Observing Earth Day 2017

Dr. Therese Yarde, Project Coordinator, Caribbean Hub Capacity Building related to Implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements,(third row, second from right) at the Earth Day ceremony in Guyana on 21 April, 2017. She joined President of Guyana, His Excellency David Granger, Chairman of CARICOM (front row, second from right), Minister of Education Sport and Culture, the Hon. Nicolette Henry (front row, third from right) and others for the ceremony at Independence Park in Georgetown. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat on Friday, 21 March, participated in the Government of Guyana’s celebration of International Mother Earth Day 2017.  International Mother Earth Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009 to promote harmony with nature and the earth, and is celebrated worldwide on April 22.

The global theme for Earth Day 2017 is Climate and Environmental Literacy, and Guyana’s observance was held under the national theme of Guyana: the Green State. In his remarks at the event President David Granger highlighted Guyana’s commitment to protecting and maintaining its rich biodiversity, and in particular its extensive forests, which play an important role in mitigating global climate change.

Guyana is one of the most biodiversity-rich members of CARICOM, and has taken significant actions to conserve and sustainably manage its natural habitats and ecosystems. Several of these actions are featured in a forthcoming report on the State of Biodiversity in the Caribbean Community, which will be published by the CARICOM Secretariat later this year.