Contents

Minister’s Message 2

Executive Summary 4

Introduction 8

Ministry’s Programmatic Areas 10

Strategic Planning & Adminstration 10

Natural Resources Management 22

Environmental Management 26

Glossary 31

Agencies Contact Information 32

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES

Figure 1: Coordination among Agencies and the Ministry - 8

Figure 2: Table showing an overview of the Ministry’s Legislative Agenda for 2013 - 10

Figure 3: Graph showing production level for Forest Products for 2013 and 2012 - 24

1 MNRE Annual Report MINISTER’S MESSAGE

Message by the Hon. Robert M. Persaud, MBA, MP, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment

In 2013, the Guyanese economy 2012, overshadowing the 6% increase the Government continues to forge (ADF), milestone disbursements were contributions to national and local recorded its eighth consecutive year in export volume which amounted to ahead with our innovative climate made to all 26 of the initial benefi ciary economies. Mining activities have of growth, with real GDP expanding 482,527 ounces. In addition, bauxite resilient and low carbon approach to communities for the implementation of important impacts on host countries by 5.2%. Non-sugar GDP grew even exports contracted to US$134.6 million, economic development backed by our their development plans in promoting at the national level and in local areas more rapidly by 6.3%, refl ecting due to a 24.7% decline in export volume unwavering commitment to good forest sustainable village economies. Under near to where mining activities take the underlying strength of the other to 1,678,971 tonnes, despite the 18.6% governance and stewardship. Over the the US$5 million Micro and Small place. At a national level, the Guyanese sectors of the economy. The mining increase in export prices to US$80 past year, the Government continued to Enterprise Development project, economy is dependent on mining. and quarrying industry recorded 8% per tonne. Timber exports earnings work tirelessly at the multilateral level applications for loans with reduced At the local level, mines contribute growth over 2012. The gold industry declined by 1.4% to US$38.5 million, to establish a Reducing Emissions from interest rates have already started to to the areas in which they operate achieved total declarations of 481,087 primarily as a result of lower export Deforestation and Forest Degradation be processed for entrepreneurs with through two main channels: through ounces, 9.7% above the previous year, volume. As a result, the capital account (REDD+) framework that sets the business ventures in low carbon sectors. commercial activities (employing and and a historic performance. This year’s recorded a lower surplus of US$314.8 stage for future payments for forest Furthermore, in the last quarter of training people and procuring goods level of declarations represents the million compared to US$418.3 million, conservation and sustainable forest 2013, the US$10.7 million Amerindian and services), and through social highest in the history of the industry, attributed to some moderation in FDI management. To date, has Land Titling project was approved and investments. Mining plays a vital role in exceeding production levels even concentrated mainly in the mining and earned three consecutive payments commenced implementation. generating employment in and around when Omai gold mines were at their quarry sectors. Total FDI amounted to from Norway totalling US$115 million mining districts. Mines also contribute peak. The fortunes of bauxite were US$214 million, compared to US$293.7 within the framework of our Low Carbon The mining industry is a major force towards human capital development somewhat more tempered, with the million in the previous year. Development Strategy (LCDS). In the in the world economy, occupying a through investment in training and industry registering an 11% decline in last quarter of 2013, the annual third primary position at the start of the support to trade schools. value added production. Additionally, Further, from a monetary developmental party audit of Guyana’s performance resource supply chain. However, its diamond declarations increased by view, credit to mining and quarrying also under this partnership was completed, role in contributing to the national Guyana is primarily a resource-based 56.9%, while stone production grew by grew by 13.9%, followed by agriculture clearing the way for a fourth payment. economies of different countries varies economy. The extractive industries are 47.8%, the latter refl ecting the strong and rice milling which registered growth greatly. Mining is a global industry with an important source of employment, boom in construction activity across of 13.7 and 9.9% respectively. The fi scal The year 2013 was a notable year of operations spread across developing income and government revenue. The the country. position of the economy indicated that progress for activities under the GRIF. and developed countries. In many sector occupies a central place in the the total current revenue collections for A total of four GRIF projects, with a countries like Guyana, it is often a economy due to attractive commodity Moreover, export earnings contracted 2013, net of infl ows from the Guyana combined approximate value of US$30 signifi cant contributor to the Gross prices, the availability of mining marginally by 2.8% to US$1.4 billion, REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), million, were in their implementation Domestic Product (GDP) and poverty properties, increases in production mainly due to a sharp decline in gold amounted to $135.7 billion, 4.8% over phases. Under the US$7 million alleviation. Minerals and metals are also and technological improvements. With prices along with lower export volumes 2012, refl ecting strong performance Institutional Strengthening project required for low carbon development further hydrocarbon exploration, the of sugar, bauxite and timber. Gold across several tax categories. signifi cant progress was made towards as inputs for building renewable energy resumption of manganese mining, exports amounted to US$648.5 million, the development of Guyana’s fi rst infrastructure. increased production of bauxite and a 9.5% decline compared to 2012. Under the policy directives of the Low national scale Monitoring, Reporting gold and the opening of new areas This was due to a sharp decline in Carbon Development Strategy and in and Verifi cation (MRV) System. Therefore, effective governance is for exploration, the extractive sector is average realised prices of US$1,344 the wake of the intensifi cation of the Under the US$6 million allocation to critical to maximize the developmental expected to continue its rapid growth. per ounce compared to $1,575 in adverse impacts of climate change, the Amerindian Development Fund outcomes from the mining companies’

2 3 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report Natural Resources Management EXECUTIVE SUMMARY has three programme areas:- Geology and Mining; Forestry Management and Land Management. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) was established on December 17, 2011. Its primary focus Geology and Mining: permission from the GGMC or absence of completed a total of 1,397 claim is harmonizing policy and management in the Natural resources-based sectors, and better mainstreaming of conservation verifi cations. Sixty per cent (60%) of GGMC continued its monitoring evidence to substantiate that applications and environmental management. were made to the GGMC. Dredges that were Sand and Loam Pits in the Berbice, and enforcement activities in the operating on Prospecting Permits Medium Essequibo, and Demerara/ Agencies under the purview of the Ministry: fi eld to ensure compliance with areas were completed current mining and environmental during the year while approximately The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is responsible for the coordination amongst eight natural ninety percent (90%) of landings to resources and environment agencies: regulations. The Mines Technical Division completed thirty-four be regularized were completed. ¥ Guyana Forestry Commission ¥ Environmental Protection Agency (34) of the thirty six (36) planned ¥ Guyana Geology and Mines Commission ¥ Guyana Wildlife Division technical inspections for 2013 in Goldsmith premises and Licensed Traders were also inspected ¥ Guyana Gold Board ¥ National Parks Commission the fi ve (5) targeted Mining Districts and certifi cations confi rmed. ¥ Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission ¥ Protected Areas Commission inclusive of six (6) medium scale inspections (gold). Quantity surveys During the year, 1,386 dredges and sand pit inspections were done were registered, 3,011 were The three main programmatic areas of the Ministry are:- in the three counties where eight renewed, 4,396 licensed, 88 Strategic Planning and Administration; Natural Resources Management; and Environmental Management. such inspections were completed of dredge transferrals issued, and 34 Strategic Planning and Administration the ten planned visits. A total of 863 dredges scrapped. A total of 1,364 Cease Work Orders (CWOs) were Prospecting Permits Small Scale has two sub-programmes: issued during the year 2013. Most were issued for the year 2013. Policy Development and Administration. CWOs were issued to operators Scale (PPMSs) were issued with CWOs. Policy Development: for working without the requisite During the year, the Surveying Section A number of policies were developed and submitted in 2013 and are in various stages of ratifi cation. These include:- Forestry Management: The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) continued to advance its ¥ Wildlife Import and Export Bill ¥ Environmental Protection (Air Quality, Water programme of work on implementing National Level Independent Forest Quality, Noise Management, Hazardous Wastes ¥ Land Surveyors Bill Monitoring (IFM). This initiative allows for transparent, independent, Management) Regulations 2000 ¥ Land Surveyors Regulations third party verifi cation of legal compliance, and observation of forest law ¥ Species Protection Regulation ¥ Land Surveyors Profession Bill enforcement systems. Over the period, 31st October to 8th November, ¥ Regulations for Compliance and Enforcement the year 2 IFM fi eld audit mission was conducted. This followed a similar ¥ National Land Use Plan ¥ Litter Regulations approach to that used in the year 1 audit and this was successfully ¥ Occupational Health and Safety Regulations concluded. The Report of the second IFM Audit will be fi nalised in 2014 ¥ Regulations under the Protected Areas Act 2011 ¥ Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulation and published on the GFC’s website. ¥ GIS Policy ¥ Access to Genetic Resources and Benefi t Sharing Regulations ¥ Styrofoam Restriction For the year 2013, the forest sector showed a 10% increase over the year 2012. Total production of Timber (Logs, Primary ¥ Biosafety/ Biotechnology Management Bill ¥ Solid Waste Management Bill Lumber, Roundwood, Fuelwood, and Splitwood) for the period January to December 2013 was recorded at 437,933m3 and together with Veneer and Plywood recorded a total of 473,041m3. This compares to 406,613m3 and 428,934m3 respectively, recorded in 2012. Exports of Forest Products for the year 2013 were recorded at US$39.6M. This represents Administration: a marginal decrease of 1% over the 2012 total of US$40M. The rise in production associated with the decline in export is Financial Statements were submitted to the Audit Offi ce by the natural resources agencies. A series of procurement and attributed in part to the increasing local demand in the building and construction sectors, as well as the utilities sub sector capital works were also undertaken by these agencies during 2013. With regards to staffi ng, the Ministry inclusive of all (electricity and water mainly). agencies started 2013 with 1068 employees and concluded the year with 1158 employees which represented an overall employment increase of 8.4%. Forest change of forest to non-forest excluding degradation between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2012 (12 months) is estimated at 14 655 ha. This equates to a total deforestation rate of 0.079%. This rate of change is higher than Year 2 period Local Training and Capacity Building as well as international training occurred in the major agencies including the Ministry (15 months) which was reported as 0.054%. itself. Some of the important areas covered included Environmental Management, Forestry Management, Sustainable Mining and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). For 2012/2013 approximately 507 State Forest Permissions (SFP) (inclusive of Mining and Agriculture leases) were active, covering an area of 1,895,149 ha, with a potential quota of 801,074m3. Twenty-six (26) TSAs and one (1) WCLs have been The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has also assisted the Agencies in the preparation of Cabinet allocated for 2013, a total of 4,094,836 ha and potential AAC of 875,227 m3. For this report period, 6,878,990 ha were Memos, preparation of position papers prior to attending international meetings, and provided support to the delegations allocated as forest concessions under the regulation of GFC with the potential to extract 1,676,301 m3 of timber resources. while oversees in the form of guidance and information.

