Many locations throughout Guyana are reporting severe flooding due to unusually heavy rains. Coastal villages including areas that dont normally experience much flooding such as Diamond/Grove have been inundated this year. Unusually high water levels in the Demerara River has caused flooding in villages along the East Bank and in the upper parts of the river including in Rockstone.

Heavy rains have also washed out parts of the road and bridges on the Georgetown - Lethem road, which is am important road for people living and working in the interior and travelling to Brazil.

The official rainy season is May to June, but into the second week of July the rainy season remains relentless.

The news has finally been released that the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund has been set up and the first USD 30 million,  has been given by Norway with The World Bank invited to act as the fund manager.

See link to article here: http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/stories/07/14/forest-protection-fund-to-be-set-up-by-month-end-norway-to-deliver-first-tranche.

This development came through amid growing concern of corruption in the rapidly expanding carbon credit market.

Everyone will be waiting and watching to see how Guyana manages these funds and how efficiently and transparently they can be utilized in the Low Carbon Development Scheme that is tied to the funding scheme.

The Barakara Falls is a picturesque location popular with visitors, both local and foreign, that traverse the  Mazaruni and Essequibo Rivers and nearby locations. It is often the recommended site for people wanting to visit a waterfall while in the vicinity of the Essequibo River or Bartica. 

Recently public concern had risen over the plans of a local contractor BK International to target the falls and its immediate environs for rock quarrying. The company cited growing demands for crushed stone and as such the Falls is a necessary casualty to satisfy the current appetite for stone. Apart from obliterating a location that many local people love to visit, the activity also threatens the livelihoods of local tour operators. This is threat that has touched a nerve in many Guyanese and is a sad reality in resource exploitation.

Update

On May 11th, it was announced that BK International has been ordered to cease their operations at the Barakara Site and restore the area. After a national outcry at the fate of the falls the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission has issued a cease order after visiting the site along with representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency. An EIA conducted in 2005 had noted the importance of protecting the falls and its watershed and the company was supposed to refrain from operating at the site.

A great relief that Barakara Falls will continue to grace the area, hopefully for many years to come.

On Earth Day, 22nd of April 2010, the winners of the Champions of the Earth were announced. Among them was Guyana's President Jagdeo who was recognised as a powerful advocate of the need to conserve and more intelligently manage the planet's natural and nature-based assets. Jagdeo was believed to have recognized more than most the multiple Green Economy benefits of forests in terms of combating climate change, but also in terms of development; employment; improved water supplies and the conservation of biodiversity. The key behind this recognition is the Low Carbon Development Strategy which was launched and promoted by President Jagdeo and his government.

For Guyanese there were several reactions to this award including pride for being recogized on the international stage for something positive.

While happy to be associated with this prestigious award, many now watch and wait to see if this award will influence the way that things are done in Guyana.

While there is enough discussion about solid waste accumulating in the city and villages, and there are other significant pollution issues in Guyana that need more attention. Two years ago the Blacksmith Institute in collaboration with Green Cross compiled a list of the world's top 10 Worst Polluters.  Some of these are very relevant to Guyana. 

The unranked list includes Ground Water Contamination ; Industrial Mining Activities; Metals Smelters and Processing; Radio Active Waste  and Uranium Mines; Untreated Sewage; Urban Air Quality; Used Lead Acid Battery Recycling; Contaminated Surface Water; Indoor Air Pollution; and Artisanal Gold Mining.( www.worstpolluted.org)

There are quite a few notable ones that apply to Guyana, especially industrial mining activities and artisanal gold mining, which are already known and discussed many times. However there are lesser known ones that may also be significant threats to people and the environment, these include indoor pollution, used lead acid battery ‘car battery' recycling, untreated sewerage and contaminated surface water.

Indoor pollution is not something that is often thought of as a Guyanese problem, but it is a major issue around the world including developing countries. Many Guyanese still use fuel such as kerosene, charcoal and wood for cooking, and people have even started to run generators inside their houses, which are also potentially deadly. The burning of commonly used fuels can emit toxic fumes and particulates, particularly if care is not taken to ensure that the room is well ventilated and devices such as stoves and lamps are properly maintained. Indoor pollution is blamed for several health effects including various respiratory problems and lung cancer.

