A clear understanding of the LCDS and its implications is imperative

Aug 22, 2010 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

In view of the concerns presently being expressed by the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association the AFC publishes today its position of the LCDS.
“AFC Fact Sheet on the LCDS”

The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in its simplest definition is a Government of Guyana initiative that seeks to preserve Guyana’s forest in exchange for monetary compensation from developed countries. We in the AFC have always held firmly to the view that every effort should be made to conserve our forests and curb our carbon emissions, while being paid for it. This is nothing new and was already very well set out in the National Development Strategy over a decade ago.
Because trees take in carbon gases as part of their continuous production of food, the more trees there are, the more carbon will be absorbed and thus less damage will result to the Ozone Layer. Most of these gases emanate from developed countries and some huge developing ones. Since most developing countries have cut down the majority of their forest and produce large amounts of carbon, they encourage countries like Guyana that still have large pristine forests, to keep them intact to absorb carbon produced so that the Ozone Layer can be protected. It is only right that we be compensated for keeping our forest intact to save the earth.
The AFC believes that Guyana, as are other developing nations, is entitled to benefit from funding being provided by the developed world to encourage the lowering of carbon emissions without sacrificing growth and development, and moving our people off of the poverty line. We remain very concerned about the process of consultations, or lack thereof, the absence of a reference to the National Development Strategy, and with serious issues of transparency and accountability that attach themselves to these vast amounts that have been pledged.
The Government of Guyana entered into an agreement with Norway to receive millions of US dollars over a period of time to keep its forest standing. This agreement has the potential to affect the lives and livelihoods of many people. The problem is that the government has unilaterally entered into the agreement without adequately consulting with the populace. As a result groups like the miners, forest exploiters and the Indigenous community protested the Government’s decision to get into the agreement. These groups justifiably fear the agreement will have negative impacts on their lives. Because of improper consultations, most people do not have a clear understanding of what the LCDS is, and its implications for them.
The party believes that decisions concerning agreement like the one entered into with Norway should only be made after “free, prior and informed consent” has been given by the Guyanese people, and especially from those who will be directly affected such as our indigenous brothers and sisters. We also believe that the lives of stakeholders (miners, foresters, ecotourism providers, and others) are likely to be affected by the LCDS and they have a right to be consulted and to be a part of the decision making. It is also necessary that hinterland communities be assisted to implement any projects funded by the LCDS programme to ensure that they are holistically sustained. We believe that the LCDS in its present form does not provide a balance between forest preservation, and sustainable development of the resources that we are blessed with as a nation.
Finally, the AFC will continue to monitor the LCDS and will lobby against perceived negative effects on stakeholders and campaign for implementations considered necessary to benefit the Guyanese people.

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A clear understanding of the LCDS and its implications is imperative

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