As he prepared to leave for the World Economic Forum which opens in Davos, Switzerland today, President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday that the government will continue lobbying for support for incentives for rainforest preservation.

In the light of a global climate deal due at a year-end conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Jagdeo told reporters that with increasing attention being paid to forest preservation, the country has to work now to raise interest and awareness and get supportive NGOs and governments involved. “So that in the negotiations they work out the right mechanism for financial flows for the developing world,” he said.

Jagdeo has been invited to Davos to discuss deforestation at the annual meeting. Jagdeo has been lobbying for Guyana to receive monetary compensation for its standing forests, in the context of the need to meet crucial climate change targets.

Bharrat Jagdeo

Jagdeo said he will also visit Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg, noting that the country has been very supportive of environmental initiatives. He also plans to meet Britain’s Prince Charles, who has also been active against deforestation.  Jagdeo was optimistic that with a favourable outcome in Copenhagen, Guyana could see the inflows of large funds for developmental purposes.