Latest update May 13th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 22, 2014 News
A key study in the Kaieteur Falls area has found over 500 species, including endangered ones.
Of this, 19 are species new to science with local experts calling for continued steps to protect the Kaieteur National Park. The preliminary results were revealed to environmental groups and Government officials by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guianas.
The month-long Upper Potaro Biodiversity Assessment Team (BAT) exercise, conducted in March, is not comprehensive by any means, Biodiversity Officer, Aiesha Williams, pointed out during the presentation Friday at Moray House, Quamina Street.
Rather the expedition comprised 60 persons, including personnel from several overseas universities as well the Guyana campus. Residents from the hinterland and local environmental bodies also participated in the expedition.
According to the preliminary results, the area is largely healthy, with some level of mining and hunting impacts.
Also launched Friday was the report on the Biological Diversity in the Kaieteur National Park (KNP). Both exercises took place in the same areas in March.
Speaking at the presentation, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, said that the symbol of the majestic Kaieteur Falls has become synonymous with the type of image that the country wants to project.
He noted that collaboration with the WWF has allowed Guyana to improve management of its biodiversity.
The Minister outlined a number of steps that have been taken by the Government, through his Ministry, and with the support of international partners, in managing and preserving Guyana’s rich biodiversity. However, he emphasised the need for finding a balance between sound ecological management and sustainable development of the country’s natural resources.
The KNP is only part of a much larger Upper Potaro ecosystem and cannot be managed in isolation. That area consists of titled Amerindian lands, which are considered private property, according to the laws. A number of income-generating activities are also done in that area such as mining.
“Whilst we recognise that there are challenges, we must not in any way seek to vilify legitimate upstream mining activities once they are done in accordance with our national laws and regulations,” the Minister said.
Moreover, the Ministry has been working to ensure that mining and other activities do not have negative downstream effects on the environment and the integrity of the park as a whole. In this regard, the Ministry has taken the approach of facilitating better communication with all stakeholders in the various communities.
Minister Persaud said that the type of work done by the WWF will be taken very seriously, and will be used as a management tool, to undertake activities and will be integrated into the regional and national land use plans that are being developed.
Through the WWF and with extensive consultations from relevant stakeholders, the Ministry has been able to develop the first substantive management plan for the KNP.
“The commitment of our government in terms of managing and preserving the rich biodiversity, and ensuring that the objectives that we set ourselves originally and what we are pursuing here today in ensuring that KNP is managed as a protected area with good international standing, speaks to our ministry’s commitment in terms of ensuring that we achieve that balance in terms of sustainable management both on the environmental side, as well as utilisation of natural resources,” Minister Persaud explained.
The Environment Ministry is also working with the WWF and Guyana Tourism Authority to develop and implement a tourism development strategy. Currently work is being done on the guest house to accommodate visitors overnight and wardens’ quarters are also being constructed.
Last year, the KNP saw approximately 7,000 visitors and there has been an increase in the number of overland visits.
WWF Guianas Regional Representative, Dominiek Plouvier referred to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as a fantastic model for a green economy and as the biggest environmental organisation in the world, the WWF is committed to promoting this strategy globally.
“This is a region which is still very unknown unfortunately, but this country has done major things and it’s our duty as an organisation to promote it,” he said.
WWF has been working in Guyana since 1998; it has a special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the country. Its main objective is to support sustainable development.
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