Commonwealth SG Scotland urges protection of forest land

LONDON – Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland, says while Guyana is fortunate that deforestation is very low, Commonwealth countries with an estimated 900 million hectares of forest land need to ensure policies are in place to support the livelihoods of millions of people while tackling climate change.,

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland walking in the Amazonian rainforests last week (Commonwealth Photo)“If the ocean is the lifeblood of the Commonwealth, then forests are the lungs that breathe life into its whole system,” she said, noting that the 54-member Commonwealth grouping covers nearly a quarter of all forest land in the world.

“These biodiversity havens not only house about half of all animal species on earth, they also give us clean air, water and food, supporting the livelihoods of millions of people while tackling climate change.”

The Dominican-born Scotland said that last weekend, she had the privilege of trekking the “stunning Amazonian rainforests of Guyana and was left awestruck by the sight of rolling jungle-shrouded mountains that stretched far as the eye could see, home to jaguars, anacondas and hundreds of exotic bird species.

“Listening to the thunderous vibrations of the Potaro River plunging 250 meters in the world’s largest single drop waterfall, Kaieteur Falls, I wondered how so much of humankind had become distanced from these wonders of nature.”

Scotland said that globally, forests such as the Amazon are being destroyed at alarming rates, placing increasing pressure on the wildlife and driving many species into extinction.

The UN estimates that 420 million hectares of forest have been lost since 1990, despite the rate of deforestation dropping in recent years.

The Commonwealth Secretary General said the main driver is no surprise, noting a rapid agricultural expansion is needed to feed the demands of an ever-growing global population, whether through large scale commercial farming or local subsistence agriculture.

“Fortunately, in Guyana, where more than 80 percent of the total land area is forest, deforestation rates are extremely low, less than one per cent, thanks to strong government policies and international support.

“However, the lucrative mining of bauxite and gold as well as the recent discovery of oil, which has propelled the country to become one of the fastest growing economies on the planet, still presents a common dilemma for developing nations,” she said, adding this is the balancing act of delivering a healthy economy, social cohesion and equality, while protecting the environment and fighting climate change fueled by the burning of fossil fuels”

Scotland recalled her attendance at the recently held United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 26) in Glasgow meeting with countless negotiators, experts and world leaders about how the international community should respond to the climate crisis.

“In a world where we are already grappling with the frightening effects of a heating planet, I observed a growing awareness amongst decisionmakers of the need to shift to sustainability in order for human civilization to survive. At the same time, it was clear that almost all countries were also motivated by the drive for economic growth, job creation and enhancing their so-called standard of living.”

She said that the statement by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali during a high level event held at the Commonwealth Pavilion at COP26 resonated with me:

““Whatever plan we come up with at the national, regional and international levels must be comprehensive in its outlook. We cannot only look at climate change in isolation of food security, or debt security, or national prosperity. We have to find an integrated way which leads to an integrated solution.”

Scotland said that it is precisely this line of thinking that has spurred an increasing number of Commonwealth member countries to support the ‘Call to Action on Living Lands’, which she announced more than a year ago.

“This call to action lays the groundwork for a Commonwealth Living Lands Charter to be proposed for adoption at the forthcoming meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government scheduled for later this year in Kigali, Rwanda.”

Scotland said that the proposed Charter recognizes those valuable links between different and sometimes conflicting interests of member countries and that it will seek to catalyze the global political momentum to address climate action and resilience, biodiversity loss and land degradation, in a coordinated and cohesive approach. Commonwealth countries will be able to share learning and cooperate in developing and implementing solutions.

“When implemented successfully, this will transform the climate, biodiversity and development agendas,” she said noting that the charter would allow for Commonwealth governments to cooperate and pave the way to learn about and access more sustainable, inclusive, innovative

“Focus areas to be explored within the Charter include climate resilient agriculture, soil and water conservation and management, sustainable green cover and biodiversity, and the active engagement of indigenous people. These are standing topics of discussion when I meet with Commonwealth leaders, including Guyana’s top decision makers with whom I convened this week.”

Scotland said that her visit to Guyana was both rewarding and deeply moving, noting however, it was a visit to the Santa Aratak community, a village of around 3,000 indigenous Arawak located 25 miles from the capital city of Georgetown, that the significance of the trip came full circle

“Like most indigenous groups, Amerindians make the best land stewards because of their traditional values and principles around living sustainably, understanding natural ecosystems and maintaining the pristine state of the environment.

“Their world view is similar to indigenous cultures elsewhere in the Commonwealth, including parts of Africa and the Pacific Islands. Perhaps as we embark on this new year, we should take their vision as an inspiration – we should all see ourselves as stewards of our living lands,” Scotland added.