Guyana strengthening climate tracking for sustainable forest management, finance access

May 20, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- The Government of Guyana, in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and with support from the UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme has launched the project “Strengthening and Enhancing Capacities of Guyana’s MRVS.”

According to GGGI, the project aims to expand Guyana’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Systems (MRVS) to improve climate reporting, sustainable forest management and access to carbon financing. The UK PACT programme is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) through the UK’s International Climate Finance Program. It supports countries in their efforts to reduce emissions and achieve their vision for tackling climate change.

Working alongside the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) as the main government agency, the project will increase the country’s reporting capacities of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, by covering all land use activities and ecosystems, including mangrove forests. Through a more robust MRVS that fully captures data from land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector, the project is expected to contribute to the sustainable management of about 33,000 hectares of forests and potentially mobilising an estimated GBP 46 million in climate finance.

By improving data analysis capabilities, the initiative will also support policy decisions and compliance with global climate reporting processes. This in turn will support attracting more investments in resilience for Guyana. Further, project activities are expected to assist in the advancement of Guyana’s National Climate Commitments (NDCs), maintaining low rates of emissions, and raising climate awareness.

“The Guyana Forestry Commission is pleased to partner with the Global Green Growth Institute and the UK PACT programme to advance Guyana’s national Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification System. Through the work being led by the Guyana Forestry Commission and other Government agencies, we are reinforcing Guyana’s leadership in low-carbon development and ensuring that our forests continue to deliver value for all Guyanese,” stated Edward Goberdhan, Guyana’s Commissioner of Forests as he emphasised the project’s impact on advancing the Government’s commitment on forests and sustainability.

The British High Commissioner to Guyana H.E. Jane Miller, while speaking about the project at a recent workshop in Georgetown, reflected on the United Kingdom’s longstanding alliance with Guyana on climate efforts and forest stewardship. “Guyana should be proud to maintain more than 85% forest cover while experiencing rapid growth,” she stated.  Another key area of the project is strengthening institutional capacity, where efforts will focus on streamlining data sharing and enhancing coordination in the existing MRVS framework developed in Guyana’s partnership for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

“This initiative will significantly expand Guyana’s ability to monitor and manage its land and forest resources while enhancing transparency and accountability in climate finance,” said Daniel Muñoz-Smith, GGGI’s Caribbean Representative. He added, “By expanding MRVS capabilities, we are not only advancing carbon finance readiness but also paving the way for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.”

GGGI will continue to engage stakeholders, fostering awareness and synergies for implementation during the project period, until its completion planned in December 2026. Key activities are being planned for roll out such as setting quantifiable forest-related NDC targets and developing a tracking tool for reporting on Policy and Measures impacts (PaMs).

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 51 Member States and 29 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 53 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.

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