Prudent water management crucial to sustaining green economy – Mustapha

As the world’s freshwater resources face unprecedented pressure from climate change, deforestation, land degradation population growth and consumerism, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has encouraged prudent water management.
In this message for World Water Day 2022, celebrated under the theme “Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible”, Mustapha said proper management of this resource is an integral element in building and sustaining a green economy in Guyana and towards ensuring the social and economic development.
“The livelihood of farmers and fisherfolks alike, depend heavily on our ability to sustainably manage our water resources. While the impacts of these pressures are largely visible on the planet’s freshwater resources, they also silently and invisibly impact our groundwater resources…Revealing and understanding the value of groundwater will hopefully stimulate conversations for its effective management at all levels, while supporting strong decision making, innovation, and investments in sustainable water management,” the Minister penned.
World Water Day 2022 communicates that value must be placed on groundwater resources to secure the life and livelihoods of current and future generations. According to him, Guyana is prepared to engage in a global conversation on the value of freshwater in general, and is also ready to shine a light on groundwater.
“It is widely believed that thirty per cent of the planet’s freshwater is hidden away in groundwater aquifers. However, this resource is under constant threat, but often people are unaware of the impact anthropogenic activities on this vital resource, simply because it is out of sight or invisible as we go about living our lives. Groundwater must be studied and understood in the context of the whole water cycle as the health of this resource is heavily influenced by what happens in other parts of the water cycle.”
As nations gain a better understanding of how important groundwater is to the functioning of the water cycle, Mustapha said they would place a higher premium on it.
He detailed, “Public knowledge and awareness create a cycle, in which people care more about the state of our water resources, manage and share it more equitably, and waste or pollute it less. This generates more benefits for people and nature. Groundwater has value from many different perspectives. Certainly, improved groundwater management and governance will help us to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which are currently under acute pressure, and the targets of the Paris Agreement on climate change. We are more likely to succeed if we understand the value that water brings – and in this case, groundwater specifically.”
It was concluded that valuing groundwater will contribute to a more sustainable, peaceful and secure future.
“It is also a politically charged topic with implications for global trade, business models, political systems and international law. The value we place on water influences fundamental social, cultural and spiritual practices. It paves the way for more peaceful, stable, healthy, and prosperous societies and a more sustainable future for the entire planet. The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to work vigorously to ensure the sustainable use of Guyana’s freshwater, and in particular our groundwater resources.”
Guyanese can employ safe and conservative practices in their daily activities by simply monitoring water tanks to avoid runovers, turning off taps when brushing your teeth and using a bucket instead of a hose to water plants. (G12)