Protected Areas System receives $26M boost from CI

In commemoration of celebrations done in the past week, which included International Day of Forests, World Water Day, as well as Earth Hour, Conservation International Guyana (CI-Guyana) has signed two separate grant agreements with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the Protected Areas Trust (PAT), aimed at building capacity in the effective management and expansion of the National Protected Areas System (NPAS).

The US$100,000 grant awarded to PAC is aimed at building the Commission’s capacity to realise the expansion of the NPAS through strategic planning and organisational capacity development. One key deliverable of the funding will be the production of a baseline study and strategy for the expansion of the NPAS which will recognise the critical importance of involvement of people in biodiversity conservation. The PAC will also increase its capacity and skills in several areas across the organisation.And the US$25,000 grant to the PAT will build its ability in financial management of the expanding protected areas system by producing a fundraising plan, materials and capacity to promote the organisation’s vision and mandate.The signing occurred in the boardroom of the Department of Environment, and was witnessed by Director of the Department, Ndibi Schwiers, who noted: “I think this is happening at a good time. H E President Granger mentioned that an additional two million hectares will be protected, and this will help in the achievement of our Government’s vision. What will result from this [support] will help us with determining how we move forward and how fast we will move forward. We’re very pleased to partner with CI. CI has really been a trusted partner,”

Meanwhile, CI-Guyana Technical Director Curtis Bernard declared at the signing: “We are going to talk about strategically expanding the protected areas system, then we have to talk about strategically building the financial capabilities to at least be able to support minimal management of the system, as it is now and as it expands.” Thus he highlighted the possibilities which this funding will provide for the two units. CI-Guyana is also to provide technical and other support to the PAC and PAT. CI-Guyana’s Executive Director, Dr David Singh, indicated that the Government, having signed the Paris Climate Change Agreement, has committed under its Emissions Reduction Programme to conditionally realise conservation of an additional two million hectares of terrestrial areas. The support provided by CI-Guyana will contribute to the meeting of this commitment. “It also meets a longstanding commitment under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity,” the executive director said.

Conservation International Guyana is operating in partnership with all key stakeholders while using ecosystems-based resource management approaches and models. Its staff is dedicated to assisting in the shaping of policies and institutional change at all levels to ensure a healthy, sustainable Guyanese economy that reflects a countrywide long-term sustainable development model which incorporates human well-being benefits provided by Guyana’s ecosystems.