LIVING SUSTAINABLYLIVING SUSTAINABLY

Perspectives on Guyana's Hinterland-JGS 104/15/23

PERSPECTIVES ON GUYANA’S HINTERLANDPERSPECTIVES ON GUYANA’S HINTERLAND

Developmental Challenges and OpportunitiesDevelopmental Challenges and OpportunitiesPresentation Presentation

bybyMajor General (retd) Joseph G SinghMajor General (retd) Joseph G Singh

On the Occasion of World Environment DayOn the Occasion of World Environment DayJune 05, 2012June 05, 2012Moray HouseMoray House

AIMAIM

To provide a perspective on Guyana’s Hinterland that highlights:

• current drivers that are important to the future of Guyana

• opportunities that can shape the future of Guyana• challenges that have to be managed• a model of Community Owned Best practice for

sustainable Resource Adaptive management in the Guiana Shield

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CLIMATE CHANGECLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON THE COASTAL INFRASTRUCURE, SETTLEMENTS AND THE ECONOMY

CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNSCHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGESTHE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES Vulnerability of Guyana’s Physical, Social and

Economic Infra-structure The legacy of colonial infra-structure on the coast and

the vulnerabilities to climate related phenomena – floods, coastal erosion, salt water intrusion, and siltation, require costly budgetary allocations but the situation may prove to be untenable in the long run so strategic decisions have to be made:

• to secure the safety of the coastal population, and • to diversify the economy to reduce dependence on

coastal assets and rely more on hinterland and regional opportunities

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LOW LYING COASTAL PLAINLOW LYING COASTAL PLAIN

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COASTAL DYNAMICS OFF BEL AIRCOASTAL DYNAMICS OFF BEL AIR

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COASTAL AGRICULTURECOASTAL AGRICULTURE

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FISHERMEN’S COOP AMIDST FISHERMEN’S COOP AMIDST FRAGILE SEA DEFENCESFRAGILE SEA DEFENCES

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ERODED GROYNES AND BREAKWATERSERODED GROYNES AND BREAKWATERS

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COASTAL VULNERABILITY TO FLOODINGCOASTAL VULNERABILITY TO FLOODING January 2005 –Onverwagt WCB Satellite photo – Jan 17, 2005

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EAST DEM CONSERVANCY AND ECDEAST DEM CONSERVANCY AND ECD

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CROSS SECTION OF THE ECDCROSS SECTION OF THE ECD

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UNTENABLE COASTAL AND RIVERINE UNTENABLE COASTAL AND RIVERINE SETTLEMENTSETTLEMENT

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CHANGING COASTLINE - SHELL BEACH, CHANGING COASTLINE - SHELL BEACH, NWDNWD

Then 2008 Now 2012

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WARRAUS’ ADAPTATION IN THE WAINIWARRAUS’ ADAPTATION IN THE WAINI

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GEO-STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIESGEO-STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES Caribbean and Northern South America

GEO-STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIESGEO-STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES

• Guyana as a producer of food for the regional market

• Guyana as a regional transportation hub

• Guyana as a conduit to the Atlantic for manufactured goods and agricultural products from Amazonas and Roraima

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GEO-STRATEGIC GEO-STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES•Guyana as the only English –speaking country in South America provides a bridge from the north (North America, Europe and the Caribbean) to the States of Roraima and Amazonas and a bridge from the south to the north.•The upgrading of the airports at CJIA and at Ogle will provide facilities for larger aircraft and faster turn around for persons transiting Guyana for the hinterland and bordering States

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THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIESTHE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES Loss of preferential markets, un-competitiveness of agricultural

exports because of high subsidies paid to farmers in traditional markets of the developed countries, and the high cost of production because of imported fossil fuels , are disincentives to continue trade and production strategy as per ‘business as usual’. Guyana’s opportunities lie in pursuing :

• the options of securing benefits for stewardship of its forests, through REDD+ incentives, payment for eco-system services, and pursuing a low carbon development strategy

• Evolving regional and hemispheric and international markets for food, raw materials from mineral resources, and petroleum products

• Transportation infra-structure to support the movement of people, goods and services as Guyana has potential to evolve into a regional transportation hub