4 5 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report Land Management: The Plan guides informed decision- for the period 2013-2017. Under THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE The Development of Land Use Planning making for optimal Land Use Planning the Project, a Lease Management (DLUP) Project is a foreign funded and supports planning for climate System (LMS) was developed to fully ENVIRONMENT (MNRE) STRATEGIC FOCUS Project executed by the Government change adaptation which entails computerize the lease application and of Guyana and the European Union, shifting development inland in order to processing system, and to retain the which was successfully implemented reduce the risk of fl ooding on the coast. The MNRE has identifi ed seven (7) Strategic Focus Areas for the sustainable use and management of Guyana’s Natural history of all the leases. The DLUP from January 2011 to October 2013. In addition, there are three Regional Resources and Environment. These are:- Project facilitated training in GIS, The deliverables of the DLUP Project Land Use Plans prepared for Regions l, Remote Sensing, Customer Service are of signifi cant importance to Guyana. 2 and 10 to guide regional development. These included a National Land Use and other technical areas during its Plan, which provides developmental Another key deliverable of the DLUP three-year implementation period. Strategic Area 2: options and infrastructural linkages. Project was a Strategic Plan for GL&SC Strategic Area 1: Strengthening of Harmonizing/ consolidating the institutional structures for Environmental Management policy, legal, regulatory, and effective management administrative frameworks in of Guyana’s natural has three sub-programmes: Guyana that will support the resources, including Environmental Protection and Conservation; Environmental Restoration; and Environmental Research. sustainable use, protection and optimum human management of the country’s resources deployment Environmental Protection permits were issued in 2013. Nineteen natural resources. and management. and Conservation: wildlife holding premises were also The Environmental Protection inspected during February/March and November/December respectively. Agency issued 244 Environmental International Day for Biological Diversity Authorisations in 2013, from the 392 was celebrated under the theme ‘Water Strategic Area 4: Strategic Area 3: applications received. Two-hundred and Biodiversity’, and art competitions Strengthening land- Improving national and sixty-six (266) pollution reports and Youth Fora were conducted in use planning and implementation, monitoring were received with one-hundred and Regions 4 and 10 respectively. World sustainable land and reporting for twenty-three (123) investigated. One Environment Day was celebrated under management, with Multilateral Environmental hundred and eleven (111) Compliance the theme Think. Eat. Save. Reduce particular focus on Agreements (MEAs) Inspections were conducted during your foodprint’. The Annual Green extractive sectors. 2013 representing an eighteen inspections over that of 2012. 560 Walk saw the participation of over 1000 and other bilateral percent (18%) increase in compliance CITES permits and 435 non-CITES participants. commitments.

Strategic Area 6: In the latter half of 2012, three (3) issued for the reporting period, two Strategic Area 5: Improving natural sub-committees were formed to focus (2) covering research applications Developing an integrated resources and on the identifi cation of potential sites that were received and processed in Information and environmental for rehabilitation/ restoration; the 2012 but approved in 2013.Fourteen The Ministry of Natural Communication (ICC) monitoring at a preparation of a list of species that (14) research permits were extended; Resources and the Environment, System for natural resources national level, can be used by soil type based on soil eight (8) requests for the expansion of with fi nancial and technical and the execution of an and within various characterization; the determination geographical scope; fi ve (5) requests support from the United Nations Education and awareness sectors. of the methodology for the planting for the extension of the research Development Programme Programme to support the of each, and the associated costs period; and one (1) request for both (UNDP) has started the process sustainable use, protection involved; and the identifi cation of the the expansion of geographical scope of preparation of a Strategic and management of different sources of fi nancing for the and research period were granted. The Plan for Natural Resources and Guyana’s natural resources. Strategic Area 7: implementation of the programme. This Permits issued, were for research to the Environment in Guyana. Institutional work continued apace in 2013. be conducted on fl ora, fauna, fi lming, The Project and the Plan to strengthening of the Environmental Restoration and other studies. A total of fourteen The Ministry of Natural Resources be developed is intended to indigenous sector to Environmental Research: For the thousand six hundred and thirty manage, regulate, and and the Environment is working with contribute to the harmonization year 2013, Fifty-fi ve (55) Research United States dollars (US$14,630.00) execute programmes to several Agencies such as NAREI, EPA, of policy and management in Applications were received. Forty- was generated for the period from support the sustainable GGMC, GFC, GGDMA, FPA, UG and the forestry, mining and other eight (48) research applications applications, late applications, and natural resources-based sectors, use of Guyana’s natural OCC to rehabilitate areas degraded by were processed and approved; of permit fees. and better mainstreaming of resources. mining activities. The focus of this sub- these, forty-six (46) were applications conservation and environmental programme area was the establishment received in 2013 and two (2) were management. of coordination mechanisms for applications received in 2012. Forty- environmental restoration activities. fi ve (45) Research Permits were

6 7 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report INTRODUCTION

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) was established on December 17, 2011. This represented a signifi cant and far-reaching institutional change in Guyana’s natural resource management sector. Many of the challenges facing natural resources and environmental management today stem from weak linkages between key sector agencies and a somewhat fragmented governance approach. The Ministry’s primary focus is therefore harmonizing policy and management in the Natural resources-based sectors, and better mainstreaming of conservation and environmental management.

Vision: Staffi ng: Agencies’ Mandates revenue and other benefi ts for the citizens of Guyana. Guyana Gold Board: To provide for the establishment, Improving the quality of life in Guyana through effective The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment Guyana Forestry Commission: constitution, and functions of the Guyana Gold Board environmental management and the sustainable had, at the end of 2013, a total staff complement of 14 and for matters connected therewith. development of Guyana’s natural resources. Members of Staff. To provide excellence in forest resource planning, management and utilization through good governance; Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission: Mission Statement: Agencies under the purview of the Ministry the enforcement of relevant guidelines and the promotion of social and economic benefi ts. To effectively and effi ciently administer lands for the To facilitate the effective management and development The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment benefi t of our clients and National Development. of Guyana’s natural resources, through improved policy is responsible for the coordination among eight natural Guyana Geology and Mines Commission: making, inter-agency coordination and administration, resources and environment agencies: By ourselves, and in partnership with others, fi nding, Environmental Protected Agency: and based on the principles of environmental, economic ¥ Guyana Forestry Commission inventorying and producing minerals, mineral To provide for the management, conservation, protection and social sustainability, for the ultimate benefi t of ¥ Guyana Geology and Mines Commission commodities and petroleum in accordance with and improvement of the environment, the prevention Guyana and all the global community. ¥ Guyana Gold Board acceptable international standards, for the earning of or control of pollution, the assessment of the impact of economic development on the environment, the ¥ Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Core Functions: sustainable use of the natural resources and for matters ¥ Environmental Protection Agency The Ministry’s core functions are to: incidental thereto or connected therewith. ¥ Guyana Wildlife Division Guyana ¥ Coordinate, promote and monitor environmental Forestry Guyana Wildlife Division: and natural resources activities ¥ National Parks Commission Commission To ensure the regulation of the international trade ¥ Provide informed guidance on sustainable ¥ Protected Areas Commission in wildlife, to assess the level of trade and to devise management, utilization, and conservation of the Guyana Geology measures to effectively manage the trade in a sustainable environment and natural resources. One of the underlying principles Protected of the Ministry of Natural & Mines manner. ¥ Promote capacity building to ensure that all MNRE Areas Resources and the Environment Commission agencies and the sectors are well resourced; Commission is free sharing of information and National Parks Commission: ¥ Upgrade the capacity for unifi ed and enhanced collaboration between itself and To manage the natural and cultural resources of the environmental data, its analysis and information the Agencies, which is displayed national parks on behalf the people of Guyana through coverage and application; in Figure 1. conservation, education and awareness, while affording ¥ Develop a policy framework to harmonize Ministry of Natural the opportunity for open air recreation for future National environmental-related laws and institutions, and Resources and the generations. Parks Guyana Gold promote the capacity for collective enforcement of Environment Commission Board environmental standards; and promote the effective Protected Areas Commission: implementation of same; To establish, manage, maintain, promote and expand the ¥ Promote the capacity for collective monitoring and National Protected Areas System (NPAS). enforcement of environmental standards; ¥ Strengthen multi-sectoral planning and strengthen linkages between institutions of planning and Guyana Guyana Lands environmental and natural resources management; Wildlife & Surveys ¥ Establish a baseline on the state of the Division Commission environment for future environmental planning; ¥ Establish a mechanism for information sharing among natural resources agencies; Environmental Figure 1: Coordination among Protection ¥ Strengthen negotiating capabilities through top Agencies and the Ministry Agency talent development and compliance with Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs).

