Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Guyana’s total size is 215,000 km2 and its coastline is around 434 km long. Approximately 85% of its total land area is covered by forest (18.5 million hectares). In 2012, Guyana recorded a deforestation rate of less than 1%. Forests in Guyana can be classified as rainforest (36%), montane forest (35%), swamp and marsh (15%), dry evergreen (7%), seasonal forest (6%), and mangrove forest (1%)... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

Identified threats are associated with some of Guyana’s main economic activities, such as agriculture and extractive industries (forestry, and exploration/mining for gold, diamond and bauxite). Direct threats to biodiversity include overfishing and overhunting, savannah and forest fires, indiscriminate land use practices (mining, logging, and agriculture), poaching of wildlife, inappropriate use of agro-chemicals, introduction of alien invasive species, climate change events and related natural disasters... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

Guyana’s first National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) (1999-2004) was prepared with the overall goal “to promote and achieve the conservation of Guyana’s biodiversity, to use its components in a sustainable way, and to encourage the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of Guyana’s biodiversity”... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

A number of strategies, plans and programmes have been developed and are being implemented. These include the development of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan, preparation of Wildlife Conservation and Management Regulations, and the development of a National Biosafety Framework, National Policy on Access and Benefit-sharing and related draft Regulations... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

Through the Environmental Protection Act (1996), the EPA is mandated with the overall responsibility for natural resources management, including a programme for conservation of biological diversity and its sustainable use and wildlife protection and management. The establishment of the National Protected Areas System and related management programmes which were also under EPA’s mandate are now being facilitated through the Protected Areas Commission (PAC)... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

The actual level of ecological baseline data needed for monitoring and informed decision-making is inadequate. However, there have been several limited studies conducted locally, for example, on biodiversity, land use, and inland waters. The EPA also utilises permit conditions for authorised operations to conduct compliance and audits... More »