Complex language inhibits oversight in forest protection programme – GHRA

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) yesterday expressed concern about the “opaque language and complex processes” that surround Guyana’s forest protection programmes such as REDD+ saying these weaken accountability and democratic oversight.

The human rights body called on government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on key environmental issues to make greater efforts to provide the vital information citizens need in a full, accessible and timely manner. Guyana’s rivers and forests hold the key to the survival of the society but Guyanese citizens know next to nothing about how wisely or efficiently these vital sectors are being managed, the GHRA said in a statement yesterday.

It pointed to an article published in Friday’s edition of Stabroek News which reported that Guyana’s deforestation rate has jumped to