8 9 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report Guyana Geology and ¥ Mining (Amendment) To establish a protocol Consultations Ongoing. MINISTRY’S PROGRAMMATIC AREAS Mines Commission Regulations 2013 to use Dredge Tracking Devices on Dredges/ Specifi ed Machinery. The three main programmatic areas of the Ministry are Strategic Planning and Administration; Natural Resources Management; and Environmental Management. ¥ Occupational Health and To provide for protection To be laid in the Safety Regulations of the safety and health National Assembly. The activities conducted under these areas fulfi ll the mandate of the Ministry and the work of the eight natural resources and of mines workers. environment agencies contribute to the implementation of activities under these programmatic areas. Environmental ¥ Wildlife Management and To govern the national Gazetted. Protection Agency Conservation Regulation trade of all species STRATEGIC PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION of wildlife in Guyana; including the domestic The main objectives of the Strategic Planning and Administration programmatic area are: trade of bush meat. ¥ To develop and implement policies related ¥ To monitor and evaluate the country’s ¥ Access to Genetic Regulation of access Draft Regulations; to to natural resources and the environment, Resources and Benefi t to genetic resources be fi nalized by a legal programmes in the areas of natural Sharing Regulations and benefi t-sharing in consultant. to coordinate the network of implementing resources and the environment. Guyana. agencies under the purview of MNRE. ¥ Biosafety/ Biotechnology Management of 1st Draft Completed. 2nd Sub-programme 1: Policy Development Management Bill Biosafety/Biotechnology Revision on-going. activities in Guyana. The Legislative Agenda below summarizes the legislations that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment ¥ Environmental Protection Outlining of standards for Gap Analysis review in through its Agencies and Commissions have prepared. (Air Quality, Water Quality, air quality, water quality, progress. Noise Management, noise, and hazardous Hazardous Wastes wastes in Guyana; and Figure 2: Table showing an overview of the Ministry’s Legislative Agenda for 2013 Management) Regulations the regulation of these 2000 standards. ¥ Regulations of the Import/ Regulation of import Draft Regulations: Export of Hazardous and export of hazardous Internal Review in Agency Legislation Focus of Legislation Status Wastes waste. progress. Wildlife ¥ Wildlife Import and The regulation of import To be laid in the ¥ Species Protection Monitoring of trade of To be repealed by Division Export Bill and export of wildlife. National Assembly. Regulation wildlife. Wildlife Import and Export Bill. Guyana Lands and ¥ Land Surveyors Act To reform the law To be laid in the (See Appendix 1)\ Survey Commission governing the practice of National Assembly. Land/Aerial Surveying. ¥ Regulations for Strengthening In process of being Compliance and environmental drafted. ¥ Land Surveyors To regulate the practice To be laid in the Enforcement Regulations compliance and Regulations of Land Surveying. National Assembly. enforcement in Guyana.

¥ Land Surveyors To make provisions To be laid in the ¥ Litter Regulations To enforce litter Gazetted. Profession Act for the registration National Assembly. prevention and and licensing of Land implement penalties for Surveyors. offences. Protected Areas ¥ Regulations under the The regulation of National Protected Area ¥ National Land Use Plan To inform decision Completed. Commission Protected Areas Act 2011 Guyana’s National Trust Fund Regulations making for land-based Protected Area System. Gazetted. sector agencies. Guyana Forestry ¥ FC Act 2009 The sustainable On-going revision. Ministry of Natural ¥ GIS Policy To develop a National 2nd Public Consultation Commission management of Resources and the Geographic Information Completed. Review in Guyana’s forest. Environment System Network. process to be fi nalized. Both were passed by Parliament however ¥ Styrofoam Restriction To impose a stamp duty/ Consultations ongoing. since that time, there environmental tax and have been a number of institute a 2-yr ban. developments that needs to be integrated. Inter- Ministry ¥ Solid Waste Management To govern the Detailed Comments Collaboration w/ Ministry Bill management of Solid Provided by MNRE. ¥ Forest Act 2012 of Local Government Waste.

10 11 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report The following policy initiatives were implemented during the year 2013: MNRE Outreaches • Guyana Mining School and Training Center Inc. • Amaila Falls Hydropower Project In an effort to address the issues exercise to visit the areas where those activities, etc. At these outreaches, • Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative • Enforcement & Compliance Regulations identifi ed regionally that fall under common concerns were highlighted. the agencies highlighted the correct the purview of the natural resources Some of the shared issues highlighted procedures and practices to ensure • Project Matrix • Pick-It-Up Guyana and the environment sector, the were land application, acquisition of public awareness and to provide clarity. • MNRE Outreaches • Litter Regulations Ministry along with representatives land leases, garbage accumulation and Following the meetings, the respective • Communications Workshop • MNRE Strategic Plan from the Environmental Protection stench, squatting, illegal occupation agencies that were responsible for • Strategic Environmental Assessment Workshop • Land Reclamation Agency, Guyana Lands and Surveys of the Government reserve, boundary following up on the complaints made, Commission, Guyana Geology and discrepancies, fl ooding of residential deployed their staff to investigate and • Hinterland Infrastructure Committee • Minamata Convention Mines Commission and the Guyana and farm lands, change of land use and follow up on the actions to ensure the • GIS Policy • Mercury-Free Mining Development Fund Forestry Commission embarked on an water pollution stemming from mining problems were being addressed. • Environmental Management in the Mining Sector • Indigenous Affairs • Multilateral Environmental Agreements • International Workshops Communications Workshop • Styrofoam Restriction During the regional outreaches, it was The intention of sharing this workshop verbal communication. At the workshop suggested that the Ministry conduct a with senior management was to have the participants were encouraged to use communications workshop to further Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc. a top down approach. Some of the the notes and materials received to lead enhance and boost the capacity of priority areas that the participants short weekly or bi-weekly discussions The Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc. (GMSTC) was established in 2012 and falls under the direction of the the staff in order to effectively serve highlighted included: training in group with staff in order to build their capacity Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). the public. As such, the Ministry held communication and management and encourage suggestions to increase The school is conceptualized as a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institution, whose aim is to a two (2) day workshop targeting the techniques, formal and informal both productivity and ensure harmony in the senior management of its eight (8) provide the mining sector with skilled technicians capable of enhancing its development. The GGMC, with support from the written and spoken, public speaking, work environment. agencies to undertake the training. client/customer service as well as non- WWF-Guianas, has commissioned a consultancy to develop a curriculum to help move the school towards full functionality. Strategic Environmental Assessment Workshop The key elements of proposed curriculum for the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc. (GMSTC) include: The Ministry of Natural Resources and delivered over a three-day period objective of the SEA workshop was to the Environment organized and hosted from July 4-6, 2013 at the premises create and enhance the awareness and • two training streams: (i) Exploration Operations, and a workshop on Strategic Environmental of the Guyana Forestry Commission, knowledge of participants in respect of (ii) Surface Mining Operations. Assessment (SEA), a “formal process of Georgetown, Guyana, and facilitated the concept, processes and application • three levels of qualifi cation up to a Diploma in each stream. systematic analysis of the environmental by Dr. Paulette Bynoe, Consultant and of the Strategic Environmental • categories of skills and competencies other than pure effects of development policies, plans, Director of the School of Earth and Assessment as a tool in support of a technical training. and programmes and other proposed Environmental Sciences (SEES) at more integrated policy decision making. • a broad range of teaching modules to address the needs strategic actions.” The workshop was the University of Guyana. The overall of the industry. • the emphasis on competencies (the application of skills Hinterland Infrastructure Committee and knowledge to a specifi ed task) rather than the mere The construction and maintenance of the Road from Brian Sucre attainment of skills as an end in itself. of quality hinterland roads is of Junction to and , paramount importance since it Rehabilitation of Road from Matthew’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) facilitates easy and safe access to Ridge to Road, the road hinterland regions, reduces operational from Itaballi Landing to Puruni Landing In February 2013, the MoNRE formally those targets; its composition is a 2013, advertised for a consultancy costs and improves livelihood. During and routine maintenance on the road established a Multi-Stakeholder critical step for countries intending to to undertake a study that takes into 2013 the committee met to deliberate from Brian Sucre Junction to Mahdia. Group (MSG) for the consideration implement the EITI. In addition, the account the latest changes to the EITI EITI Secretariat has provided guidance on the design, construction and Additionally, Road Users Agreements of a potential candidacy to the Standard and that addresses both supervision of several buildings and were developed for specifi c roads EITI. As per the EITI standard, on the content of both “feasibility” and “scoping” studies necessary feasibility and scoping aspects of the hinterland roads. Some of the roads to restrict weight limits on vehicles the MSG is responsible for the for taking forward the initiatives. implementation of the EITI. The study that received attention during 2013 transporting goods and equipment into identifi cation of the goals to be will be conducted in the fi rst half of included the internal roads in Madhia the hinterland. Restrictions to weight achieved through EITI compliance In its efforts to take forward the EITI 2014. which were shaped and rehabilitated limits are essential since overladen as well as the implementation of in Guyana, the GoG, in December with the expectation of capping with vehicles cause signifi cant damage to the actions necessary to realize bitchumen in 2014, Rehabilitation the roads they traverse.

