In a significant stride toward bolstering marine conservation efforts in Guyana, two environmental conservation organizations, the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) and the EMC Foundation, are set to undertake projects funded by the Blue Social Challenge Fund.
As the inaugural beneficiaries of the Blue Social Challenge Fund, the GMCS and EMC Foundation will channel the funds into marine conservation and educational initiatives during this pilot phase.
Annette Arjoon-Martins, Founder of the GMCS, shared the organization’s excitement about expanding drone training for monitoring mangrove ecosystems in the Barima Mora passage in Region One.
Arjoon-Martins expressed, “We are so excited about this, and the seven girls who are gonna be the beneficiaries. We’ve selected them over the past couple of months and carried out the due diligence to ensure they take the learning and carry on from there.”
Stella Madete, Program Manager at the EMC Foundation, outlined their project named “Visual Chronicles of the Mahaica Wetlands and Mangroves.”
The initiative involves collaboration with partners in Mahaica to showcase the area’s biodiversity and culture through videography and photography.
The project will culminate in a grand exhibition featuring books, photographs, and videos produced during the pilot phase.
Former British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, emphasized the primary goal of the program is to enhance communities’ resilience against climate change and sustain their blue economies.
He highlighted the importance of conservation efforts in reducing climate vulnerability, particularly in Guyana.
The pilot phase, slated to conclude in March of this year, serves as a precursor to the official program launch later in the year.
The Blue Social Challenge Fund, part of the UK’s £35 million Sustainable Blue Economies Programme, aims to support initiatives that contribute to the nation’s growing blue economy sectors.
The program envisions widespread access to and sharing of potential benefits across communities.
This initiative holds promise for the future of marine conservation in Guyana, signaling a commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.