The fourth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield,  which has received funding from the Caribbean Community CARICOM through the ACP-MEAs project, got underway in Georgetown, Guyana, on Monday.  

The event is being held under the theme ‘Leveraging our High Endemicity, Cultural Diversity and intact Ecosystems for inclusive Growth and Secure Futures’.

Two of the countries of the Guiana Shield, Guyana and Suriname, are members of CARICOM which is committed to supporting the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of the valuable natural resources of Member States.

His Excellency David Granger gave an address at the opening of the Congress at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

In his remarks, President Granger said forest countries, including those of the Guiana Shield – Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and Venezuela – required investments to spur “green economies” which would ensure their prosperity and at the same time protect unique plant and animal life.  The President said incentives were needed for countries in the Guiana Shield to keep their forests intact, while investment was needed for sustainable development.

By hosting international congresses, the International Society for Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield (IBG) has been engaged in the exchange of scientific information of the Shield. The IBG congresses have been instrumental in bringing researchers, governments, natural resource practitioners, non-governmental organisations and communities together to discuss issues and share experiences related to conservation and sustainable use of the Guiana Shield. It has enabled international cooperation such as the Guiana Shield Initiative and the Guyana Shield Facility.

The CARICOM Secretariat is pleased to be a partner in the hosting of the Congress which provides an exceptional opportunity to draw attention to the importance of biodiversity to our countries, our people and the world. The CARICOM Secretariat endorses and supports the goal, as expressed in the Congress themes, of leveraging the biological and cultural diversity of the Region for inclusive growth, secure futures, and sustainable development.