Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud says Guyana’s rainforest offer to combat climate change is a call for a viable market-based mechanism to reward and compensate countries that have taken deliberate policy measures to ensure the sustainable use of their forest resources.

According to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) Persaud made these comments at the ‘Capacity Building for Climate Change Adaptation – A Caribbean Experience’ seminar organised by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, one of the side events of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

The delegation also included Chairman of the National Climate Committee Shyam Nokta, Head of the National Climate Unit in the ministry Gitanjali Chandarpal, Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh and Co-ordinator of the Guiana Shield Programme Dr Patrick Chesney.

Persaud said Guyana will continue to deal with climate change including its forest management which is based on the principles of sustainable development. This takes into account sustainable use and conservation which is evident in the work of the Iwokrama Rainforest Conservation and Development Pro-gramme. Guyana’s delegation was involved in negotiations in the technical sessions which included meetings of the Subsidiary Body on Science and Technological Advice during which one of the main topics reviewed was Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation.

Guyana and other rainforest countries have been lobbying for adequate compensation for standing forests and a market-based mechanism to be put in place as discussions are ongoing on a post 2012 Kyoto Protocol. The Adaptation Fund, Development and Transfer of Technologies and Capacity Building were also discussed.

The Guyana team is expected to continue negotiations and will participate in important bilateral meetings with delegations from the United Kingdom and other countries.

In October President Bharrat Jagdeo said Guyana was willing to deploy almost its entire forest in the service of the battle against climate change.