…says objective is to balance development and conservation

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, on Wednesday emphasised that Guyana’s development depends significantly on its natural resources, including forests, minerals, agriculture, fisheries, water resources and other ecosystem assets. He made the remarks during his participation in a ministerial dialogue at the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.” The dialogue was held during Land and People Day at the conference, under the theme “From Summits to the Floodplains: Connecting Ecosystems and livelihoods.” In this regard, Bharrat informed that the objective is not to choose between development and conservation, but to ensure that resource use is sustainable in the long-term. He emphasised that resource extraction should be undertaken within clear environmental safeguards, including monitoring of impacts, rehabilitation requirements and measures to protect water resources, forests, biodiversity and downstream users. The Minister highlighted that Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS 2030) provides an important framework because it recognises that sustainable economic development must be compatible with maintaining the country’s natural capital, particularly its forests and ecosystem services. He noted that the approach should also recognise that different parts of the landscape have different values and sensitivities, and that locations of high biodiversity, important watersheds, critical habitats and areas supporting vulnerable communities may require stronger protection. Minister Bharrat further posited that integrated management can also help identify areas where economic activity is most appropriate, thereby allowing resource development to take place while reducing impacts on environmentally and socially important areas.

Food security & economic value