By Fabiana Mcklmon | October 1, 2024
The Government of Guyana is finalizing plans to start financial contributions to the Protected Areas Trust Fund (PATF) to strengthen biodiversity protection efforts.
This announcement was made during a forum held at Herdmanston Lodge to mark the 10th anniversary of the PATF, an endowment fund dedicated to managing and financing Guyana’s National Protected Areas System (NPAS).
Established in 2014 with an initial endowment of $8.5 million, the PATF funds conservation initiatives to protect biodiversity and preserve ecosystem services within the nation’s protected regions.
Administered by the Protected Areas Commission, the PATF supports projects within five designated areas, including the Kanuku Mountains, Shell Beach, Kanashen, Kaieteur National Park, and Iwokrama.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Joslyn McKenzie, underscored the government’s commitment to expanding protected areas and supporting biodiversity conservation.
He highlighted the government’s plan to double Guyana’s protected areas by 2025 and meet the international goal of protecting 30 percent of land and marine spaces by 2030, aligning with President Irfaan Ali’s recent address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Currently, Guyana’s National Protected Area System covers 8.5 percent of the country’s terrestrial space.
The planned contributions to the PATF signify a strategic effort to preserve the country’s unique ecosystems, ensuring their resilience for future generations.