Guyana has a forest cover of approximately 18.4 million hectares (86%), with over 60% of forested land undisturbed by human population. Historically low levels of deforestation place Guyana in a unique position to actively address climate change and conservation through participation in REDD+. Recognizing this unique position, the government has already made great strides in committing to the implementation of a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), aimed at promoting economic development while also fighting climate change. Currently, financing for the LCDS is largely supported by the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Norway for performance-based payments for avoided deforestation within the framework of REDD+. Guyana is also a participant within World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), having submitted its Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP) in June of 2009.
Financing flows and institutions receiving funds committed for REDD+ activities in Guyana:
A majority of initial institutions or “first recipients” receiving funding for REDD+ activities in Guyana are predominantly based in country. Approximately 76% of the total funding committed has been allocated to the government of Guyana and Guyanese NGOs and academic institutions.
International entities such as multilateral implementing agents, and NGOs and academic institutions are scheduled to receive 24% of total commitments.
A lack of second tier recipients represented in this chart should not be seen as a failure to implement REDD+ activities in Guyana. First recipients may pass funding to other organizations to implement activities, commit funding directly to local communities or households for payments for environmental services, or implement the activities directly themselves. A clearer picture will emerge as additional REDDX data collection continues.
An annual breakdown highlights that there were varying levels of commitments of REDD+ finance to Guyana between 2009 and 2012, with minimal commitments allocated to recipients during 2011. The government of Guyana was the primary recipient during the entirety of the period. Multilateral implementing agents also received a substantial amount of funding (18.9%).
The data presented below highlights levels of REDD+ financing committed and disbursed, main donors, recipients and REDD+ activities in the period between 2009 and 2012