Guyana LDN Implementation

1. Guyana LDN Implementation Trevor L. Benn Commissioner: Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission & National Focal Point to the UNCCD

2. Presentation Outline • Guyana on Brief • Background to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme (TSP) • The Process of LDN TSP • How does Guyana intend to become land degradation neutral? • National Working Group • LDN TSP Steps • LDN TSP Achievements • UNCCD LDN TSP Data on Guyana • Guyana’s LDN TSP Report • Supporting policies and strategies • Sustainable Land Management and Development Proposal • Supporting Action Plans

3. GUYANA IN BRIEF • Area: 215,000 sq km./ 83,000 sq miles • Population (2012 census): 747,884 (3.5 per person sq km) • Coverage: Approx. 168,000 sq. Km, approx. 85% of total area has forests • Only English speaking country on South American Continent. • Coast comprises 90% of the country’s population concentration, major economic hub, most fertile land and extensive social services Major Sectors GDP include: • Services • Agriculture • Manufacturing • Mining • Tourism • Construction • Economy is dominated with agriculture, forestry, fishery and mining sectors ; Forests account for 85% of the country covering 18.5 million hectares, 12.6 million hectares allocated for timber harvesting

4. Background to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme (TSP) • Guyana moving towards a Green State • Guyana envisages the LDN TSP to address on-the-ground implementation measures affecting land degradationand support corrective actions including the promotion of sustainable land management practices, reclamation, etc • The LDN TSP is a one (1) year national implementation process which began in September, 2016. Guyana opted in the LDN/ TSP in April, 2016

5. The Process of LDN TSP • Formation of a National Working Group • Technical Working Group analyzed and validated Baseline Data • Sub-group to identify and validate targets and measures • National Report drafted for review • Leverage Plan prepared

6. National Working Group • The National Working Group provided guidance and technical support for a more structured framework for the collection, measurement, monitoring and reporting (trends) of land degradation. • The Agencies were • Guyana Forestry Commission • Iwokrama • Environmental Protection Agency • Guyana Rice Development Board • Guyana Women Miners Association • Guyana Sugar Corporation • National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute • Caribbean Youth Environment Network • Protected Areas Commission • Ministry of Agriculture • Guyana Geology & Mines Commission • Mangroves • Private Sector Commission • National Toshaos Council(Indigenous Group) • Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Ass. • Loggers Association

7. LDN TSP Steps National Voluntary Targets , Associated Measures Step 10 Report on progress Step 7 Identify measures to achieve targets Step 6 Mainstream into land use planning National SLM project designed and approved, REDD+, draft land use policy, NDC to UNFCCC Milestone: GOG volunteered and received UNCCD support Step 8 Facilitate action – communicate benefits, fund activities Step 3 Assessing LD trends. Data shows change in land cover and land productivity but no change in soil organic carbon Step 4 Define Target. Guyana opted to use a national target Step 5 Define target that could be measured and time to achieve target Step 2 Setting the baseline using land cover, land productivity and soil organic carbon Step 1 Government Leadership and stakeholder engagement Step 9 Monitor changes in LD

8. LDN TSP Achievements • LDN TSP Inception Workshop (March 8, 2017) • UNCCD Global Data Sets for Guyana validated using national data on forest/land cover for most of Guyana excluding the coast • Baseline was accepted using the global data sets • Targets established & Measures to address LD identified, and validated on August 31, 2017 • Innovative programmes and projects identified in the leverage plan • Outreach on coastal and hinterland areas to increase awareness

9. AERIAL VIEW OF A DEGRADED AREA IN GUYANA

10. Sustaining LDN TSP Which direction, what resources are needed

11. Supporting Policies & Strategies • Green State Strategy and Framework • Reduced Emissions from deforestation and degradation • LDN TSP to be mainstreamed into the above 2 points • Increasing transformative projects • Sustainable Land Development and Management Project

12. Sustainable Land Management and Development Proposal • Proposed a Sustainable Land Management and Development Project in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to address current issues in the land sector • OUTCOME 1: Sustainable use, management, development and reclamation of degraded lands mainstreamed in Guyana. •  OUTCOME 2: Strengthened capacity for participatory and integrated land use planning, information systems, assessment and monitoring for sustainable land development, management and rehabilitation. • OUTCOME 3: Capacity on the ground developed for responsible use and governance of land, land assessment and developing and implementing sustainable land plans and reclamation measures • OUTCOME 4: Project management structures and mechanisms in place and functioning effectively and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework in place

13. Supporting Action Plans • Guyana’s Aligned its National Action Plan to combat Land Degradation (NAP) for the 2016-2030 period, directly integrating LDN as a vehicle for the implementation of the Convention (approved by Cabinet in April, 2016) • Commence preparation LDN TSP Implementation Plan

14. Supporting Action Plans • LDN offers an opportunity to create stronger synergies among the work of the 3 Rio conventions • Work has commenced on integrating the 3 convention. It is hoped that this will contribute to national sustainable development policies.

15. THANK YOU !