Payment for Ecosystem Services
The pristine forests of the Guianas can be enjoyed in a sustainable manner
The Tropical Rainforests of the three Guianas contribute to 6,5% of the Amazon and 3% of the Tropical Rainforests worldwide. All three countries still have a forest cover of over 85%, although pressures (especially small scale gold mining) are appearing. The Guiana Rainforests store vast amounts of carbon, an increasingly important fact in the international climate change discussions.
In previous programs WWF Guianas supported sound management of the forestry sector; taking social benefits and environmental issues into account. Within that framework a lot of effort was poured into sustainable logging and FSC certification.
With a solid foundation now laid in both areas the upcoming program will have main emphasis on payments for carbon storage, REDD+ and payment for ecosystem services.
With this work WWF Guianas is supporting the concept of a Green Economy that is gradually becoming a governmental way of thinking in the three Guianas. The work of the previous President of Guyana: Bharrat Jagdeo has laid a beautiful foundation for this concept.