Guyana Gov’t Finalising Agreement to Make Contributions to Protected Areas Trust Fund

• The Guyanese government is finalising arrangements to begin making fiscal contributions to the Protected Areas Trust (PAT) Fund, as part of its drive to advance biodiversity protection efforts.
• This was confirmed by Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Joslyn McKenzie, during an address at the PAT’s 10th anniversary celebration. McKenzie noted that the agreement marks the fulfilment of yet another commitment by the government as it seeks to expand the work of the PAT.
• PAT was established in 2014 to fund and manage the National Protected Areas System (NPAS). Through the Protected Areas Commission, PAT supports projects that conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem services within Guyana’s protected areas. This is achieved by using revenue from its endowment fund – the Protected Areas Trust Fund (PATF).
• The PATF was originally endowed with US$8.5Mn, but the organisation receives funding from international donors, private sector donations and endowment fund investments, among other avenues. PS McKenzie explained that the government’s financial contribution will advance efforts to double the size of protected areas.
• Of note, during his recent addresses at the United Nations General Assembly and several sideline engagements, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali reiterated Guyana’s commitment to doubling its protected areas by December 2025 and achieving the global biodiversity target of protecting 30 per cent of its land and marine areas by 2030. The permanent secretary reinforced the president’s vision and said that the country is on track to achieving this ambitious target.

(Source: Guyana Chronicle)