12 13 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report GIS Policy Styrofoam Restriction The Ministry of Natural Resources and information and GISs and the building key government agencies to ensure On June 25, 2013 Cabinet approved a On November 18, 2013, the Ministry the Environment hosted an inception of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure that these organizations are aware of ban on Styrofoam importation and use of Natural Resources and the meeting and national consultations (NSDI) in pursuit of sustainable each other’s fi xed assets, facilities and in Guyana from June 2014. Additionally, Environment hosted a Stakeholder’s to update the National Policy on national development. The Ministry activities. Potential confl icts and areas Cabinet approved 2 interim measures to Consultation to apprise stakeholders Geographic Information. A national also established a GIS Unit that aims for coordination and cooperation will the importation of Styrofoam Products. of Cabinet’s decision and to garner policy is required to encourage to improve sharing of accurate and become more obvious. These are: stakeholder’s concerns on the type and expand the use of geographic up-to-date information among all the a. The provision of tax incentives to of incentives required to transition incentivize biodegradable alternatives; towards biodegradable alternatives. b. The immediate application of Stamp Environmental Management in the Mining Sector Duty and Environmental Tax charges to The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission collaborated Styrofoam. with the World Wildlife Fund to support national capacity building through education and awareness activities, baseline studies and training of stakeholders within the gold mining sector. Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

The project goals and status are outlined in the table below: components, these are: hydropower Offset. The monthly board meetings facility, electrical interconnection and were facilitated by the MNRE with Goal Status access road - which will cater for recorded minutes. These two draft the construction of new roads and documents were developed at the To conduct a baseline assessment of distribution A draft fi nal report has been submitted to both routes of mercury use in Guyana as part of a GGMC and WWF and it is being reviewed. Both upgrade of existing roads. Two issues Project Management Offi ce (PMO) strategy for its discontinued use. GGMC and WWF are to meet with the Consultant surrounding the project were the Access with input from various stakeholders by the fi rst quarter of 2014. Road Control Plan and the Biodiversity and then presented to the Board for Offset. review and comments. In addition, it To improve best practices in Guyana’s mining sector The consultant submitted the second draft of was the responsibility of the Ministry’s by developing a curriculum for the Mining School the Mining School Curriculum after meeting with The Amaila Falls Hydropower On January 22, 2013 Cabinet agreed agencies, specifi cally GGMC, EPA and and providing training and build capacity for new CTVET. project involves the construction of a in principle to the creation of an GFC to conduct joint monitoring efforts entrants and existing small and medium scale Hydropower Plant in the area of West Environmental Management board to of the project area on a monthly basis operators. Central Guyana where the Amaila and provide oversight to both the Access to document key compliance issues and To contribute to the sustainability of the mining The third phase of the project has been advertised Kuribrong Rivers meet. It has 3 main Control Plan and the Biodiversity present them to the Board and PMO. sector in Guyana through the development of a in the daily newspapers and applications are being National Action Plan and updating the Codes of reviewed Enforcement & Compliance Regulations Practice on Mining. WWF signed a $4M one year co- aid its effective functioning. It is also the Country. A Legal Expert has been fi nancing agreement with the EPA expected that this short term project will contracted to develop the regulations in August 2013. The purpose is to strengthen EPA’s capacity to manage and sensitize offi cers of the EPA and Multilateral Environmental Agreements help develop EPA’s Compliance environmental and social impacts of other Stakeholders to use this legal and Enforcement Regulations to development activities in all sectors of instrument. The MNRE consolidated the MEAs Assessment (NCSA) project. As part The consultant will prepare a Project under its purview into a policy matrix of this exercise, Guyana identifi ed key Identifi cation Form (PIF) and a Project to ensure periodic monitoring. The capacity development actions that are Preparation Grant (PPG). The Proposal agencies completed the matrix to to be pursued strategically, as outlined will focus on strengthening the Ministry’s refl ect current activities and it will be in its NCSA Action Plan. To this end, role in coordinating Agencies that have updated every 6 months. an International Consultant with impact with the 3 Rio conventions – support from UNDP has been hired Convention on Biological Diversity, Guyana undertook an assessment of to develop a project proposal that is United Nations Convention to Combat the country’s challenges in meeting eligible for preparatory funding by the Desertifi cation and United Nations global environmental objectives Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Framework Convention on Climate under the National Capacity Self- technically feasible by UNDP criteria. Change.

14 15 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report PICK-IT-UP - Guyana A draft Costed Strategic Plan was Following a review of the draft Costed Plan. As such, the MNRE has since submitted to the MNRE for review Strategic Plan, it was found that requested an extension of the Strategic Raising Awareness: and approval. A copy of the Plan was a comprehensive Monitoring and Planning project under the UNDP to Pick it up Guyana (PIUG) developed also posted on the MNRE’s website Evaluation framework was lacking support the completion of the Plan and and delivered fourteen (14) for public engagement and feedback. to support the implementation of the its subsequent approval. presentations on the work of Pick it up Guyana, pollution and the environment, Land Reclamation and waste management techniques. These presentations were delivered Guyana’s extractive sector, in particular with proposing a workable solution review and comments. The committee to various groups including religious mining, has important implications to address the restoration, replanting has since: (i) commissioned the organisations, non- governmental for the successful implementation of and rehabilitation of areas subjected compilation of pilot studies (costed organisations, and students. During the Joint Concept Note (JCN) under to mining. The work of the LRC is pilot study on environmental bond) 2013, PIUG participated in four (4) the Guyana-Norway cooperation. In also intended to support the Ministry’s related to restoration, replanting and exhibitions including GUYEXPO, where order to effectively fulfi l its obligations Strategic Priority Goal of ‘Sustainable rehabilitation, (ii) formulated a draft educational materials were distributed, under the JCN to ‘Implement a GoG Resource Use and Monitoring’ with Action Plan for land reclamation, and and members of the general public (5) major joint activities, including the including ‘Sustainable Solid Waste programme with actions focused on expectations of restoring key natural (iii) developed a draft Screening Criteria were engaged. viewing of “Trashed”, an environmental Management in CARICOM countries’ specifi c efforts to manage degradation resources to their original state. Tool to assist in prioritizing and ranking documentary on global waste hosted in Okinawa, Japan. Additionally, from extractive activities where of mined-out sites for land reclamation. Collaboration and coordination: management, with the US Embassy PIUG has participated in workshops this needs to be done’ the MNRE A draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for The draft documents are presently Four (4) volunteer workshops Guyana Shines, and the celebration on using social media the right way, established the Land Reclamation the LRC has since been prepared and under review by the LRC. were coordinated, and fi ve non- of International Volunteer Day with the accessing funding from donor agencies Committee (LRC). The LRC is tasked circulated to the members for their governmental organisations were Caribbean Youth Environment Network. etc, hosted by the Volunteer Support assisted in the planning and Platform under the Ministry of Culture, Minamata Convention coordination of environmental Training: Youth, and Sports. enhancement activities. 2013 saw PIUG developed its capacity over the reality that mercury pollution is a global of the Guyana Geology Mines and Pick it up Guyana undertaking fi ve year by attending numerous workshops, problem that no country can address Commission. Guyana became a unilaterally. The Convention was four signatory to the Minamata Convention years in the making, and in January and in recognizing its varying national Litter Regulations 2013, more than 130 nations agreed, context and capacities, the GoG by consensus, to a fi nal text. It includes proposed, for the forum’s consideration, In 2013, the Ministry made signifi cant and penalties for littering. After They will be complementary to other both compulsory and voluntary a phased approach which should progress in proactively tackling the extensive review by stakeholders, local authorities such as offi cers measures to control mercury emissions give parties time to prepare for the growing litter situation in Guyana. the Environmental Protection (Litter of the Guyana Police Force, and from various sources. The agreed text of implementation of the procedures and Offi cial regulations dealing specifi cally Enforcement) Regulations 2013 were Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, the “Minamata Convention on Mercury” provisions. Thus, the GoG agrees that with litter were created to deal with the sent to be Gazetted in December, who will have the same powers. These was presented for adoption and opened the provision of fi nancial and technical issue at various levels. The Ministry 2013. The Regulations seek to take a powers include powers of arrest, for signature at the Convention. assistance to achieve compliance actively engaged several relevant more stringent approach to confronting confi scation of derelict materials, In October 2013, a new international under the Convention is essential. Not stakeholders in formulating policies the issues of littering and solid waste and issuance of clean-up orders. The Convention to control mercury Guyana’s delegation at the only did Guyana attend the Convention and strategies which are refl ected in management in Guyana, especially on Regulations will target individuals and emissions was open for signing international Convention included the with a proposed phased approach but the Environmental Protection (Litter the coast and in other highly populated corporate bodies, as well as owners of an Action Plan was outlined which will Enforcement) Regulations 2013. areas. private vehicles, and vehicles plying for in Japan. Named the Minamata Minister of Natural Resources and the These regulations are supplementary hire. Convention on Mercury, the agreement Environment and the Commissioner be implemented from 2013 to 2017. to the Environmental Protection Act One key aspect of the Regulations is is an international response to the 1996, and create serious offences the hiring of litter prevention wardens. Mercury - Free Mining Development Fund MNRE Strategic Plan (2013 - 2018) The objective of the Mercury-Free mercury-free mining gold extraction by a specialized Financial Institution Mining Development Fund (MFMDF) is technology and undertake mining on a with capacity and experience to deliver During the reporting period, the MNRE and the integration of environmental sustainable mining. A study tour report to increase access of small and medium sustainable basis; and, services to the mining industry. The engaged the services of the UNDP in and natural resources considerations was prepared detailing the fi ndings conducting a National Strategic Planning in economic development planning. To from the visit. scale miners to adequate fi nancing for b) To provide fi nancing to small MNRE has commenced the bidding project for the Natural Resources assist in the development of a strategic their development process. The specifi c and medium scale miners to adopt process to identify a fi nancial institution and Environment sector. The primary planning framework, representatives The preparation of the Costed Strategic objectives include: technologies that would enhance and that will manage the fund. objective of the project was to prepare from the MNRE of Guyana were Plan for the MNRE was facilitated a) to provide working capital and improve the gold recovery process. a strategic plan for the MNRE which exposed to the experiences of Rwanda through a series of workshops and investment fi nancing small and medium The MFMDF is designed as a promotes sustainable development in environmental governance and consultations with key stakeholders. scale miners to adopt and implement Revolving Fund that will be managed

16 17 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report Hururu: Inc include logging, hauling road, Hururu Amerindian Village Council, Indigenous issues emanating from boundaries, fi nances, electricity, wells Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. and Hururu ranged from Amendment of and road use. On September 5, 2013 Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. Agreement’ between Village and BCG a fi nal agreement was signed between

