ONE of several biodiversity public awareness workshops to be held across the country as part of an overall integrated programme was yesterday opened at the Ocean View International Hotel, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

The workshop is part of the Biodiversity Education and Awareness Programme and is funded by the Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Agriculture Minister and Chairman of the Board of the EPA, Mr. Navin Chandarpal said the understanding and intention of the programme is to involve key personnel from all the regions of Guyana in the very important discussions on biodiversity; what is meant by that and what the implications are for its sustainable utilisation, conservation and protection in the short, medium and long terms.

The minister, addressing the opening of the meeting, made the very important charge to participants to spread and share their knowledge and information with others in their organisations, among family members and the wider society.

He said the media and other promotional aspects also form part of that integrated programme and ought not to be seen in isolation.

Among the organisations represented at the workshop were the Iwokrama International Rainforest Programme and the Guyana Forestry Commission.

Chandarpal noted that it was a little while ago that the National Biodiversity Strategy was developed and subsequenty the Bio-diversity Action Plan. According to him, they have within them many important elements dealing with issues intended to help to develop a proper scientific understanding and approach to Guyana's biodiversity.

It is also intended to allow the phase of knowledge and information to influence the development process in that country to have an approach to utilise natural resources, he said.

According to Chandarpal, we have to pay attention to the protection of ecological and other resources. He, however, noted that this is not an easy task because it involves situations where the vested interest of different groups will sometimes be very much in contradiction to each other.

"We have been trying through the overall work of the EPA and especially the work of Natural Resources and Environmental Advisory Committee to influence a more balanced approach," he added.

"But if we were to succeed and be able to make sure that that very important objective is met, it would mean that we would have to get the general public in Guyana to understand these issues," he added.

Chandarpal said this has to be taken at different levels and noted that part of the overall approach of the EPA is to try to develop as much self-monitoring as possible.

This, he said, can only come about if awareness can be increased among those involved in the productive sector.

"So we have to ensure that those who are involved in the various areas of promotion (and)...will come in contact with elements on a wider scale (and)...have the potential to disrupt the ecological balance...understand the importance of taking a very rational approach to their development programmes so as not to upset that ecologiocal balance and destroy the rich elements of our biodiversity," Chandarpal noted.

He, however, pointed out that there is also the need to educate the public at large. "I think many times people, innocently, are involved in activities that are harmful. I say innocently because some of these activities come naturally..."

One example Chandarpal cited was the case of peoples' approach to mangroves, which in many areas in the country have been used and overused as a source of firewood.

He also noted that many workshops and seminars were held and research done by various stakeholders but the findings do not reach the public at large.

According to him, the very terms used and the way in which the papers are written will not be understood by members of the public at large. Therefore, there is the need for translating scientific language used in biodiversity to layman's language.

Also making brief remarks at the opening ceremony of the workshop were Dr. Rovin Deodat, Director of the EPA and Mr. Per Bertilisson, Executive Director, EPA.

According to the National Biodiversity Action Plan, recent policies and practices in Guyana are leading to the building of a tradition of participatory decision making and a policy to conserve and sustainably use the country's natural resources.

It said these policies are reflected at the international level in the signing of a number of international and regional treaties, conventions and other instruments relating to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

A continuing loss of biodiversity globally, increasing threats to biodiversity, and a recognition of the importance of biodiversity to the environment, economy and society have contributed to the placing of biodiversity on the agenda of nations.

The plan is intended to promote both the conservation and the responsible use of biodiversity and biological resources.