People need nature to thrive

Transcription

1 People need nature to thrive

2 People need nature to thrive Our strategy is to help society adopt the conservation of nature as a foundation of development. This will measurably improve and sustain human wellbeing. We imagine a healthy, prosperous world in which societies are forever committed to caring for and valuing nature, our global biodiversity, for the long-term benefit of people and all life on Earth. Be an inspiration to others Add value to your business by engaging in environmentally and socially conscious initiatives. We welcome your support

3 Our Focus In Guyana CI-Guyana focuses on securing improved long term human wellbeing through maintenance of the country s natural capital. For some 20 years in Guyana, we have worked with government, local communities and other civil society and private sector groups to develop ecosystem-based resource management models to assist in shaping policy and institutional change. We are contributing to a healthy sustainable Guyanese economy one that reflects a truly sustainable development model that fully incorporates Nature. In this report, we showcase five initiatives that demonstrate our capacity, experience, and the range of services and other contributions. The Year 2015 marked the end of our Work Planning Cycle, and the commencement of a rolled forward Work Plan.

4 Guyana is part of Amazonia This vast region cleans our water, supplies our food, moderates our climate, and safeguards Earth s diversity of species. Amazonia is The largest block of tropical forest and the largest river basin on earth; Home to more species of terrestrial plants and animals than anywhere else on earth; and The source of one-fifth of all freshwater flows on the planet. Amazonia supports the lives and livelihoods of over 30 million people, including over 350 indigenous groups. But Amazonia is fast approaching the tipping point. If 30% of the region s forest is lost, irreversible changes to our ecosystem will occur, leading to catastrophic consequences for people in the region and beyond. Already, 13% of the original forest cover has been lost to agriculture and grazing land expansion, urban development, and growth in extractives and infrastructure. The impacts of losing Amazonia forest on the global climate can be most devastating. At the current rate of deforestation in Amazonia, around 17 billion tons of carbon can be released into the atmosphere over the next 20 years equivalent to the amount emitted by 3.6 billion cars. Continued forest loss will also have serious impacts on agriculture systems in subtropical areas which depend on soil moisture generated from evaporation from southern Amazonia.

5 The Green Zone - approximately 44% of Amazonia comprises forest formally designated as protected areas or indigenous lands and territories. The Red Zone - about 13% of Amazonian forests have been converted to agriculture, developed into cities, or degraded to meet demand for food, homes, power, and jobs. The Yellow Zone - an estimated 46% of Amazonia remains as mostly forest and is not yet secured under clear tenure or sustainable management systems or other natural habitat, and its use has not yet been formally assigned. Our strategy builds on our 28-year history in the region -- our local capacity and relationships across Amazonia, our science, and our partnerships with regional and global agents of change. This provides us with a unique platform to demonstrate and amplify solutions, and influence policies and their implementation across the region. We are committed to respecting human rights, promoting good governance and transparency in policy formulation and implementation at the local, national and regional and global levels.

6 Showcasing Our Programmes Securing Nature and its Assets Guyana has committed to meeting the Aichi Targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Target 11: By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved. Including indigenous protected areas, Guyana has achieved 8.5% conservation of terrestrial biodiversity. The country is yet to start a programme to conserve marine biodiversity areas. CI has helped by facilitating conservation of the two largest terrestrial Protected Areas contributing to 70% of terrestrial areas conserved and 35% of the Aichi Target to date. Guyana is at the frontier of development where it can choose an alternative totraditional economic growth by developing its socio-economic capital while maintaining its natural capital. It can serve as a global green, climate resilient, and inclusive economy model that can catalyze similar actions globally, especially in tropical forest-rich parts of the world. CI has also facilitated establishment of a protected areas trust fund currently capitalized to US$8.5M. CI has contributed $3.5M and the KfW has contributed US$5M to the trust. We have begun scoping ways in which we can help build a broad alliance between government, the private sector and civil society to conserve and sustainably manage our marine ecosystems, especially as it relates to addressing coastal vulnerability and fisheries. Greening Production Systems Sustainable Integrated Landscape Development helps fulfil people s aspirations, builds communities, and secures Nature. CI has helped by facilitating the development of an integrated sustainable agriculture strategy and action plan for the Rupununi Region, prepared by the Rupununi Regional Democratic Council, Central Government, private operators, local communities and other stakeholders of civil society, and under the guidance of the UN-FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture. The plan focuses on Incentive Policies and Institutional Development; Agriculture Technology Development and Diversification; and Development of Agricultural Markets and Enterprises in the region.

