Guyana’s mangrove restoration project lauded at Caribbean forum

The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) held a Caribbean Regional Climate Change Conference in Belize late last month, during which Guyana’s Mangrove Restoration Programme was lauded by some of the delegates.

According to a release, the GCCA, funded by the European Union (EU), comprises a national and regional component. The GCCA is funding programmes in Guyana, Belize and Jamaica under its national programme component, and is about to sign an agreement with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to actualise the Caribbean Forum (Cariforum) regional component.

The conference drew wide representation from the region, inclusive of representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Secretariat of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the CCCCC. Guyana gained praise for its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the stewardship of its rainforest, and for its Mangrove Restoration Project.

Apart from its participation in Cariforum, Guyana’s involvement included chairing a session titled “Review of the current status of climate change negotiations and anticipation of steps required to achieve a post-2012 climate regime.” This session was chaired by Andrew Bishop (UNFCCC Lead Negotiator for Guyana).

A powerpoint presentation on the mangrove Restoration Project by the Mangrove Action Committee’s Chairperson, Annette Arjoon-Martins, was made at the event.

Guyanese economist Dr Mark Bynoe, representing the CCCCC and the chief architect of the regional programme, highlighted the significance of pursuing critical adaptation initiatives and what he termed “no-regret measures” as part of any country’s overall development paradigm. The regional programme is worth a total of €8 million over four years, to be applied to Cariforum countries.

In a question relating to why Guyana was able to secure such a large amount of funding for the Mangrove Restoration Project, the EU Representative explained that the financial commitment from the Guyanese government in contributing its own funds, and the fact that the EU funding was budget support, made the difference. He also expressed satisfaction with the progress made since the project commenced in February 2010.