Stakeholder involvement, a major component of policy development at Environment Dept.

DPI, GUYANA, Tuesday, March 27, 2018

The Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Environment (DoE) continues to place emphasis on stakeholder engagement when developing policies and strategies to ensure optimal management of the nation’s resources.

Head of the Department, Ndibi Schwiers, during a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which falls under the Department’s purview has commenced work on its five-year strategic plan.

This plan is aimed at ensuring that the EPA is more responsive to the development taking place in the country, Schwiers noted.

She informed too that the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (WCMC) is in the process of drafting its ten-year strategic plan, which is expected to be completed by mid-April. The agency is also working on draft wildlife conservation and management regulations.

“These regulations support the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act and they are to ensure the conservation, protection and sustainable management and use of wildlife in the country,” the DoE Head said.

When these plans are completed, Schwiers said, the intention is to take them to stakeholders “to let them know what it is we plan to do in the sector and to also hear from them on what we can include”.

The Protected Areas Commission (PAC), another agency falling under the DoE’s purview, currently has in place a draft strategy for the management of Guyana’s protected areas and their expansion.

President David Granger had announced that the protected areas will be expanded by approximately two million hectares.

The document will be taken shortly to the Cabinet for deliberation after which the process will commence ensuring this vision is realised. The DoE, which was established in 2016, has responsibility for four agencies; the EPA, National Parks Commission, PAC and the WCMC.

Schwiers made it clear that the role of the DoE is not to usurp the role or responsibilities of the agencies, but to act more in a coordinating capacity and ensure that environmental management is integrated into the country.

 

By: Stacy Carmichael