Following up perhaps, on my piece from last week on Earth Day, this week I shall focus on Guyana in particular, and how uniquely diverse our country is. She is the seductress of South America, her curves of lush rainforests are a tease for tourists, and combined with the inviting cap of the populated coastal plain, the country is the definition of irresistible. However, Guyana is not your typical ‘vacation’ country; she does not have white, sandy beaches, dazzling coral reefs or even the characteristic sparkling blue Caribbean water.
Instead, Guyana can be seen as a timeless belle: eyes of Victorian style architecture, lips of well-preserved monuments and heritage sites, and exquisite crowning jewels adorning her neck and head of flora and fauna. These flora and fauna are the main pull for tourists. But more than that, they are reflective of the environmental importance of our country. Our highland regions house one of the largest, if not the largest, untouched expanses of rainforest. These trees provide the home for a staggering amount of biodiversity. Scientific reports indicate that there are more than 1200 vertebrate species; and over 8000 plant species (WRI, and International Tropical Timber Organisation, ITTO). Of these species, many are endemic to the region, and as of 2014, the international Union for Conservation of Nature categorised at 68 as being on the red list of threatened or vulnerable species.
But what is biodiversity, and why is it important? Why should we care if we have eight species of lizards versus thirty? Biodiversity refers broadly to the variety of life on Earth. It can be studied at varying levels, for example on a small-scale of an ecosystem such as a pond to the scale of entire biomes, such as the artic tundra. Ecosystems that are more diverse are often times more stable. Conservation is a process, which seeks to allow ecosystems to evolve naturally, as far as possible as if “untouched” by human interaction. Perhaps the most important reason for wanting to conserve biodiversity is that all species are interlinked. The interaction of species provides useful services such as pollination, water purification, generation of new soil, break down of toxic wastes, pest control and even moderation of weather extremes. The loss of one species, or even a particular genetic trait within a species can gravely affect an entire ecosystem, which could indirectly seriously affect humans. These effects can manifest as loss of variety of foods, or even shortages, as loss of species that are used in (or could potentially be used in) medicines, of species that protect the environment from natural disasters, for example mangroves and storms. There is also the argument that humans have the responsibility to be stewards and protectors of our environment.
So far as a country, we’ve been doing a good job on this front. Most of our forest is well conserved, and there are strict laws governing potential threats to out forest such as logging and mining. However, as a people, I think we rarely stop to appreciate the pristine beauty that our country boasts. One of the major reasons that biodiversity is encouraged is that there is aesthetic value in conserving a variety of plants and animals. Yet, we very rarely take the time to explore our own country and the variety of life upon it, and rather, when we have the time find ourselves upon sandy beaches elsewhere in the Caribbean or in snowy cities far away. It’s time that we encourage locals to get to know more of their own country. How many regions within Guyana have you visited? How many waterfalls? Maybe for the next holiday, you could consider one right at home.
