There are many threats and challenges confronting the management and conservation of freshwater resources in Guyana and the wider regions of the Guianas.

And while there have been improvements in certain aspects of freshwater management, many key issues remain unattended.

Last Saturday was observed as World Wetlands Day as identified by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Recognising that the wetlands is a vital resource, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guianas has developed a four-year freshwater and conservation Programme which aims at conserving and managing Guyana’s fresh water resources/wetlands. It endeavours to improve wetlands management through institutional and legislative strengthening, educating the private sector, local mining communities and key freshwater sectors on improved management practices.

The WWF has identified a number of key stakeholders as partners in its freshwater programme. Among these are the ministries of Agriculture and Housing and Water; Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Water Incorporated, Environmental Protection Agency and local communities and indigenous organisations such as the Amerindian People’s Association.

Because freshwater resources have multiple users, the WWF perceives its management from a holistic viewpoint, therefore the approaches to dealing with the many conflicting uses has to be integrated. The WWF has undertaken projects that demonstrate how all interest groups can utilize freshwater in ways that are beneficial to all major stakeholders.

The WWF also supports the management of the Arapaima in the North Rupununi. The objectives are to increase the Arapaima population and therefore increase local fishers’ income. WWF has supported the resuscitation of the Fisheries Committees and more recently the Arapaima Population Surveys in the north Rupununi, which started over the last few days and will continue for the next two weeks.