More than 200 participants expressed their views and ideas about the implementation of REDD+ in Guyana
GlobalCAD has held several workshops in Guyana, under the consultancy for stakeholder participation on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and Readiness activities in this country.
Several stakeholder engagements were held in seven regions of the country, aiming at measuring the level of awareness, understanding and attitudes about REDD+ and deforestation and forest degradation in communities and organisations of Guyana. Stakeholders were also involved in defining a REDD+ Communication Strategy and Action Plan for Guyana.
A total of 179 representatives of 49 communities participated in the six cluster workshops held in the hinterland regions. In the workshops held in Georgetown, 43 members of agencies and organizations were involved.
During the workshops, stakeholders expressed their views, concerns and ideas to support the implementation of REDD+, driven by the Ministry of Natural Resources supported by GlobalCAD and under the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) Project.
The information gathered during those workshops will also serve to identify an appropriate communication strategy and materials that would be used to enhance understanding of REDD+ and Readiness Activities in the country.
Experts of CAD are working on strategies intended to ready stakeholders for REDD+ implementation in Guyana, which will be implemented during the next year.
Stakeholders are drawn from indigenous and forest-dependent communities and representative groups such as the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA), Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, National Toshaos Council (NTC) and the National Steering Committee of Community Forestry Organisations. Other stakeholders being consulted are representatives from agencies, local development partners, the private and public sectors, non-governmental organisations, civil society and the media.
Community engagements have taken place in Moruca, Region One; Mainstay, Region Two; Georgetown, Region Four; Kwakwani, Region 10; Bartica, Region Seven; Mahdia, Region Eight; and Lethem, Region Nine.
The consultation enabled engaging the communities in the dialogue on how this project can be implemented. Moreover, a baseline survey questionnaire was administrated on site, including implementing exercises to gather further information to understand the perceptions of the different stakeholders about deforestation and forest degradation; accommodate and integrate the participant’s needs and expectations from the project; find their commitment and readiness to participate and look for possible solutions and opportunities to communicate within the community and provide information, create awareness and give opportunities for discussion, and seeking feedback on issues related to REDD+ in Guyana.
