Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Vickram Bharrat, is currently leading a delegation at COP 17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
COP 17 is the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and is taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17th to 28th August 2026 under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”
The topics in focus at this year’s UNCCD COP17 are desertification, land degradation, and drought resilience.
Minister Bharrat on 26th August, participated in a Ministerial Panel during Land and People Day at the conference, under the theme “From Summits to the Floodplains: Connecting Ecosystems and livelihoods.”
From our forests and highlands, through our rivers and wetlands, to our coastal plains and communities, Guyana’s landscapes are interconnected.
During his presentation, the Hon. Minister highlighted that Guyana’s experience in natural resource management has increasingly been about managing these connections rather than managing ecosystems in isolation.
“Under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Guyana has pursued a development pathway that seeks to combine economic development with the responsible management of our natural capital.
Our Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 provides an important framework for this approach.
It recognises the value of our forests and ecosystem services while supporting climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, food security and biodiversity conservation.
Guyana’s experience also demonstrates that natural resources are not simply assets to be protected; they are assets that can help build resilient communities and resilient economies.
Our forests store carbon, support extraordinary biodiversity, regulate water and sustain communities.
Our mangroves and coastal ecosystems provide natural protection. Our rivers and wetlands are fundamental to livelihoods, agriculture and communities.
From the summits to the floodplains, our landscapes are connected.
Our policies, our investments and our institutions must be connected too.
Guyana stands ready to share our experience and to learn from others as we work towards a future where healthy ecosystems support resilient communities, productive landscapes and sustainable livelihoods.”
