GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali is calling for a united global effort to protect the world’s rapidly declining forests and biodiversity, warning that the planet’s survival depends on urgent and coordinated action.
Speaking at a high-level environmental forum on Th sidelines of the COP30 climate conference, President Ali said the loss of forests and species threatens the stability of food systems, water resources, and livelihoods across developing and developed nations alike.
“Protecting what remains of our natural world is not optional — it is indispensable,” Ali said. “Nature does not recognize borders, and our response must be equally borderless.”
Guyana, which retains about 86 percent of its land under forest cover, has positioned itself as a global leader in sustainable forest management through its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The country has implemented programs to monetize carbon storage and biodiversity services, setting an example for other nations seeking to align development with conservation.
Ali urged developed countries, international financial institutions, and private investors to back nature-rich developing nations through technology transfers, markets for biodiversity credits, and predictable climate financing. “We must shift from appealing for aid to building a global system where nature’s value is recognized and rewarded,” he said.
Among the measures he outlined were expanding jurisdictional forest carbon projects, deepening South-South cooperation among tropical nations, and scaling up community-led forest management initiatives. These, he said, are essential to transforming nature-based solutions from concepts into tangible economic opportunities.
Environmental observers say Guyana’s approach demonstrates how conservation and development can coexist, even in an economy now buoyed by oil and gas. However, Ali cautioned that global progress remains slow due to weak coordination and underfunded commitments.
“Let us not confuse ambition with action,” he said. “The time for symbolic gestures has passed. What we need now is measurable execution and accountability.”
Ali’s remarks come as world leaders prepare for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where forests and biodiversity financing are expected to take center stage in climate negotiations. For Guyana — and nations like it — the summit represents both a test and an opportunity: to prove that economic growth and environmental preservation can advance hand in hand.
(Extracted from DPI )