The United States Embassy hosted a celebration to observe World Wildlife Day, bringing together the World Wildlife Fund Guianas and the Guyana Wildlife Division along with faculty and students from the University of Guyana.
In a release, the Embassy said that World Wildlife Day celebrated annually [from this year] in March throughout the world raises awareness of issues relating to the protection of plants and animals. Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt welcomed the group and led a discussion on the issue of wildlife trafficking, which “threatens our security, the environment, human health, and sustainable economic development.”
Dr Patrick Williams, Country Manager, WWF Guyana, emphasised the importance of collaboration among members of the public and private sectors to protect not only animals, but plants as well. He hailed Guyana’s plants and animals as “national treasures” that should be protected from poachers and traders.
The release said that the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Officer Jeff Barrus shared President Obama’s National Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Trafficking. The strategy aims to strengthen global enforcement, reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife in the U.S. and abroad, and to strengthen partnerships with local communities, non-governmental organizations, private industry, and others to combat wildlife poaching and trade.
Barrus also marvelled at “Guyana’s abundant, unique, and spectacular wildlife that sets it apart from much of the world, including the magnificent jaguar, giant anteaters, river otters, and special birds like the Scarlet Macaw and the Toco Toucan.”
UG third and fourth year students from the School of Earth and Environmen-tal Sciences and the Natural Sciences Faculty highlighted interesting issues such as balancing the need for sustenance in some regions with wildlife protection. Other students called for greater coordination of activities between WWF, government, academia, and private sector entities.