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MAP OF GUYANA SHOWING EVOLVING MAP OF GUYANA SHOWING EVOLVING ROAD/TRAIL INFRASTRUCTUREROAD/TRAIL INFRASTRUCTURE

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CONNECTIVITY REGION 7CONNECTIVITY REGION 7

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REGIONAL CONNECTIVITYREGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

Region 8 Region 9

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OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURESHAPE THE FUTURE

• - Economic opportunities Greening of the economy Equity, Access and Poverty Reduction Environmental safeguards

Agriculture•Sugar•Rice•Timber and wood products•Sea foods and fish farms•FruitsMining•Bauxite•Manganese•Gold•Diamonds•Quarry products – aggregates and sand•PetroleumEmerging Green EconomyServices •Transportation –Sea freight, air - cargo and passengers, land - cargo and passengers•Construction•Hospitality –hotels and restaurants•Telecommunications - high speed internet fixed and mobile networks •Call centres•Carbon storage and Ecosystem servicesTourism•Nature and adventure•Sports and cultural tourism

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THE ECONOMYTHE ECONOMYTRADITONAL & EMERGINGTRADITONAL & EMERGING

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NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRENDS TRENDS THE LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT THE LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT STRATEGYSTRATEGY

•The option of securing benefits for its stewardship of its forests, by pursuing REDD+ incentives and payment for ecosystem services. Already Guyana has an agreement with the Kingdom of Norway where it is receiving payments on an annual basis for maintaining agreed benchmarks in avoided deforestation and degradation. • The moneys accruing from this Agreement are allocated to strategic projects such as hydropower development; procurement and allocation of photovoltaic lighting facilities for un-served communities in the hinterland; providing high speed connectivity to enhance the delivery of government services throughout the country; and in providing access to information technology through the provision of a one laptop per family project, targeting low - income and hinterland communities .

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GUIANA SHIELD & WEST AFRICAN CRATONGUIANA SHIELD & WEST AFRICAN CRATON

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THE OPPORTUNITIES:THE OPPORTUNITIES: THE MINING AND THE MINING AND PETROLEUM SECTORPETROLEUM SECTOR•The Demand for Gold, Bauxite, Manganese, Copper and other metals and Rare Earths is increasing and Guyana has had a continuing stream of foreign investors interested in exploration permits and in establishing partnerships with local miners who have been mining surface or artesian gold and who are interested in the partnership arrangements because they lack the capital and technology to do deep or underground mining. •These partnerships are also likely to be catalysts for hydropower development on the run-of the river model, to provide power for their operations while providing electricity for nearby communities. The development of roads, river landings, airstrips will also be facilitated, Active drilling for petroleum offshore is also taking place and there is optimism about a discovery.

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OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIESRESPONSIBLE EXPLOITATION RESPONSIBLE EXPLOITATION

OF MINERALSOF MINERALS•The demand for gold, bauxite, manganese, copper, rare earths and petroleum has catalysed activities in large, medium and small scale mining.The high price of gold, increases in prices for other minerals and the positive market demand being forecasted ,have funneled investments into Guyana mainly from Canada but also from Australia, China, Russia and interests from other countries.•With exploitation of natural resources comes the environmental impacts on people and on the ecosystems.•Striking a balance between sensible exploitation and conservation ,requires consultation with all stakeholders, land- use policy, inter-agency cooperation, legislation, regulations, institutional capacity, skilled managerial and technical competence, financial accountability, benefits to people and to biodiversity conservation and sustainable management

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LAND DREDGING LAND DREDGING

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HYDRAULICKINGHYDRAULICKING

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OKOOKO

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TAILINGS MANAGEMENT TAILINGS MANAGEMENT

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RIVER DREDGE-DRAGGERRIVER DREDGE-DRAGGER

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CHECKING WATER TURBIDITYCHECKING WATER TURBIDITY

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BARAMITABARAMITA

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PORT KAITUMAPORT KAITUMA

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CONTRASTING LIVELIHOODSCONTRASTING LIVELIHOODS

Extractive enterprises Food security

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CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

