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Almond trees planted in observance of World Biodiversity Day
Education Minister Shaik Baksh plants a tree
As part of local observance of World Biodiversity Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education yesterday orchestrated a tree-planting exercise.
The activity, which was undertaken at the National Park, was initiated by Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, who volunteered to plant the first sapling at noon yesterday.
His action was imitated by several students who did not hesitate to signal their desire to be involved in the Biodiversity observance.
Minister Baksh, addressing a gathering of students, teachers and Education officials, noted that even as the day is being observed efforts must be made to remember the importance of protecting the environment.
“That is so important if we are to ensure sustainable development, not only in Guyana, but the rest of the world, in order to protect planet earth,” the Minister noted.
He said that the Education Ministry had embraced the programme ‘Schools in Action Against Climate Change’ which saw the participation of several students from Georgetown and Region Three.
According to Minister Baksh, the venture which was a collaborative effort was sponsored by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Ministry of Education and the Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO). It is intended to raise awareness about climate issues.
“It was very successful and we have to do more of this in the school system, not only in Georgetown. This will have to be spread out in all of the regions of Guyana to make our children more aware of climate and biodiversity issues.”
Through such activities, the Minister said that he is confident that students will be educated on how to protect trees and the forest by extension. He recognised President Bharrat Jagdeo as a champion in this regard, a reality which has been highlighted countrywide, in the Caribbean and the world as a whole.
“The government has programmes and a clear vision of what is to be done to protect our forest…,” Baksh emphasised.
It was for this very reason, he said, that Iwokrama was donated by Guyana to the rest of the world to protect the forest and to conduct research activities. And according to the Minister, the conservation measures must first be emphasised in the education system, from the nursery through the tertiary level, with a view of protecting the trees which breathes life into the environment as a whole.
He noted that the symbolic gesture of tree planting yesterday was expected to send a strong message throughout Guyana of the importance of protecting the environment.
Minister Baksh said that the Education sector intends to promote environmental awareness to sensitise children and the population of the importance of biodiversity and how it can contribute to sustainable development.
Yesterday, 12 trees were planted along the manatee pond in the Park and according to, Inge Nathoo, Secretary-General of the Guyana National Commission for UNESCO, the National Parks Commission has committed to protecting them with plant guards.
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