OFFICIAL OPENING GUIANA SHIELD BIODIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
FOTO: JERREL PINAS
From 8-12 August the IVth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield is held in Georgetown, Guyana. The theme of this Congress is Leveraging our high endemicity, cultural diversity, and intact ecosystems for inclusive growth and secure features.
We would like to share with you an overview of the Congress this week. Follow us daily on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WWFGuianas.org/) and get involved in the discussion, leave a comment and share with your network.
Day 1 the Official opening:
SHARING A VISION TO OVERCOME BOUNDARIES
The IVth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield has officially opened, accompanied by the inspiring words of his Excellency Brigadier David Granger – President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and by those of a plethora of distinguished speakers: Ms. Khadija Musa (Resident Coordinator of UNDP in Guyana), Dr Patrick Williams (Chairman of the GSBE), Dr Marten Schalkwijk (Chair of IBG), Prof Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith (University of Guyana).
The President not only highlighted the “essential role of the Shield in the survival of Planet Earth” and compared its wilderness and creatures to those of the Garden of Eden, but he most importantly underlined that all 6 countries within the Shield (Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil) must embrace the role of trustees, so to preserve the biodiversity and the integrity of the Shield itself.
A process which started 13 years ago, when the dialogue on the Guiana Shield officially begun in Paramaribo (Suriname), at a Priority Setting Workshp, lead by some of the key partners of the Congress such as WWF Guianas, Conservation International, Guiana Shield Initiative. A journey that has seen four editions of the Congress and is prepared to transform thoughts and research into concrete actions, towards a more sustainable development of this important region, the Guiana Shield. This path has already allowed the 6 countries of the Shield to overcome most of their differences in culture, heritage and language to pursue a greater good and a shared vision; putting ecological interests first and banishing barriers and borders to preserve the unique ecological capital of the Shield and its incredible biodiversity.
The Opening Ceremony also featured two unique performances, one by the Tina Insanally Children’s Choir and the other by the National Dance Company and also cocktail reception hosted by His Excellency the President.
Prepared and edited by Francesca Masoero, Jerrel Pinas, Raquel Thomas-Caesar (WWF Guianas; GSBE)
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