GTA, THAG receive funding for development of Counter Wildlife Trafficking Communications Toolkit
– aims to help strengthen the knowledge of wildlife trafficking and work with the GWCMC
Georgetown, Guyana – Friday, July 3, 2020
The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) have received funding from the Latin American Trade Association (LATA) Foundation to create a Counter Wildlife Trafficking Communications Toolkit aimed to strengthen the knowledge of wildlife trafficking and the legal process of mitigating further poaching, the knowledge of the legal wildlife trade in Guyana, reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife, and inspire action that will protect our wildlife for the country, communities and all travellers.
The project will be completed in a year in collaboration with the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) under the Ministry of the Presidency and other stakeholders. The Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) currently manages and regulates Guyana’s legal wildlife trade. The Commission holds the responsibility for securing the future of Guyana’s wildlife through effective, sustainable management and conservation, and is doing so through a regulated licensing process that manages the wildlife trade to ensure it remains sustainable, and a Monitoring and Compliance Division responsible for addressing instances of wildlife trafficking. Through collaboration with the GWCMC and other agencies, the GTA and THAG will develop a toolkit that can be adopted and used by locals and travellers to better identify areas of illegal wildlife trade and protect the amazing wildlife which is a vital part of our country and tourism product.
“Our wildlife helps to keep our pristine rainforest intact, helps our planet’s biodiversity systems to thrive, supports the livelihoods of our Indigenous Peoples by being a regulated food source, through tourism and conservation work, regulated wildlife management, and completes the circle of life,” said Carla James, Director of Guyana Tourism Authority. Her statement was supported by Mitra Rajkumar, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, who shared, “Our wildlife is one of our greatest attractions in Guyana and one that we need to ensure we, as humans, do all that we can to help protect them.”
Ms. Alona Sankar, Commissioner of Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) added, “Wildlife trafficking is a serious issue globally. Even with the regulations we have in place to help combat this in Guyana, we do need all citizens and travellers to play their part to help identify and reduce the amount of illegal wildlife trafficking instances that take place in Guyana.”
Illicit Wildlife Trade and Trafficking is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest of and trade in live animals and plants or parts and products derived from them. Wildlife, globally, is traded as skins, leather goods or souvenirs; as food or traditional medicine; as pets, and in many other forms. Many countries have limited regulations, and those that do are not strongly enforced due to capacity constraints or because they are not known the locals to help identify the instances of illicit activities. The aim of the communications toolkit is to empower locals and travellers to Guyana to better identify signs of wildlife trafficking and the process on how to report this for further action by the relevant authorities.
About LATA Foundation: Formed in 2007 by a group of competing tour operators and hoteliers, Latin American Travel Association (LATA) Foundation serves to support the region they love. The LATA Foundation is a completely volunteer-led organisation and every penny goes directly to their projects. Through industry support, funding is provided to grassroots projects across Latin America. It aims to give back to the continent they love through social and environmental projects that truly make a difference in the lives of Latin American people. (http://www.latafoundation.org)
About Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (est. d 1992): is a not for profit, membership national tourism association in Guyana. It exists to promote sustainable tourism development, by fostering professionalism throughout the industry, ensuring quality service for its clients, providing benefits to its members while collaborating with relevant government institutions and networking with other related local, regional and international agencies to maximise the available resources
About the Guyana Tourism Authority: The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is a semi- autonomous governmental organisation responsible for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister agencies and the tourism private sector in order to maximise local socio-economic and conservation outcomes and improve the visitors’ experience. The GTA is focused on Guyana becoming recognised locally and internationally as a premier destination for protecting its natural and cultural heritage, providing authentic experiences, and maximising local economic benefits.
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