Kimbia, Sand Hills and Wiruni team comprising six (6) members from followed up on complaints or matters of Issues emanating out of Kimbia, Sand Natural Resources Agencies visited interest through deploying their staff Hills and Wiruni were in areas of land for those communities on November 13- to investigate the issues to ensure the agriculture, land titling, environmental 14. Related agencies and commissions problems were addressed. damage and fi nances. A government

Isseneru: and fi nally a Petition submitted to the speak for them. They clearly expressed Indigenous issues from Inter-American Commission on Human their reliance on the Petition and stated Indigenous Affairs were very challenging, they centred Rights by the Akawaio Indigenous that they did not have to say anything around mining, land, water pollution, Community of Isseneru and the as all their concerns are stated in the In 2013, the MoNRE Indigenous Sector made signifi cant progress in addressing Indigenous Affairs. The Ministry’s Indigenous Traffi cking in Persons (TIP), illegal Amerindian Peoples Association of Petition. However, a Government team Unit actively aligned itself with agencies under its portfolio particularly the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), mining, illegal businesses on titled Guyana. The villagers of Isseneru feel visited Isseneru during October 21-25, Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Environmental Protection Agency land, alleged rape of Amerindian girls, that the government reneged on its 2013 during that visit no evidence was (EPA), Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and others. The MoNRE also collaborated with the Ministry of Amerindian prostitution, mercury contamination, commitment to address their concerns provided to support the village’s claims. Affairs (MoAA), Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC), Offi ce of Climate Change (OCC), National Toshaos Council (NTC), allegations of government neglect and so rely strongly on the Petition to Guyana Police Force (GPF), Regional Democratic Councils, Village Councils and Community Groups. In 2013, MoNRE and related agencies addressed over forty (40) Indigenous Issues and concerns related to Natural Resources throughout Kako: Between March 17-21, 2013 Ministry of was established to pilot the process Guyana. Most were in areas of mining, water pollution, land, environment, Traffi cking in Persons (TIP), and the Low Carbon Indigenous Issues from Kako during Natural Resources & the Environment of activating a working mechanism on Development Strategy. 2013 were mining related issues dispatched a team to examine Environmental Impact Exercise (EIE). ranging from Illegal mining, land and mining and related issues affecting This is a Pilot Strategy and if proven Special attention was directed to critical cases at: boundaries, potential of river pollution Amerindians in Kako, Region 7. A to be effective will then be replicated in through merging of small and medium working Group comprising members other areas such as Isseneru, Baramita, Para Bara: new emerging issues have proven partnership with a Brazilian Company scale miners on the Kako River. from related natural resources agencies and Tasserene. Indigenous issues at Para Bara for challenging to be addressed. However, was primary. However, GGMC stated 2013 included illegal mining, upgrade many of the Natural Resources clearly in a correspondence dated Sub-programme 2: Administration of infrastructure (Access trails), related issues and concerns have November 28, 2013 that no permits water pollution and land titling. Due been addressed and resolved. Most or licences to mine was granted in the ¥ Six (6) of the eight (8) Agencies under the purview of the Ministry have submitted timely fi nancial statements (audited to its isolated locality and logistical importantly for Para Bara the issue of area, as such road construction for report) to the Ministry in 2013. challenges at Para Bara, current and developing a road network for mining in mining should not take place.

Baramita: Resources Inc. Allegations of granting compromise the rights and security of the ¥ The Agencies of the Ministry continue to submit data on key sector indicators developed by the MNRE in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. An inter-Agency Working Group was established to discuss and refi ne the indicators. Indigenous issues at Baramita 2 (two) new PL’s in central Baramita Amerindians in favour of development. However, trend establishment and analysis will be conducted when the vacant position for a Monitoring and Evaluation included, Illegal Mining, Village Village Lands without consulting the Unreservedly, the Government will not Offi cer within the MNRE is fi lled. Investment Project with Grandbright residents of Baramita and inaccurate allow foreigners or locals to infringe on Forestry (Guyana) Inc., Proposed village mapping. A Government team the rights of the Indigenous peoples. Capital Works issuance of new Prospecting Licences visited Baramita on June 27, 2013 and (PL’s) to Consolidated Northwest committed that Government will not ¥ Building for the Protected Areas Commission Ð Five bids for the Construction of the PAC Head Offi ce was opened in January, 2013. The contracts for the construction and supervision components of the sub-project were awarded : which fi fty seven (57) communities were within the Natural Resources and the to Satar Mohamed & Sons Construction & Hardware Supplies and Innovative Engineering and Consultancy Services, Indigenous issues at Aishalton varied invited was held at St. Ignatius on July Environmental Sectors, specifi cally respectively, in August, 2013. At the end of the reporting period, the construction works for the building were from mining, water pollution, social 12, 2013 and MoNRE, Guyana Geology the Mining and Environmental Sectors approximately seventy fi ve (75%) completed. The building project is expected to be completed by the March, 2014. within Region 9. The Toshaos of Region issues, environmental issues and and Mines Commission, Ministry of 9 were given an opportunity to have objections to continued issuance by Amerindian Affairs, Environmental ¥ Utilisation of the Guyana Protected Areas System(GPAS) I Unspent Funds - A proposal for the utilization of the open discussions on the presentations Protection Agency, Guyana Lands unspent funds was submitted to German Development Bank (KfW) as well as proposal for the utilisation of the GGMC of mining blocks to miners. A and the Agencies responded to remaining EUR 85,000 of unspent funds to support infrastructure development at Kaieteur; these were approved ‘in government team led by the Minister of and Surveys Commission, Wild Life their questions and queries. Also Natural Resources & the Environment Division, Protected Areas Commission the issuance of lotteries for mining principle’, by KfW. Follow-up measures within the communities of the GPAS I sub-projects were administered resulting visited Aishalton on May 4, 2013 where and the Guyana Forestry Commission in the Region was discontinued with in two photovoltaic systems being installed at the Kamwatta and Warapoka multi-purpose buildings, and a cassava these issues were discussed. In addition made contributions. The objective of immediate effect. grating mill being procured for the Village. Construction works for the extension of the water trestle is to this meeting, a national workshop to the Workshop was to discuss policies approximately seventy percent (70%) completed.

18 19 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report • Over the year, the Three Parks Initiative completed several upgrades for the urban parks as well as initiated several Human Resources projects to be completed in 2014. These upgrades included: installation of lights along the walking track in the National The Ministry, inclusive of all agencies started 2013 with 1068 employees and concluded the year with 1,158 employees Park, completion of the Zoological Park Master Plan, production and upgrading of signage at the parks, installation of which represented an overall employment increase of 8.4%. four security huts at the National Park, one at the Botanical Gardens and three at the Guyana Zoological Park, eight new benches installed, stockpiling of white sand for the raising of the athletics track in the National Park, installation The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has assisted the Agencies in the preparation of Cabinet Memos, of two new foot bridges in the National Park and raising and paving of the ring road around the Botanical Gardens’ preparation of position papers prior to attending international meetings, and provided support to the delegations while Bandstand. oversees in the form of guidance and information. The staff of the Ministry and sub-agencies attended several international conferences and capacity development training in 2013. • In 2013 the maintenance and construction undertaken by the GGMC included the reconstruction of the stairway of the Admin Building, construction of a Guard Hut at HQ, rehabilitation of Puruni Mining Station, extensive repairs and International Training and Capacity Building painting of the Lapidary Building at West Ruimveldt and the living quarters at the Omai Mine site. Construction of an At the EPA, fourteen (14) Cabinet Papers were prepared requesting approval for staff members to participate in meetings offi ce within the Finance Division, tiling and casting of fl oors within the Commission, weeding and cleaning of all and or workshops abroad. Nine (9) of these were related to the Natural Resources Management Programme; three (3) locations, minor internal and external repairs to the Commission’s building were also completed during 2013. to the Environmental Management Programme; and two (2) to international environmental policy and funding. Four (4) of the fourteen (14) requests were approved, two under the NRM Programme and two for international policy and funding. Procurement Additionally, one (1) request that was submitted in 2012 under the NRM Programme was approved while through the • Procurement of assets and services continued during the year at the Environmental Protection Agency. Capital items MNRE, two (2) staff members were approved to participate in overseas workshops. Staff members participated in thirty- were purchased under National Capital Expenditure 2013 as were items approved for purchase under the Agency’s seven (37) local meetings and workshops in key areas such as: Geographical Information Systems;Emergency Planning Trust Fund. Equipment for water quality and noise monitoring were procured as well as computers and software to and Management; Disaster Risk Management; Environmental Standards and Accreditation; Water Resources Management; support HR and Financial management. The Agency also procured security services for 2013. Environmental Practices in Mining; Adaptation to Climate Change; etc.

• Three new vehicles were acquired by the PAC in 2013. Two of which were procured with funding from the KfW- GPAS Local Training and Capacity Building II Project, while the other was procured with the PAC’s 2013 Capital Budget allowance. Equipment and furnishing • Forestry Training Centre Inc. (FTCI) had a successful year in 2013, training 228 required for the additional offi cers employed at the PAC in 2013 were also procured through the GPAS Project. persons, with an average number of persons (292 persons) trained per year over the past fi ve years (2009-2013).

