Our government should seek international assistance to combat the fires consuming the Kanuku mountains

Mar 05, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

I would first like to make special mention of the Toshao and villagers of my village of Nappi Village who have been battling heroically to contain the fires engulfing the Kanuku Mountains. Many thanks to the Regional officials and all other volunteers who have joined this fight. These fires have expanded beyond this village’s boundaries and included other villages such as Moco Moco. Sadly, despite all of these heroic efforts, fires continue to blaze since some fires are high up the mountain slopes and completely inaccessible. Pictures shared by residents of Region #9 have shown just how high up the slopes these fires are. Other pictures have shown the more than 40-mile length of the mountains completely obscured by smoke.

The Kanuku Mountains are of such high biodiversity that it became a National Park protected under the laws of Guyana. Our country has earned billions of dollars in revenue from Carbon Credits because of areas like the Kanuku Mountains. Certainly, a vital biodiverse location such as the Kanuku Mountains deserves all effort to protect its pristine treasures. The brave voluntary efforts of residents of Region #9 is not enough!

The Brazilian President was recently in Guyana discussing many areas of potential collaboration. Did anyone in our country’s delegation raise the idea of seeking assistance from Brazil on using air methods to attempt to douse these fires high up in the mountains? We were also recently informed that the Brazilian Army has moved battalions into the state of Roraima. Can they be approached to offer assistance? Even if it cannot be sourced from Brazil, we most certainly now have enough money in our treasury to hire specialized services from overseas. I guess it all comes down to whether those in government deem the tragedy unfolding before our eyes as serious enough to warrant a major investment to contain these fires?

The Protected Areas Commission should be much more vocal about this threat to one of its most prized assets. They should/must be leading the call to demand more from the government to combat this threat. Strangely, not much has been heard from them.

How about getting some real time satellite imagery to have a clear idea of the extent of the area already destroyed? State of the art satellite technology is already in the country to monitor the oil ships in real time. Can they be requested to provide imagery over the Kanukus? A real time visual imagery of the mountains may galvanize our leaders into decisive action.

There is too much technology and money now available in Guyana for us to only be depending on heroic villagers and volunteers to tackle these raging mountain fires over one of the most prized biodiverse areas of the country. It’s time the government gets more involved and takes decisive action. Let’s not only see these areas only in terms of the revenue it brings in for the country. Let’s treat it as the prized treasure which it is and do whatever is necessary to protect it.

Every day that goes by only further magnifies the problem. Let those with access to more resources than the heroes of my village be inspired by their efforts and get on board and collectively do everything possible to contain these mountain fires.

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