The Protected Areas Commission (PAC), over the years, has been raising awareness on the conservation and proper care of the environment; as such, the organisation has begun efforts towards developing a Biodiversity Garden on the eastern section of the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown.
PAC Deputy Commissioner Odacy Davis highlighted these plans.
“For most persons who would frequent this location or even drive around, it may appear as if it’s just bush, but it’s an actual representation of different types of forests. So, what we’re envisioning is for schools, students, institutions, the ordinary man or family to be able to come into the Botanical Gardens and see what a wetland eco-system would look like,” he is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.
“This is not very common in many places, and so what we want to do is encourage all Guyanese to really embrace what we have here in the Botanical Gardens. We have at least over 180 species of birds in the Gardens; we have sloths here; we have caimans in the canals. This is really an ecosystem that supports many animals and many species so what you see here is really something special in the capital city of the country,” she noted.
The Garden would be a unique landmark in the heart of the city.
The Biodiversity Garden will also serve as an educational tool. There are plans to conduct tours, and the construction of three teaching benabs for primary, secondary, and tertiary students has already begun.
“…They can sit there and teach concepts on conservation and the environment, and they can go through the entire biodiversity gardens. So, really, we want to use the Botanical Gardens not only as a place for recreation, but for education and even to support the Green Development Strategy. This is really how we can protect and embrace this beautiful environment that has been entrusted to us,” Davis said.
