Guyana, EU ink $1B agreement to preserve mangroves

– Pres Ali says focus to be placed on riverine areas

In a move to further strengthen local efforts to protect the sealine, the European Union (EU) is injecting some 4.6 million euros ($1 billion) in budgetary support towards the protection and restoration of Guyana’s mangrove forests.
An agreement to this effect was signed on Wednesday evening at State House in Georgetown between Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and the First Vice President of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans.

This project, which will run for a four-year period, falls under the EU/Guyana Partnership agreement that was inked at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 27 in Egypt last year.
According to Timmermans, it is important for the EU to strengthen bilateral ties with Guyana, and one of the ways to cooperate is to help preserve the country’s natural riches.
“One of the ways to cooperate is to help preserve this country’s natural riches, which are almost without limit…This is a partnership we’ve just signed, so that we can support the efforts of Guyana to strengthen the position of mangroves. Mangroves are such a huge contribution to our fight against the climate crisis. They are a huge reserve of biodiversity…
“If you look at the extent of mangroves in this country, it is a collective responsibility, I believe, of humanity to maintain them and to strengthen them. I’m just more than thrilled that we can be partners with Guyana in this effort,” he stated.
Similarly, the EU official is of the view that forestry is another area in which they can work closely with Guyana, especially in the area of biodiversity studies.
Highlighting that economic development should not be at the expense of, but to the benefit of, future generations, Timmermans lauded the Guyana Government for maintaining its commitment towards fighting climate change while advancing its oil and gas sector.
“The ambition of your Government, Mr President, to make sure that Guyana, in its economic development – in the development of the fossil fuel industry – still maintains its high ambition for climate neutrality and for maintenance of your natural riches is something we want to be a part of. And I hope we can elaborate very concrete measures,” the executive vice president added.
Wednesday’s signing was witnessed by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who underscored the importance of environmental protection through climate-smart approaches.
“Our entire policy architecture and our policy framework are geared around ensuring that we are adopting the best environmental practices, and doing everything in a climate-smart way in protecting the environment, advancing our natural attributes of biodiversity. But more importantly, leveraging these natural assets now for improving livelihoods, creating economic opportunity,” he noted.
According to the Head of State, mangroves are a proven concept for climate mitigation, since these trees store five times the carbon stock of any other forest type. Locally, he pointed out, the value of the mangrove forest is further optimised, as it is an important source for livelihood activities, such as beekeeping for honey production. To this end, he indicated that Guyana is looking to expand the protected area system for the mangrove forest.
“We have committed to expanding the protected area system from its 8.3 per cent to 17 per cent, then eventually to 30 per cent. And these are targets that we are aggressively working towards. These are targets that are integrated into our planning framework and our policymaking framework,” the Guyanese Leader stated.
Currently, Guyana is home to a forest cover of some 18 million hectares, while its extensive mangrove ecosystems occupy over 200,000 hectares of the coastal region – which is only partly covered. The country’s coastal sea defence system extends over 425 kilometres, with an additional 100 kilometres of earthen embankments along rivers which are inhabited areas.
Under this new agreement signed with the EU, the project scope includes the monitoring of mangroves, seedling planting, and the rehabilitation of existing forests as well as establishment of robust nursery programmes for aggressive replanting efforts.
Moreover, the Guyana Government would be directing focus through this initiative towards the earthen embankment along riverine communities, where he noted, “…the population might be small, but agricultural output in those areas is very large.”
According to President Ali, the EU has always been a strong partner in protecting Guyana’s sea defences.
“In terms of protecting our sea defences, our coastal line, and ensuring that a country that is below sea level remains safe from its exposure to the sea, you are one of our strongest partners in this area. So, it’s natural that our efforts to enhance our natural defence system, that you are our partner,” the Head of State stressed.
This $1 billion project will be implemented by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works. (G-8)