THE GUIANA SHIELDTHE GUIANA SHIELD

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CONSERVATION PRIORITIES IN THE GUIANA SHIELDCONSERVATION PRIORITIES IN THE GUIANA SHIELD

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HINTERLAND PEOPLES, LANDSCAPES AND BIODIVERSITYHINTERLAND PEOPLES, LANDSCAPES AND BIODIVERSITY

Maintenance of traditions Realities of development

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RIVERS AND FORESTSRIVERS AND FORESTS

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MOUNTAINS AND RIVERSMOUNTAINS AND RIVERS

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WATER FALLSWATER FALLS

KAIETEUR AMAILA

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PRISTINE FORESTSPRISTINE FORESTS

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WETLANDS AND SAVNNAHSWETLANDS AND SAVNNAHS

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SAVANNAHS AND MOUNTAINSSAVANNAHS AND MOUNTAINS

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NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC

Impressive forest giant!Agricultural mounds in the flood plain –astonishing industry!

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JAGUARJAGUAR

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ANACONDAANACONDA

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SLOTHSLOTH

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CAIMANCAIMAN

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HARPY EAGLE NESTHARPY EAGLE NEST

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HARPY PREPARING FOR TAKE 0FFHARPY PREPARING FOR TAKE 0FF

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MODEL OF A COMMUNITY IN TRANSITIONMODEL OF A COMMUNITY IN TRANSITION -MASAKENARI -MASAKENARI

Acknowledging the past Embracing the Future

A CASE STUDY IN ADAPTATION- A CASE STUDY IN ADAPTATION- THE WAI WAI VILLAGE OF MASAKENARI IN SW GUYANATHE WAI WAI VILLAGE OF MASAKENARI IN SW GUYANA

•Founded in 1950s through fusion of nomadic family groups into a settled community•Influenced by missionaries in terms of spirituality but have accommodated Christian teachings in their traditional spiritual affinity with the natural environment•Influence of the government’s administration –trade store based on barter, introduction of school and medical health centre, •Involvement and participation in the national social and cultural activities•Interface with extended families in Brazil and Suriname exposed them to challenges and opportunities•Advocacy for land ownership and for support to manage the land and resources in a sustainable manner•Integration of new technologies and techniques with traditional values and beliefs for charting their future in the context of a developing Guyana

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MASAKENARI –DEEP SW GUYANAMASAKENARI –DEEP SW GUYANA

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WAI WAI PETROGLYPHS - WAI WAI PETROGLYPHS - KASSAKAITYUKASSAKAITYU

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MARAWANAWA AND CONSTRUCTION CREW MARAWANAWA AND CONSTRUCTION CREW

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COORDINATED EFFORTSCOORDINATED EFFORTS

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WORK IN PROGRESSWORK IN PROGRESS

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MAINTAINING TRADITIONSMAINTAINING TRADITIONS

Konashen 1969 Masakenari 2011

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RETAINING THE SKILLSRETAINING THE SKILLSMaking Wai Wai Benches -

1952 Making Wai Wai Grater 2011

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CHANGESCHANGES

1960s 2011

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VARIATIONS OF THE THEMEVARIATIONS OF THE THEME

1950s 2011

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MAINTAINING THE TRADITIONSMAINTAINING THE TRADITIONS

craft making finished products

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CASSAVA BREAD MAKING AND CASAREEP CASSAVA BREAD MAKING AND CASAREEP PROCESSPROCESS

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DRYING FINISHED CASSAVA BREADDRYING FINISHED CASSAVA BREAD

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ARROW MAKING AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCEARROW MAKING AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE

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APPROPRIATE TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUESAPPROPRIATE TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES

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ECO-FRIENDLY ANTENNA POLEECO-FRIENDLY ANTENNA POLE

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ANTENNA MAINTENANCEANTENNA MAINTENANCE

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BATH TIME - JANICE’S CHILDRENBATH TIME - JANICE’S CHILDREN

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PLAYTIME ON THE RIVERPLAYTIME ON THE RIVER

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FAMILY PICNICFAMILY PICNIC

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IWOKRAMA- TRAINED RANGERSIWOKRAMA- TRAINED RANGERS

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WAI WAI TITLED LAND IN SW GUYANAWAI WAI TITLED LAND IN SW GUYANA

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SUSTAINABLE HARVESTINGSUSTAINABLE HARVESTING

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MARANAWA-TRAINED TURTLE DANCERSMARANAWA-TRAINED TURTLE DANCERS

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APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY –TRADITIONAL APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY –TRADITIONAL THATCH AND SOLAR LIGHTINGTHATCH AND SOLAR LIGHTING

