The Iwokrama carbon deal

A historic deal was just concluded between Iwokrama and a UK-based investor - a real achievement by Guyana and by Iwokrama.

From the Stabroek News article:

"For the first time investors will pay for the ecosystem services produced by a rainforest, including rainfall generation, climate regulation, biodiversity maintenance and water storage - utilities with global significance which are vanishing as forests fall," Iwokrama's Chairman Edward Glover said in a statement. The deal was first reported in yesterday's edition of the Independent newspaper in the UK.

And the significance is underlined by the fact that it has warranted an article in New Scientist:

Hylton Murray-Philipson, director of the UK-based financiers Canopy Capital, has signed a deal with Iwokrama guaranteeing a "meaningful" contribution to their running costs for five years, a deal which may be renewed.

In return for these funds, Canopy Capital is given "ownership" of the forest's ecosystems services and a claim on any profits that might one day be made from them.

Well done Iwokrama and Canopy Capital!

See also:
Mongabay article

More on biofuel

Two conflicting news items prompted me to blog this. On the BBC news site there is an item about the Indian Finance Minister criticizing the conversion of crops into biofuel by developing countries. I can see his point of view but ...

Here in Guyana I heard comments by Dr Narine of IAST pointing out the advantages of biofuels for Guyana where uncultivated land (not forest) and plenty of water are waiting to be put to use. The only thing missing is the expertise.

I trust that the international media will give a balanced picture. It is surely a case of 'horses for courses' - each country needs its own mix of solutions. No blanket remedies please. We need to exploit all resources wisely to meet world energy needs.

Lost for words

I have not posted anything lately as I am still pondering what to say following recent tragic events here in Guyana... two separate days of national mourning... my words are inadequate.
Yet life goes on and I remain optimistic. Many parts of the world are much worse off than we...

Moral issues of climate change

The recent issues of One Country has an article about a panel discussion on “The Ethical Dimension of Climate Change,” organized by the Bahá’í International Community and held on 30 April 2007 during this year’s meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. An important aspect of the issue that needs more attention...
And there a local connection here, the Tahirih Naylor mentioned in the article lived here in Guyana for several years as a child. She may have been born here - I do not recall.
Kind of a late post. I suppose I have been distracted. Especially by the senseless violence that occurred in Lusignan a week or so ago.

After Bali...??

So Bali did finally reach consensus on an agreement. That is an achievement it is true - even though the difficult commitments and real changes seem to have been put off again... I wonder how history will judge it...
We will have wait another 2 years (?) ... and again I wonder... how many lives will it cost?