Region Two youths in environmental workshop
DPI, Guyana, Friday, June 22, 2018
Forty youths from Mainstay and Whyaka, Capoey, Lima Sands and Tapakuma in Region Two are benefiting from an environmental management workshop.
The two-day workshop is being held at the Mainstay Multipurpose Hall. The main objective is to empower the indigenous youths to enhance their skills to tackle issues of sustainable development, eco-systems, management of disaster, risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
It is funded by the World Wildlife Fund Guyana (WWF) in collaboration with the National Toshaos Council (NTC). The sessions are facilitated by the WWF, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission.
Communications Officer for the WWF, Michael Gordon in brief remarks stressed the importance of environmental management for human as well as countrywide development.
He said protecting the environment leads to human well-being. “Our Conservation strategy refers to forest, fresh water, oceans and wildlife. The two cross-cutting programmes are Communication and Shared Resources Joints Solutions. The latter deals with the development of individuals and human wellbeing.”
He noted that WWF is in the process of engaging several communities, particularly currently in Lethem, through community-based organisations.
Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Joel Fredericks said there is great potential for ecotourism in the region, hence, the workshop is necessary to prepare youths in that regard.
“We have to train our young people in managing disaster and risk reduction. After the two-day workshop we would like to start environmental clubs and get more stakeholders on board to continue working with our youths in this area,” Fredericks added.
By: Ranetta La Fleur.
Images: Leroy Lyttle.