“Proper sense of environmental responsibility essential for development”- ECHO

Sep 03, 2014 News

By Zena Henry

Guyana is witnessing an unprecedented push in the mining industry, and at the same time, a significant loss of biodiversity, and the increase of polluted soils and water supplies. To ensure responsible development of the mining sector and the protection of the hinterland, decisions on the environment must be founded on a proper sense of reasonability toward the environment and all those who depend on it for their survival.”

ECHO is stressing on protection of the hinterland

This is according to Director of Environment Community Health Organisation (ECHO) Royston King. While King welcomed the news of the Government’s commitment to put $2B of mining revenues for protected areas, he opined that no amount of money can compensate for the degradation and destruction of the environment, and the plunder of natural assets.
In a comment on the recent move by Government to financially aid in the reversal of bad mining practices, King opined that the only effective way to rectify environmental mismanagement is to get persons to personally feel responsible for the protection of their surroundings.
“It is not sufficient to take money from activities that are destroying the natural environment and commit it to protect other parts of the environment.” The destruction of one part has implications for all other areas of the environment,” King stated.
“There needs to be proper management of mining activities in our hinterland. Crude methods of mining operations, the clearing of our forests, felling of trees and cavities left in the earth in those areas are causing serious public health and environmental concerns not only in the interior, but even in urban communities.
“There needs to be basic standards across the board for mining as well as a published and clear modus operandi for all miners and mining stakeholders. Much more attention has to be placed on what is happing in our hinterland and the necessary action has to be taken to protect our environment and its natural resources. Miners are contributing to deforestation in a noticeable way and an approach to reverse this must be found.”
The local environmental body, which has recently become more vocal following allegations of wanton logging, has advocated for a serious environmental protect plan from the Government.
The Chinese company Baishanlin has faced weeks of criticism after it was determined that it had found ways to engage in logging operations without the necessary operating documentation. ECHO has condemned the actions of the company and urged for decisive measures to rectify environmental problems.
The Government on Monday announced that the National Protected Areas Trust Fund would receive $2B from mining money.
Guyana’s Protected Area System is made up of the Kaieteur National Park, Kanuku Mountains Protected Area, Shell Beach Protected Area, Iwokrama Rainforest, the Zoo and Botanical Gardens and other urban parks. According to the Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud, the announcement of the funds to be contributed underscores the Government’s commitment to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the conservation of biodiversity in Guyana.
“Unlike many of the countries in the region, Guyana has taken the novel approach of using proceeds from the extractive sector to support protected areas management, and in doing so, further reaffirms Guyana’s deep and abiding commitment to finding the balance between conservation and development,” Persaud said.