CAPITAL CURRENT • In 2013, the GFC continued work on stakeholder training and sensitization which DIVISION Specific Local Total Subvention Other Total Total saw the holding of 12 cluster sessions through which 90 community forests based 241 - Ministry Administration (Furniture & Equipment/Land communities participated with 356 persons directly involved. Additionally, in 2013, Transport) $ 4.000 $ 4.000 $ 98.788 $ - $ 98.788 $ 102.788 under the Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) training program, over 200 persons

242 - Natural Resources Mag $ 24.000 $ 20.000 $ 107.737 $ 334.675 $ 442.412 $ 462.412 received training for 2013 in various areas of SFM, and work continued in the areas of REDD+ and MRVS and their links to Guyana’s LCDS, the initiative on EU GGMC - $ $ - $ - $ - FLEGT and forest legality. GGB $ - $ - $ - $ - GFC $ - $ - $ - $ - • Staff of the GGMC benefi ted from internal training in the areas of (i) Use of the GLSC $ 20.000 $ 20.000 $ 107.737 $ 334.675 $ 442.412 $ 462.412 Petrographic Microscope, (ii) Implementation of Regional Geochemical Project, 243 - Environment Mag $ 32.100 $ 32.100 $ 400.159 $ 92.377 $ 492.536 $ 524.636 and (iii) Transferring of GPS data to MapInfo.

EPA $ 4.800 $ 4.800 $ 191.596 $ 43.838 $ 235.434 $ 240.234 • The GLSC through the DLUP Project facilitated training in GIS, Remote Sensing, NPC $ 20.000 $ 20.000 $ 165.663 $ 48.839 $ 214.202 $ 234.202 Customer Service and other technical areas during its three-year implementation PAC $ 7.300 $ 7.300 $ 42.900 $ - $ 42.900 $ 50.200 period. WL $-$- $-$-

$-$-

$-$-

TOTAL $- $ 56.100 $ 56.100 $ 606.684 $ 427.052 $ 1.033.736 $ 1.089.836

Subvention $ 606.684 GOG $ - Recurrent Budget $ 606.684

Capital $ 56.100 Total Budget $ 662.784

Other Revenue $ 427.052 Total Revenue / Exp. $ 1,089.836

20 21 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report • Tailings Management Project NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Research into other chemical solutions continued. Polyacrylamide (PAM) was identifi ed for possible tailing treatment. Bench testing on samples from Mahdia and Omai continued. • Sand and Gravel Sample Collection The main objectives of the Natural Resources Management programmatic area are: Reports and analysis of results of the sample collection were completed. Possible value added Silica sand products • To contribute to the expansion and diversifi cation of the economy on the basis of rational use of Guyana’s natural were identifi ed. resources. • Flotation Technology Project • To ensure the effective management of natural resources in order to promote, regulate, coordinate and have oversight The fl otation plant was installed and operational. Just a few additional pieces need to be added to render it a fi eld of key entities / activities in the sector. standalone plant.The Commission’s Research and Development Facility in Linden is now 80% completed, with further work done in the Cyanide Technology Laboratory and Sedimentation Hydrology Laboratory. The General The Natural Resources Management Programme Area recorded several institutional and technical achievements in 2013: Chemistry Laboratory is still to be brought on stream, but chemicals currently housed in the location earmarked for the GCL are still to be disposed of before any work commences. The UG Chemistry Department has commenced Sub-programme 1: Geology and Mining uplifting of same. Regulation • Routine and impromptu compliance monitoring and enforcement focused on practices in keeping with the Mining Marketing and Promotion (Amendment) Environmental Regulation 2005, safety management, reclamation and other parameters such as| • Technical Assistance to the Mining Sector Project (TAMSP) was carried out during the period September 20, 2013 dredges operating, forest clearance, tailings management, retorts, garbage pits, adequacy of clearance around through October 23, 2013. The objective of the project was to provide valuable information on the mineral potential of camps and work grounds as well as safety of pit slopes for operating mines. Water quality monitoring was also the area allocated via lottery with specifi c emphasis on gold occurrence. conducted throughout the year to assess the turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH and Total Dissolved Solids. • Training continued in the GGMC and via the Guyana Mining School And Training Centre Inc. which commenced its • Monitoring of Gold Smith premises, Business Permissions, Residential Permissions and Trading Licenses were also business in August/September 2013. New Mines’ Offi cers, continuing students in technical areas at University of conducted. Guyana were provided opportunities through arrangements with friendly Governments such as Australia and India. • The dredges located in the Mining Districts of Guyana were targeted, monitored and inspected during the year. In Short courses in China and seminars in Guyana on mining sector fundamentals by Canadian experts through the 2013, a total of 1,386 dredges were registered, 3011 were renewed, 4,396 licensed, 88 dredge transferals issued, and Mining School were achieved during 2013. 34 dredges scrapped. • A total of 1,364 Prospecting Permits Small Scale were issued for the year 2013. Sub-programme 2: Forestry Management • The Mines Technical Section of the GGMC completed thirty-four (34) of the thirty six (36) planned technical inspections for 2013 in the fi ve (5) targeted Mining Districts inclusive of six (6) medium scale inspections (gold). Quantity surveys and Regulation sand pit inspections were done in the three counties where eight such inspections were completed of the ten planned visits. • GFC continued to advance its programme of work on implementing National Level Independent Forest Monitoring • A total of 863 Cease Work Orders (CWOs) were issued to operators during the year. Most CWOs were issued to (IFM). This initiative allows for transparent, independent, third party verifi cation of legal compliance, and observation operators for working without the requisite permission from the GGMC or absence of evidence to substantiate that of forest law enforcement systems, based on a list of agreed principles, criteria and indicators. applications were made to the GGMC. Dredges that were operating on Prospecting Permits Medium Scale (PPMSs) • In 2013, the GFC fi nalised its fi rst Independent Forest Monitoring Review and commenced the second review for the were issued with CWOs. period 2013. The fi rst Review concluded that the GFC’s system for forest monitoring presents an overall strong • A total of fi ve (5) compliance inspections were carried out for the sand pits located in Essequibo, Soesdyke and framework for forest monitoring and legality in Guyana. This phase of work will be concluded in 2014, and planning for Berbice. A total of four (4) quantity surveys were conducted by the surveyors to determine extraction volumes. A total next steps has commenced. of two complaints were fi led and investigated. • For the year under review the sector’s contribution to Guyana’s GDP remained fl at at about 3%. Total production of forest products was marginally higher i.e 473,041m2 compared to 428,934m3 in 2012. Additionally, log production Exploration continues to stabilize at 65% of total output. Export sales on the other hand remained stable at approximately • GGMC conducted several regional, multiple element geochemical sampling and rocks outcrop examination which US$40.0M which again was dominated by Sawn Lumber and Logs which together amounted to approximately 80% of would help to evaluate the host rock mineralization and geochemistry, and improve the geological knowledge / all exports, the main markets being Asia/Pacifi c (Logs) and Europe and the Caribbean (Sawn Lumber). information of the area examined. • For 2012/2013 approximately 507 State Forest Permissions (SFP) (inclusive of Mining and Agriculture leases) were active, covering an area of 1,895,149 ha, with a potential quota of 801,074m3. Twenty-six (26) TSAs and one (1) Research and Development WCLs have been allocated for 2013, a total of 4,094,836 ha and potential AAC of 875,227 m3. For this report period, • GGMC embarked on several projects to improve performance within the mining sector. Some of these projects include 6,878,990 ha were allocated as forest concessions under the regulation of GFC with the potential to extract 1,676,301 the Mercury Abatement Project, Tailings Management Project, Floatation Technology, Cyanidation Technology Project m3 of timber resources. and Gravity Recovery project. Each project is comprised of activities that will continue in 2014 before fi nal results are achieved. • Revenue collected for the year was $877.9M. This amount exceeded the budgeted amounts for the year 2013. The • Cyanidation Technology Project revenue collection for 2013 was approximately 9.6% higher than that of 2012 which recorded a level of $800.3M. All MPU Engineers continued working with the Purple Heart samples in preparation for testing phase with the AcmeMet revenue heads with the exception of export commission, were either in line or exceeded, projected levels of 2013. consultant. Audit report and certifi cation of the Linden facility and MPU engineers (as trainers) by ACME consultants • Concession Level Monitoring continued during 2013 on a routine and impromptu basis to ensure compliance with and the University of British Columbia are to be achieved. the Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting.

22 23 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report Sub-programme 3: Land Management Land Administration • The Development of Land Use Planning (DLUP) Project is a foreign funded Project by the European Union, which was successfully implemented from January 2011 to October 2013. The deliverables of the DLUP Project are of signifi cant importance to Guyana. These included a National Land Use Plan, which provides developmental options planning for climate change adaptation to shift development inland in order to reduce the risk of fl ooding on the coast. In addition, there are three Regional Land Use Plans prepared for Regions l, 2 and 10 to guide regional development. • Another key deliverable of the DLUP Project was a Strategic Plan for GL&SC for the period 2013-2017. This Plan essentially provides a framework for planning by GL&SC for the fi ve year period, and it is a results-driven approach for the Commission to monitor its performance. Under the Project, a Lease Management System (LMS) was developed to fully computerize the lease application and processing system, and to retain the history of all the leases. Training was also provided for the users, administrators and the managers to facilitate the change to LMS. The DLUP Project facilitated training in GIS, Remote Sensing, Customer Service and other technical areas during its three-year implementation period. • In 2013, the Land Administration Division of GL&SC continued to deliver and provide effi cient and effective services to clients and stakeholders, while the Surveys Division provided benchmarks and related data to Government Agencies and clients. Land Information

