The Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission was yesterday called on by Minister of State Joe Harmon to adopt a ‘green’, people centred approach to the formulation of regulations for the hunting, trapping, protection, conservation, management and sustainable use of wildlife.
According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP), Harmon, who was at the time speaking at the Everest Cricket Club, at the opening of public consultations for the development of regulations, said that wildlife management must not only be sustainable, but be built on the principles of conservation and designed within the Government’s Green State Development Strategy while also taking into consideration people’s livelihoods and culture.
“I wish to suggest that you view our wildlife resources in its widest context and deal with the role of the sector in the context of the Green State Development Strategy, the importance of wildlife to our eco-systems, the future value of preserving our wildlife as we seek to expand and make our flora and fauna available for scientific research for the world, Guyana’s international obligations, the impact of the adopted regulations would have on the livelihood and culture of our Indigenous peoples as well as hunters, trappers, middle men and exporters and the role Guyana should be playing in the protection of the flora and fauna of the Guiana Shield, which are under threat from human developmental activities,” Harmon was quoted as saying, in the MotP release.
According to the media release, Harmon said that he hoped that the proposals would embrace the pillars of the President’s ‘green’ state policy, whilst adding that the proposals and draft regulations must also be implementable and capable of improving efficiency in the sector. The consultations, he noted, represents another significant step in the enhancement of the country’s overall national institutional capacity to ensure sound and sustainable environmental management in Guyana.
“The mechanisms for the proper management of our environment and eco-systems, including our wildlife must be viewed within the context of the Green State Development Strategy, which represents our Government’s commitment to the continued protection and stewardship of our natural patrimony… It addresses the protection, restoration and sustainable use of our terrestrial and marine eco-systems and wildlife to ensure that our natural resources provide the best social, economic and environmental benefits for our people,” Harmon was quoted as saying in the press release.
