Iwokrama highlighted as the Commonwealth’s flagship environmental programme – President Granger lobbies sustainable environment management at CHOGM
DPI, GUYANA, Friday, April 27, 2018
Sustainable management of the environment was the main thrust of President David Granger’s engagement at the recently concluded 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted in London, United Kingdom.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon speaking at a post-Cabinet press conference today said Iwokrama was hailed as the Commonwealth’s flagship environmental programme by President Granger at CHOGM.
H.E. David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Deemed “highly successful” by the President, the international platform was used to emphasise Guyana’s immediate response to the 1989 Langkawi Declaration to the international leaders.
In accordance with the declaration, Guyana committed 371, 000 hectares of its rainforest for the establishment of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development.
Guyana’s accreditation of the Konashen Protected Areas consisting of over 7,000 square kilometres to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) was also highlighted at CHOGM.
The QCC is a unique network of forest conservation initiatives, which involves all 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
The action by Guyana in the furtherance of the Commonwealth 40-year vanguard role in protecting the earth’s environment was also reiterated by the Head of State.
The Langkawi Declaration on the Environment was issued on October 21, 1989 at Langkawi, Malaysia by the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth on the issue of environmental sustainability.
Promotion of energy efficiency and sustainable forest management in developing countries, and the conservation of virgin forest to protect biodiversity were some of the commitments by leaders.
By: Stacy Carmichael