7 Rupununi comprises 25% of Guyana s land space. Within the region lie the source of the Essequibo and Rupununi Rivers. It is home to three Indigenous People, and is mostly ecologically intact. Its future is strongly influenced by the Brazilian State of Roraima with which it is economically, ecologically and culturally connected. It is a place to test and learn how to secure economic development through maintenance of natural capital. The Rupununi Innovation Fund set up and financed by the Guyana Bank for Trade & Industry (GBTI) with support from CI, IDB-MIF and the Government of Guyana has been providing green financing to community based tourism and agriculture enterprises for two years. 19 initiatives have been financed and 20 initiatives are within the fund pipeline, with $10,409, disbursed to date Building Sustainable Governance and Institutions One of the most limiting factors to green development in countries like Guyana with an abundance of natural resources but growing pressures on the environment lies in the asymmetry between public policies for sustainability and the current practices within a large portion of the production systems that drive economic growth. We need improvements in the design and implementation of policies for sustainable management and conservation of natural capital; strengthened civil society and the private sector to enable and sustain their active participation and influence in shaping such policies. CI has helped facilitate the commencement of reform of the Extractive Industry Sector, through providing objective analysis, open dialogue spaces, and policy recommendations on the sector. The Extractive Industry Sector is currently undergoing review to increase its overall contribution to green economic development in Guyana. Building Institutional Integrity CI has established systems to support the effective implementation of global projects. In July 2015, CI became the first international NGO to be accredited as an Implementing Agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF aims to become the largest multilateral fund addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation, with a goal of raising US$ 100 billion by To date, US$ 10 billion has been pledged to the GCF. CI is also a Global Environment Facility (GEF) accredited Implementing Agency. The GEF is the largest multilateral fund addressing environmental issues globally. CI-GCF Implementing Agency offers advantages in: Nature-based solutions to climate change Effective, Flexible and Efficient systems for working with partners Access to in-house Scientists and Technical Experts Focus on Capacity Building and Long-term Commitment

8 Our Future Work in Guyana Successful design and implementation of effective policies for low-emissions, green development will result in sustainable growth of Guyana s economy. Such policies would ensure sustainability by maintaining natural capital, increasing socio-economic capital, while diversifying production and increasing productivity within the economy. CI will support and help design and implement strategic initiatives that catalyse change and implementation of national low-emissions, green growth policies, measured through the attainment of key UN Sustainable Development Goals related to the maintenance of the nation s natural capital.

9 Our strategy recognises the importance of: Facilitating strong evidence-based means of monitoring performance and decision-making. This will influence changes in natural resource management, build greater confidence in stakeholder participatory processes, and demonstrate good practice to the international community. Supporting civil society and the private sector to take a more active and strategic role in shaping policies for sustainable natural resource management. Consolidating proofs-of-concept at a local and sub-national level that integrate natural resource management both at the sectoral and inter-sectoral level; and Establishing strategic relationships with partners to ensure a holistic green economic development path is designed and implemented covering all geographies of the country, from savannah-to-sea.

10 Partners and Donors Air Services Limited Caiman House Carly s Bus Service Clowes Fund CUSO International Edward B. Beharry Company Ltd. Greenleaf Solutions (Guyana) Inc. Guyana Livestock Development Authority (Region 9) Helping Hands Women Producers Cooperative Society Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Inter-American Development Bank Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation & Development Kanashen Village, Rupununi Guyana Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group Kingdom of Norway Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW), German Development Bank Ledder Family Foundation Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Communities Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry of Public Infrastructure Ministry of Tourism National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute National Centre for Educational Resource Development, of the Ministry of Education National Toshaos Council North Rupununi District Development Board Bina Hill Institute Office of Climate Change, Government of Guyana ONF International Ori Guesthouse Partners of the Americas Practical Action Regional Office for Latin America Protected Areas Commission Protected Areas Trust of Guyana Regional Democratic Council, Region 9, Guyana Rewa Eco Lodge Rockview Lodge Rupununi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Rupununi Eco Hotel South Rupununi Conservation Society South Rupununi People s Development Association South South Central District Toshaos Council Surama Village and Eco Lodge, Rupununi Guyana Takutu Hotel The Guyana Bank for Trade, Industry and Commerce The Guyana Forestry Commission The Guyana Tourism Authority The Swift Family Foundation The Waterloo Foundation Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana Trans Guyana Airways UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) University of Guyana? World Wildlife Fund Guianas (WWF-Guianas) Demerara Distillers Limited

11 Credits Photo Credits: John Martin Tory Read Jeff Yonover Cristina Mittermeier Pete Oxford Piotr Naskrecki Cristina Mittermeier Conservation International Guyana Foundation Inc. Lot 91 Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown, between Oronoque St. and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. Tel: , Fax:

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