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CHANGES IN COMMUNICATIONCHANGES IN COMMUNICATION

Communications 1960s Internet access 2011

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MASAKENARI YOUTHS AT FLAG MASAKENARI YOUTHS AT FLAG RAISING RAISING

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VOLLEYBALL IN NATURE’S STADIUMVOLLEYBALL IN NATURE’S STADIUM

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ONE WITH NATUREONE WITH NATURE

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONOPPORTUNITIES TO BE EXPLOITED IN CREATIVE WAYSOPPORTUNITIES TO BE EXPLOITED IN CREATIVE WAYS

Guyana’s economic development strategy can be based on a transition to a green economy :• through agricultural growth in response to food security and commercial opportunities

within the Caribbean Region and northern South America • revenues from stewardship of forests and ecosystems• Increasing movement of goods and services and people to Guyana ,based on trade and

investment opportunities, and those transiting Guyana en route to the Atlantic and bordering States

• Cultural, heritage and nature tourism• Reducing dependence on fossil fuels by developing and utilising micro run of the river

hydropower facilities for communities and environmentally sound mini and medium scale hydropower for industrial development and the national grid

• Revenues from responsible mineral and oil & gas exploitation with stringent environmental safety benchmarks , remediation and value-added earnings from processing.

• Integrated planning, good communication and inclusive consultations• Good governance --- putting Guyana First!

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RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS NEED FOR A NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO STRATEGIC GOALSNEED FOR A NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO STRATEGIC GOALS

REGIONAL• REGIONAL INTEGRATION• HARMONISATION OF POLICIES

HEMISPHERIC RESOLUTION OF BORDER CONTROVERSIES DETERRING UNREGULATED MOVEMENT AND CRIMINAL TENDENCIES INTEGRATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND STIMULATING THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLES, GOODS AND SERVICES INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL TRADE, SOCIAL , SPORTS AND CULTURAL LINKAGES

DOMESTIC GOVERNANCE RULE OF LAW ACCOUNTABILITY DEVOLUTION AND DECENTRALISATION PUBLIC INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION CIVIL SOCIETY ADVOCACY JOB RELATED TRAINING AND PLACEMENT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION – FUNCTIONAL, LITERACY; MANAGERIAL COMPETENCE , TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL SKILLS CAPACITY WORK ETHIC MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE REDUCE HIGH ENERGY COSTS AND DEPENDENCY ON FOSSIL FUELS BY USE OF HYDRO POWER AND PHOTOVOLTAICS DEMOGRAPHIC REDEPLOYMENT TO AVOID VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE PHENOMENA SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL/RECYCLING AND RESTRICTION ON IMPORTS OF NON-BIODEGRADABLE CONTAINERS ACCESSIBILITY TO DECISION-MAKERS, PROBLEM SOLVING AND MEDIATION OF CONFLICTS ZERO-TOLERANCE TO CRIME & BREACHES OF SECURITY AND INTEGRITY INTEGRATED LAND-USE POLICY AND PLANNING ADDRESS ISSUES OF ACCESS, HUMAN RIGHTS, RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN MANAGE THE EXPECTATIONS OF CITIZENS

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY –JUNE 05WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY –JUNE 05• UNEP’s Theme: GREEN ECONOMY: Does it

include you?• I hope this presentation has been useful in

providing you with information, perspectives and perhaps some food for thought, through the recommendations, that can be used as a tool for advocacy and action

• Our ability to create problems for ourselves, as we have done with Carbon Emissions, is matched only by our ability to create solutions”.

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BREAKING OF A NEW DAWN IN THE BREAKING OF A NEW DAWN IN THE HINTERLAND OF GUYANAHINTERLAND OF GUYANA

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