Figure 3: Graph showing production level for Forest Products for 2013 and 2012 • The Land Information and Mapping Division was engaged in numerous client related activities such as customized map production, scanning, geo-referencing, and printing of maps and plans. The digitizing of Region 9 Administrative Exploration Map was completed and the Division commenced digitizing the Region 5 Administrative Map. • In addition, the Division prepared Cadastral Plans including Amerindian Titled Lands, scanned and stored two • The GFC provided assistance to large concessionaires and community forestry groups to carry out the 100% thousand and eighty two (2,082) Cadastral plans and re-designed the Local Area Network Infrastructure to upgrade Pre-harvest inventory. The 100% Pre-harvest inventory was geared to assist Concessionaire to achieve their goal of the existing network. The Division achieved most of its targets in 2013. sustainable forest management planning and increase effi ciency and profi tability of forest operations. • Geographic Information System (GIS) datasets were prepared such as land use / land cover from 5-meter satellite resolution imagery while the layers such as roads, rivers and vegetation were updated by the GIS Specialist of Research and Development mapsheets by the Land Information and Mapping Division. • Forest change was determined using high resolution 5 m imagery for the whole of Guyana. The use of a national Constraints experienced in the implementation of the Natural Resources Management work programme in 2013: coverage of 5 m imagery is a signifi cant improvement over Year 2 which used a combination 5 m and 30 m imagery • The GLSC has been working for a number of years without the full quota of fully qualifi ed staff in the surveying to achieve national coverage. This improvement has allowed the boundaries and the drivers of change to be mapped with greater certainty. Forest change of forest to non-forest excluding degradation between 1 January 2012 and 31 fi eld specifi cally in Regions 1, 2, 9 and 10. December 2012 (12 months) is estimated at 14 655 ha. This equates to a total deforestation rate of 0.079%. This rate • The GLSC has been working for a number of years without the full quota of fully qualifi ed staff in the surveying of change is higher than Year 2 period (15 months) which was reported as 0.054%. fi eld specifi callyinRegions1,2,9and10. • The demand for small plots in Region 4 exceeded the number of available plots, and efforts have been made to Marketing and Promotion complete surveys and design schemes withaccess roads. The GL&SC was unable to execute such capital works due • The Forest Products Development & Marketing Council of Guyana Inc. (FPDMC), prepared ten (10) product profi les to fi nancial constraints. and these were made public. These profi les cover the following product range – mosquito coils, safety matches, • Land rent is the GL&SC’s main source of revenue and remains a source of concern as the rental rates remained the clothes pegs, venetian blinds, wooden ladders, curtain rods, briquettes, pedestal lamps, tongue depressors/popsicle sticks and tooth picks. These profi les contain information such as the manufacturers of the various machines, cost of same since 2001. machinery and marketing information. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to get involved in the manufacturing process. • Non-payment by lessees has hindered the GL&SC’s ability to be fi nancially sustainable • The Council provided on a continuous basis an advisory service on new developments in wood technology and • The GGMC encountered the following constraints in executing its mandate: inadequate staffi ng, insuffi cient number of market requirements in areas such as moisture content, wood preservation standards, drying, stacking, packing and vehicles and A.T.V.s, insuffi cient number of boats, insuffi cient number of radio transmitting sets, and inadequate handling among other areas to various stakeholders. number of satellite phones. Projections for 2014 • Forestry Training Centre Inc. (FTCI) started the preparation of three manuals during the year, namely: Tree • In 2014, the Forest Products Development and Marketing Council will intensify its efforts in promotion of added value Identifi cationand Forest Botany; Forest Tree Nurseries for Communities’; and Cost Control in forest harvesting and activity in the forest sector and will work closely with the GFC, Forest Products Association, Guyana Manufacturers road construction’. and Services Association and GOINVEST, as well as other related bodies, in this regard. • FTCI had a successful year in 2013, training 228 persons, with an average number of persons (292 persons) trained • Guyana will further advance discussions and negotiations with EU FLEGT with the aim of fi nalizing a VPA. per year over the past fi ve years (2009-2013). • Work will continue in 2014 in advancing the work under REDD+ readiness and in further developing and implementing • In 2013, the Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting 2nd Edition was revised to update on key areas of the Monitoring Reporting and Verifi cation System. Implementation of the REDD+ Governance Development Plan implementation, drawing on lessons learned from the implementation of the Second Edition. This Version of the Code (Sections 1-14) will also continue in 2014. will be implemented in a phased manner in the next 3 years commencing 2014, and will be accompanied by a • Six new community associations will be established with a corresponding increase in land allocation. Training in continuous programme of stakeholder awareness and capacity building. governance, accountability and transparency will be provided to at least 45 Community Forestry Organizations(CFOs). • In 2013, the GFC continued work on stakeholder training and sensitization which saw the holding of 12 cluster sessions through which 90 community forests based communities participated with 356 persons directly involved. • Community training will be conducted with at least 45 community forestry organizations in a range of areas including Additionally, in 2013, under the Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) training program, over 200 persons received training SFM and RIL. in various areas of SFM, and work continued in the areas of REDD+ and MRVS and their links to Guyana’s LCDS, the • The GGMC intends to aggressively promote and implement the pilot projects on hydroponic gardening and improved initiative on EU FLEGT and forest legality. sanitation conditions on river dredges in 2014. 24 25 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Conservation Management The main objectives of the Environmental Management programmatic area are: • To ensure the protection, conservation and restoration of the natural environment through the integration of appropriate environmental safeguards into development planning. • To contribute to economic growth along a low-carbon development path through the effective management of the environment.

The environmental management programme area recorded several institutional and technical achievements in 2013:

Sub-programme 1: Environmental Protection and Conservation • Guyana Protected Areas System Project In September, 2009, the Governments of Guyana and Germany, represented by the KfW Entwicklungs bank (the Regulation German Development Bank) signed a fi nancing and project agreement for the provision of EUR 5 M to support • The Environmental Protection Agency issued 244 Environmental Authorisations in 2013, from the 392 applications Phase II of the Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS) - Conservation of Tropical Forests Project. received. The majority (131) concerned projects in mining and forestry; followed by sixty-two (62) for industry, infrastructure and energy projects; twenty-seven (27) for agriculture, fi sheries and tourism; and nine (9) for hazardous Through a Separate Agreement signed in December, 2011, the project fi nancing and design were fi nalised. EUR 1M waste/materials and air quality management. (Tranche I) was earmarked to fi nance small-grant project activities which include infrastructure measures for GPAS • Of the applications received, one hundred and fi ve (105) were for New Projects, forty-one (41) for Existing Operations, and the Protected Areas Commission as well as payment for consultancy services, while EUR 4 M (Tranche II) was seventy-three (73) for Renewals, nine (9) for Variance, one (1) for Transfer, and one hundred and sixty-three (163) for provided to support a sustainable and long-term fi nancing mechanism for the National Protected Areas System. Noise. Phase II was designed to build on activities and outcomes of the fi rst phase of the GPAS Project and has the overall objective to ensure the sustainable operation and management of the National Protected Area System through: • One hundred and eleven (111) compliance Inspections were conducted during 2013 representing an eighteen percent (18%) increase in compliance inspections over that of 2012. The Agency begun to focus its compliance monitoring based upon risks hence, during the latter part of the year, the majority of the • Development of a management plan for the • Procurement of equipment for the Protected inspections focused on noise and waste management permit conditions for Sawmills and Lumberyards. Shell Beach Protected Area; Area Commission; and • Infrastructure development and procurement • Consulting Services, and Monitoring. • 560 CITES permits and 435 non-CITES permits were issued in 2013. Nineteen wildlife holding premises were also of equipment for Kaieteur National Park; inspected during February/March and November/December respectively. Additionally, the remaining funds from GPAS Phase • Refurbishment of a building to house the I will be utilised to provide follow-up support to the Enforcement Protected Areas Commission; GPAS Phase I Small Grants Sub-projects. • Two hundred and sixty-six (266) pollution reports (complaint cases) were received for 2013. These concerned dust, • The Regional Project on Biosafety noise and fumes primarily from furniture manufacturing, operation of generators, spray painting and livestock rearing. The majority of these complaints related to operations along the East Coast of Consultations on the draft Policy on Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biosecurity were held in eight (8) of the country’s Demerara, Georgetown, and the East and West Banks of Demerara. One hundred and twenty- Administrative Regions. Feedback from these consultations is currently being used to update the draft Policy; a four (124) complaint cases were investigated for the year, and forty-four cases (44) were closed. Consultation report was also prepared. Discussions were held on the fi rst and second drafts of the Biosafety Bill with the Consultant following the submission of each draft; (4) associated Regulations under this Bill were also prepared • Fifteen (15) Prohibition Notices were issued in 2013; the majority of them concerned spray painting and furniture and submitted for review. The Institutional Framework for the Management of Biosafety in Guyana was circulated to operations along the East Coast of Demerara. Ten (10) Injunctions were served; most of them concerned operations stakeholders for feedback and support. along the East Coast of Demerara. Three (3) of the injunctions issued were adhered to/resolved. • Regional Project on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefi t Sharing Operations On invitation by the ABS Regional Offi ce a nominee from the EPA participated in a workshop on Contract Negotiation • In August, 2013, the Environmental Management Programme, the Environmental Management Division (EMD) was on Access to Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge and the Second Regional Meeting of the GEF ABS LAC split into an Environmental Management Permitting Division (EMPD) and an Environmental Management Compliance Project, in La Habana, Cuba, from March 18 to 22, 2013. At the workshop, the key elements of ABS in the framework and Enforcement Division (EMCD). In the new structure, authorization of projects will be managed by the EMPD, while of the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol and the situation of ABS Regimes in each of the participating countries were EMCD will manage compliance of regulated (permitted) and non-regulated activities under the EP Act and its reviewed. Additionally, in a meeting with the GIZ representative, Dr. Hartmut, the Protected Areas Commission, and Regulations. This change will allow for better effi ciency and for alignment to the LCDS since the EPA has been the MNRE, the focal areas in which the GIZ can offer assistance were discussed. ABS as it relates to Guyana and its earmarked to provide support to this strategy through its monitoring activities.

