appreciation for our unique position and the crucial nature of our responsibility in relation to the preservation of our land cover and the protection of our environment. We are as well, fully aware of the importance of the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to the environmental health and well-being of our planet; a process to which we are fully committed.”
Emphasis was placed on natural resources which have been enhanced for protection and conservation. Harmon contended that the country can be used as a model to demonstrate good practice in the management of such resources.
“Guyana is fully committed to the protection and conservation of its natural patrimony, including its land resources. Our record of environmental protection and conservation of land and its resources provides a global model for good practice. Our contributions to national and international conservation include the one-million-acre Iwokrama Rainforest.”
According to him, Guyana’s 20-year National Development Policy is establishing sustainable land management, inclusive of countering land degradation – one of the key aspects in the CRIC 17 discussions. For this, the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme (LDN-TSP) and Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) were initiated.
“One of the key elements for the success of vision 2040 and the pursuit of our green agenda is sustainable land management and development which includes the mitigation and prevention of land degradation. In addressing these issues, Guyana has finalised its Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme and its Aligned National Action Plan (Aligned NAP) to combat land degradation. In addition, we have operationalised the Sustainable Land Development and Management project,” the State Minister said in his address to the delegates.
It was mentioned that the outcomes of the conferences are significantly important towards bettering the management of Earth’s resources.
CRIC 17 concludes on January 30.
