At a symposium to mark the International Year of Forests earlier this week at the International Convention Centre, Liliendaal, President Bharrat Jagdeo boasted that Guyana has led the way in developing what he called the “economics of trees”, referring of course to the Low Carbon Development Strategy and its potential for raking in big bucks for the preservation of trees to be used in the country’s development.
The President then chided those industrialized countries that tout forest preservation, but have atrocious climate change policies, refuse to commit totally to a binding timetable for cutting carbon emissions and contribute to the continuing rise in greenhouse gases. This was glaringly obvious in December 2009 in Copenhagen, where much was expected but little done. Yet for all their dissonance with what was proposed in Copenhagen, many developed countries have been, for years now, embracing the use of solar, wind, water and to some extent nuclear technology for sustainable energy. Recycling of reusable materials and promotion of clean, habitable environments in their cities to the extent that breaches of these are punishable offences and are unerringly enforced have become entrenched also in industrialized countries, despite their continued heavy use of fossil fuels because it is convenient and so far still economically feasible.
Guyana has every right to be proud of its massive virtually untouched rainforest and to boast of what it can contribute to mankind. However, as with the industrialized countries, preservation of forests alone cannot and will not cut it.
It must take a special sort of myopia not to realize that the non-biodegradable plastics, cans, Styrofoam boxes and cups that pour into Guyana each day unhindered and are used and disposed of in the most cavalier of fashions will at some point in the future be reflected in a huge way in the country’s carbon footprint. Then there are the used and re-used tyres and the reconditioned and re-reconditioned vehicles that are imported for the masses to use among other things that also harm the environment.
As a country with a population that barely tips the 700,000 scale, kilometres of virgin rainforest and facing a threat from the sea, Guyana is uniquely poised to be held up as a model of green living and sustainable existence. But this will never happen while we sit and pat our backs and believe that the ‘economics of trees’ is the be all and end all. A concerted effort needs to be made to start to turn things around now. This must include greater focus right now on the use of renewable energy by making solar power for instance, the technology for which is already available on a limited scale, more affordable and accessible rather than waiting and hoping for the Amaila Falls hydropower plant to come on stream years down the line and incentivizing the use of other forms of green energy by citizens. Another absolute would be cleaning up the environment, particularly urban areas; enforcing litter laws and reintroducing biodegradable and recyclable –paper, cardboard and glass—cups, plates, bottles and food containers. Much of what can be done right now does not require a huge outlay of capital and some of it can actually bring in cash, for example, taxes on plastics, fines for littering and for not recycling. It will take significant planning but it is doable and ought to be started sooner rather than later. If not, given the rate at which poor environmental habits are multiplying, it might not be long before they migrate to the hinterland and threaten the very trees we are seeking to preserve.
