Guyana’s ecotourism opportunities virtually untapped

Former Deputy Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission, Denise Fraser said ecotourism in Guyana remains virtually untapped. Speaking at the recent launch of the “Wetlands of Guyana” publication by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Fraser noted that the important economic benefits of wetlands and their biodiversity are being increasingly recognised not only in Guyana but around the world.

The Guyana government is pursuing a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which views biodiversity and conservation as well as the Protected Areas Commission as playing critical roles in meeting developmental objectives.
According to Fraser, the landmark Protected Areas Act, which was passed in 2011, allows for the establishment of a protected area system as well as a Protected Areas Commission for the first time in Guyana to manage the system.
Among the existing protected areas is Shell Beach in Region One, which comprises the largest stretch of wetlands under protection in Guyana. “We now need to manage these existing areas with information from the scientific data available and knowledge of the ecosystem,” Fraser noted.
Increasingly popular
However, there are research gaps on the extent of diversity, and environmental and economic value of the wetlands. National and international research institutions as well as non- governmental organisations (NGOs) have a huge role to play in this regard. “The more information and perspective we can get to guide the management of the areas, the better job we can do in protection, managing and development of these areas,” Fraser added.
Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is commonly defined as responsible travel to areas that conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local people.
Ecotourism involves travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas and helps to educate the traveller and provide funds for conservation, directly benefiting the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fostering respect for different cultures and human rights.
Ecotourism unites conservation communities and sustainable travel. Guyana, with more than 75 per cent of its land mass covered by pristine rainforest, has great potential for ecotourism. Its rich biodiversity, which encompasses a wide spectrum of unique plants and animals, makes Guyana’s ecotourism experience different from that of the typical Caribbean island.
In Guyana, ecotourism is viewed as an environmentally-friendly way of utilising the natural environment, as opposed to traditional forms of tourism such as nature tourism and adventure tourism, which are not necessarily environmentally-friendly. Over the years, the scope for ecotourism in Guyana has grown, as the country offers experiences which make us stand out from the other ecotourism destinations.
However, we still need to ensure that adequate legislation is in place, along with effective monitoring of this rapidly expanding industry. If its principles are stringently adhered to, ecotourism can also contribute to the enhancement of Guyana’s LCDS. A well- established ecotourism industry has minimal impact on the environment and builds awareness and respect for the local culture and environment.
It also educates visitors via on-site visits about the local political, social and environmental issues, protects wildlife habitats, and provides visitors with ideas to influence their own country.
One advantage of ecotourism is that it increases the monetary value of standing biological systems, and thereby encourages the preservation of biological diversity. However, issues arise when certain kinds of ecotourism do not contribute much to the local economy, meaning that they can enrich a few people while leaving others out of the loop. In this case, for those left out, there is still little incentive to engage in conservation.
Another benefit of ecotourism is that it brings people closer to nature and creates a greater desire to protect it.