The dismantling of old car batteries and recycling of the lead is another potential cause for concern. This activity is particularly dangerous if conducted in proximity to homes, schools, offices and other places where people congregate. Lead particulates derived from discarded battery cases and dumped acid, coupled with ash and vapour from the handling and melting of lead plates is released into the environment.  The particulates can become wind borne and inhaled, and can also leach into water bodies including our water supply. However it is children and unborn babies that are most at risk from lead exposure and can suffer from serious neurological problems and birth defects.

Another source of pollution not included in the list, but is common in Guyana and in other lesser developed countries, is the burning of garbage heaps, particularly in rural areas and villages. Garbage heaps often contain all manner of waste items, including various types of plastics, batteries, electronic waste and old containers of chemicals including paint and pesticides. As such, when burned, these heaps can release a dangerous cocktail of toxins. The burning of certain plastics alone can release dioxins, which remain in the body and can build up after instances of exposure.  Continuous exposure can result in adverse health effects such as cancer.

Unfortunately many communities have little choice but to burn waste in order to get rid of it. More certainly needs to be done to investigate the depth of these issues, raise awareness and regularise these activities.

Earth Hour is observed on the last Saturday in March,each year. The event is organised by WWF where households and businesses are urged to turn off their lights for one hour, as part of a worldwide awareness drive against climate change.

The impact of this is clear in industrialized countries with the Tower of London and the Empire State Building usually gloriously lit each night, stand in darkness for one hour. Indeed the impact is even more startling when huge swathes of large cities lay dark for the designated time. 

In countries like Guyana the Earth hour is not so clear, since many Guyanese appear to be 'observing Earth Hour' once a month, sometimes several times a week, with the inevitable but sporadic blackouts that are often experienced.

Still it would be greatly appreciated if Guyanese would observe this period, as everyone has a role to play in resource consesrvation.

It is interesting to note such good will shown by the Guyanese public of late, recently highlighted in two Kaieteur News articles.

A 14 foot Anaconda that was found in Georgetown was not instantly killed, skinned and meat tipped into the pot as per usual, but the young man that found it said he wanted to sell it alive (hopefully to a certified wildlife trader)... and a green turtle found lost after laying its eggs was kindly escorted back to sea without ending up in the curry. Good job folks!!

Some miners are claiming that  their operations are doing little permanent damage to the forest canopy. Nevertheless, there are significant gaps in the canopy within Region 7, our mining region; and not far from the mining settlement of Mahdia. These are all captured via satellite and visible on Google maps. Some of these sites can be seen by visitors to Kaieteur Falls, our crowning gem in ecotourism. What, I wonder do people think when they see all the denuded landscape on the way to this famous location, which is often touted to be in the middle of Guyana's pristine forests?

Recently the pursuit of ECO1's objective in terms of public awareness and getting Guyanese on board with environmental conservation has in some ways been done for us. The government's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which was launched in June, 2009 has served to put terms such as ‘rainforest conservation, ‘carbon credits' and ‘ecosystem services' into Guyanese vocabulary (albeit passive).

Ironically some have begun to associate nature conservation with the LCDS which, in turn, is coupled by some, with political agenda. This is unfortunate for sincere organisations who seek to convince Guyanese that environmental sustainability is in their best interest and that of their children and grandchildren.

More recently, many members of the Guyanese public have demonstrated where their priorities lay when the government had announced a land use committee and a 6 month waiting period prior to the commencement of mining activities. Miners, industry associates and friends turned out in fury bedecking the town with yellow fabric and ribbons.

The fact remains that Guyanese remain tied to basic activities for their daily bread and this includes mining, the small and medium mining scale sectors, employing a significant number of Guyanese (and Brazilians).

Unfortunately it has been witnessed time and time again that many miners have little regard for the natural environment in which they operate. Miners often leave behind swathes of denuded and pitted land within the forest, and release tailings directly into creeks and rivers, killing all aquatic life. Heavy siltation renders the water useless for human consumption which is unfortunate as many hinterland communities use river water for drinking, cooking as well as other domestic uses. Heavy silted rivers and those blocked with tailings also make it difficult for indigenous people to traverse the river as they previously did. Mercury pollution is another significant issue as miners use significant amounts of mercury in their processing, the waste is also often released into the rivers and creeks.

Of course ECO1 and many other conservation-oriented organisations wish to promote the conservation of natural resources and to encourage resource users to leave these locations as unspoilt as possible. However people need to be able pursue their aspirations for a better life.

There is a way for a harmonious connection between these two concepts and it is hoped that all parties involved will be cognisant of both. 

There are guidelines and technical assistance available for people who are genuinely interested.