Enhancing green spaces: $600M national tree-planting project launched

The government, through the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), launched a $600 million National Tree-Planting Project on Friday to enhance green spaces and promote environmental awareness.

As part of the initiative, trees were planted along Conversation Tree Boulevard at the Pike Street intersection, including Palm, African Tulip, Ashoka, Silk Cotton, Neem, Flamboyant, and Acacia Mangium.

This multi-year project, which will be implemented nationwide, aligns with the government’s expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. It underscores the administration’s commitment to combating climate change while fostering a greener environment.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the PAC Board of Directors, Robert Persaud, emphasised the need for community involvement and commitment to the initiative. The project aims to enhance the aesthetics of green spaces and provide safe recreational areas for citizens to enjoy various activities.

“This exercise is not only about preserving, enhancing, and expanding our green spaces,” Persaud explained, “but also about bringing the people of Guyana together and increasing awareness of the need to protect our environment. More importantly, it is about changing the culture of littering and fostering respect for the spaces we occupy.”

He highlighted that the project represents the broader transformation occurring in Guyana, alongside the development of new highways and other infrastructure projects.

The first phase of the initiative focuses on transforming and beautifying newly constructed highways, hospitals, schools, and government buildings.

The PAC is leading the execution of this multi-year project, with support from the Guyana Forestry Commission, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency, local businesses, and the Ministries of Public Works, Education, Health, and Local Government and Regional Development.

Globally recognised for its forest management and conservation efforts, Guyana continues to set an example of how the environment, forests, and biodiversity can be protected while supporting livelihoods. The country has preserved the second-highest percentage of forest cover in the world, with over 90 per cent of its forests remaining intact. These forests store an estimated 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide and have the capacity to absorb an additional 154 million tonnes annually. (DPI)