WWF Guianas signs a grant agreement
WWF Guianas signs a grant agreement with the Institute of Applied Science and Technology
WWF Guianas signed a Grant Agreement in the total amount of GYD$11,706,000.00 with the Institute of Applied Science & Technology (IAST) to investigate and map the incidence of mercury contamination from gold mining in the physical and human environment in the North West District. The ultimate purpose of this project is to contribute to the improvement of the small to medium scale gold mining sub-sector with a view to reducing the pressure exerted on priority ecosystems of the Guianas, and maintaining their ecological integrity.
This project activity will complement the on-going efforts with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to foster the development, adoption and enforcement of practical and environmentally sound policies and regulations for the gold mining sub-sector. IAST is contributing GYD 500,000 of its own resource in this important project activity.This Mercury Impact Assessment Project activity falls under WWF Guianas' Sustainable Forest Resources Management Project (SFRMP), which is co-funded by the Dutch Government (Dutch Fund for Global Environment), the French Government (French Fund for Global Environment) and WWF.
The SFRMP project aims at maintaining the integrity of the different forest ecosystems of the Guianas so that they may sustain their ecological functions and processes, while supporting the region's socio-economic development.
This Agreement between WWF and IAST provides for the collection, analysis and production of scientifically sound information and data on the environment as well as health impacts of gold mining operations, in order to support the adoption of better practices. Key project outputs are:
- An overview of mercury pollution in the North West District;
- The production of a digital map highlighting the level of goldmining related pollution in the target area; and
- The increased awareness of gold mining related issues;
"The world will have more extensive, more diverse and higher quality forest landscapes to meet human needs and aspirations fairly, while conserving biological diversity and providing the ecosystem functions necessary for all life on the earth."
WWF Guianas is committed to preserving the forests of the Guianas.