26 27 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report possible integration with Protected Areas Systems were highlighted. Dr. Hartmut was given a Earth Day: demonstration of National Biodiversity Research Information System (NBRIS); he indicated that Observed under the theme “The Face of Climate Change” activitieswere coordinated and executed in collaboration there is an opportunity for NBRIS to be used as a model for other countries. with the MNRE as follows: • National Biodiversity Research Information System (NBRIS) • Earth Day newspaper feature The NBRIS became operational in August, 2013; thus far, seventeen (17) research applications were received through • Earth Day quiz and a radio tips this system. • Outreach sessions to eighteen (18) primary schools in Georgetown and its environs. • Launch of an Art competition for International Biodiversity Day. • Support to Guyana for the Revision of the NBSAPs and Development of Fifth National Report to the CBD A Project Assistant was hired and commenced in August, 2013. The Project Manager and the SEO attended the International Day for Biodiversity: Regional Workshops for the Preparation of the 5NR and Clearing House Mechanisms respectively, which were held in International Day for Biodiversity 2013 was observed under the theme: “Water and Biodiversity”. September, 2013 in St. Lucia. The purpose of the workshop was “to strengthen capacities of the countries in the Activities were coordinated and executed in observance of IDB as follows: region for preparing their fi fth national reports and for developing their national clearing-house mechanisms. • Art Competition for Grade 6 students from 18 Primary Schools in and around Georgetown. Prizes were awarded to the fi rst, second and third place entries. Sub-programme 2: Environmental Restoration • Youth Forum in Linden, Region 10, involving six (6) secondary schools in the mining town. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is coordinating with several Agencies such as NAREI, • Documentary featuring ‘Day of the Caiman’, which was produced by Blue Paw Artists. Fifty two (52) persons attended EPA, of this sub-porgramme area was the establishment of coordination mechanisms for environmental restoration this event chaired by Mr. Ronald Webster, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission. activities. • Biodiversity Tour: Students and teachers from Bel Air Primary, East La Penitence Primary, St Pius Primary, and Josel In the latter half of 2012, three (3) sub-committees were formed to focus on the identifi cation of potential sites for Education Institute, participated in the Mangrove Heritage Trail Tour as part of the prize for the top entries in the IDB rehabilitation/ restoration; the preparation of a list of species that can be used by soil type based on soil Art Competition. characterization; the determination of the methodology for the planting of each, and the associated costs involved; and the identifi cation of the different sources of fi nancing for the implementation of the programme. This work continued World Environment Day (WED) 2013 apace in 2013. This year, WED was celebrated under the theme ‘Think. Eat. Save. Reduce your foodprint’ to raise awareness of the impact that food choices have on the environment, and provide information to aid Operations the making of informed decisions on food choice and consumption habits. The activities coordinated for WED included:

Public Awareness and Outreach • Green Walk: This activity commenced from the Umana Yana and culminated at the National Park with over one thousand (1,000) persons participating. Prizes were awarded for Best Banner, Largest Contingent, and Most Uniform • 2013 was designated the International Year of Water Cooperation to highlight that cooperation is essential to Contingent and Best Chant. meet the different needs and priorities and to share water equitably. Further it sought to bring recognition that water cooperation implies an interdisciplinary approach integrating cultural, educational and scientifi c factors, as well as religious, ethical, social, political, legal, institutional and economic dimensions. The international theme Sub-programme 3: Environmental Research was refl ected in the theme of the different environmental days and activities were coordinated and conducted as follows: • For the year 2013, Fifty-fi ve (55) Research Applications were received. Forty-eight (48) research applications were processed and approved; of these, forty-six (46) were applications received in 2013 and two (2) were applications received in 2012. Forty-fi ve (45) Research Permits were issued for the reporting period, two (2) covering research World Wetlands Day: applications that were received and processed in 2012 but approved in 2013. Fourteen (14) research permits were Five (5) interactive sessions were conducted for two (2) visiting primary schools at the Nature School on ‘Wetlands extended; eight (8) requests for the expansion of geographical scope; fi ve (5) requests for the extension of the and Water Management’ - this year’s theme. research period; and one (1) request for both the expansion of geographical scope and research period were granted. The Permits issued, were for research to be conducted on fl ora, fauna, fi lming, and other studies. World Water Day: • A total of fourteen thousand six hundred and thirty United States dollars (US$14,630.00) was generated for the period This day was observed under thetheme “Water Cooperation” with activities as follows: from applications, late applications, and permit fees. • Two seminars at the Essequibo Islands and Leguan Secondary schools with more than a hundred students participating in the activities. Projections for 2014 Key areas of work projected for 2014 and initiated in 2013 include the following: • Presentations on different occasions to fi ve (5) youth groups; and General • Collaboration with Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) to organize a debate and publish a news-spread. • Development of the Strategic Plan for the Protected Areas Commission • Refi nement of the National Protected Areas System (NPAS) Plan • Compilation of a database on research conducted in PAs and Identifi cation of Research Priorities for existing and proposed PAs

28 29 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report ¥ Development of research protocol for research activities within PAs Glossory of Commonly Used Acronyms ¥ Identifi cation and mapping of new priority areas for conservation in Guyana ¥ Supporting the Establishment of the National Protected Areas Trust Fund AOP Annual Operational Plans ¥ Completion, commissioning and furnishing of the new PAC Offi ces BDU Bauxite Development Unit ¥ Provision of engineering and other support to infrastructural works executed by the NPC CBD Convention on Biological Diversity Protected Areas Management CTVET Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Shell Beach Protected Area EITI Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ¥ Supporting the process for the drafting of the Shell Beach Management Planning Process EPA Environmental Protection Agency Kanuku Mountains Protected Area EU FLEGT European Union Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade ¥ Updating the Plan based on input of the KMCRG Workshop BCH ¥ Facilitating the public review of the draft Management Plan Biosafety Clearing House ¥ Preparation of Year 1 work plan and implementation of the approved Management Plan FAO Food and Agriculture Organization Kaieteur National Park (KNP) FPA Forest Producers Association ¥ Addressing comments made by the PAC on the Management plan FPDMC Forest Products Development and Marketing Council ¥ Facilitating the public review of the draft Management Plan FMD Forest Monitoring Division ¥ Preparation of Year 1 work plan and implementation of the Management Plan FRMD Forest Resource Management Division ¥ Provision of logistical support for the operations at the KNP GFC Guyana Forestry Commission ¥ Supporting the Construction of the Warden/Caretaker’s Building at Tukeit GGB Guyana Gold Board ¥ Supporting the Construction of Staff Quarters at the KNP GGD MAGuyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association Phase I Upgrade of the Urban Parks (Three Parks Initiative) GGMC Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Guyana Zoological Park GIS Geographic Information System ¥ Completion of construction works on the zoo entrance road, around the manatee ponds and the Petting Zoo GLSC Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission ¥ Installation of New Permanent Signage GoG Government of Guyana

National Park GPAS Guyana Protected Areas System ¥ Completion of construction works on the New Foot Bridges, New Kissing Bridges, and an all-weather Pathway through GWMO Guyana Women Miners Organization the interior of the Park GWD Guyana Wildlife Division ¥ Raising of the Athletics Track HIC Hinterland Infrastructure Committee ¥ Installation of New Permanent Signage IFM Independent Forest Monitoring ¥ Initiation of the design of the Master Plan for the National Park KfW German Development Bank

Botanical Gardens LCDS Low Carbon Development Strategy ¥ Rehabilitation of the Fountain and construction of an all-weather Walkway MNRE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment MRVS Monitoring, Reporting and Verifi cation System for REDD+ Amerindian Protected Areas NPAS National Protected Areas System ¥ Preparation of a White Paper on implementing Amerindian Protected Areas NPC National Parks Commission ¥ Supporting the establishment of the Konashen Amerindian Protected Area in line with the guidance provided in the PAC white paper Protected Areas Commission ¥ Review of Konashen’s Community Owned Conservation Area’s application to become a part of NPAS and the draft REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradations Plus management plan for the Village SFM Sustainable Forest Management TIP Traffi cking in Persons Community Outreach and Livelihood Development UG University of Guyana ¥ Initiation of the development of a Strategy for engaging Communities in Protected Areas Management UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ¥ Completion of Community Visits and Planning Workshops in each Protected Area UNDP ¥ Preparation of a Template Agreement to protect traditional rights of communities around National Protected Areas United Nations Development Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Education, Awareness and Outreach VPA Voluntary Partnership Agreement ¥ Initiation of the development of a Strategy to Improve Public Awareness and Communication WMA ¥ Development of Outreach and Public Education Materials such as brochures, booklets, posters, videos and web- Wildlife Management Authority based newsletters. 30 31 MNRE Annual Report MNRE Annual Report Agencies Contact Information

Guyana Forestry Commission Guyana Geology and Mines Commission 1 Water Street Kingston Georgetown Guyana Upper Brickdam Georgetown Guyana Tel (592) 226-7271 - 4 Tel (592) 226-5591/225-2862 Fax (592) 226-8956 Fax (592) 227-0084 Website: www.forestry.gov.gy Website: www.ggmc.gov.gy

Guyana Gold Board Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Upper Brickdam Georgetown Guyana 22 Upper Hadfi eld St. D’Urban Backlands Tel (592) 225-3148/49 Georgetown Guyana Website: www.ggb.gov.gy Tel (592) 226 0524-9/225 2969/226 6490 Fax (592) 226 4052 | Website: www.lands.gov.gy

Environmental Protection Agency National Parks Commission Ganges Street Sophia Georgetown Guyana Thomas Road Thomas Lands Tel (592) 225-5467-69/225-5471-72 Georgetown Guyana Fax (592) 225-5481 Tel (592) 226-7974/226-2323 Email: [email protected] Fax (592) 223-5379 Website: www.epaguyana.org Email: [email protected] Website: www.kaieteurpark.gov.gy

Protected Areas Commission Guyana Wildlife Division Thomas Road Thomas Lands Ganges Street Sophia Georgetown Guyana Georgetown Guyana Tel (592) 223-0940 Tel (592) 227-1888 Fax (592) 226-6547

32 MNRE Annual Report