Dear Editor,
The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Mr. Nigel Dharamlall, should be applauded for his action against cutting rubber trees, in Mabaruma (Dharamlall halts cutting of century-old Mabaruma trees – town and Region One council had made decision to proceed with removal (Stabroek News/ January 28, 2021). Removal of trees ought to be a last resort to facilitating infrastructural works, in any part of our country.
It is particularly important for political, governmental, community and other leaders and citizens to understand the enormous impact and consequential implications of the extant climate crisis, on the natural environment globally and locally. Indeed, current and emerging unprecedented environmental incidents and events, caused by climate change, have influenced entire nations, and communities to review, and reorganize the way they carry out even basic daily, taken-for-granted human, public health and community activities.
For example, in some countries, to breathe clean air, although a human right, appears to be a luxury (air pollution); to use water straight from streams, lakes and rivers to do daily household chores, as was done in the past, is now sorely discouraged because of the high level of water pollution, due to mining and other related activities, especially in the extractive industry. But at the core of this worsening environmental degradation and destruction is our attitudes and actions towards the natural environment. All in the name of development. In practical reality, there can be no real development if in our quest for it we destroy the environment. What would we develop if there is no natural environment?
And for all of that, we continue to cut and remove trees, in local communities, without any thought about the effects of their absence upon our personal and community health.
In the case of Mabaruma, I would argue that, the cost of removing those trees outweighs the cost of constructing the road; the authorities can easily build a road, anywhere, in that Town, but it would take many lifetimes to replace those rubber trees. I have not remarked on the disruption of habitats and the life patterns of certain insects and animals vital to the health of the environment if those trees are removed. Surely, those, who are involved in doing proposed infrastructural works, in Mabaruma, should examine all possible options to construct the road without removing the trees. Removing one hundred and ten rubber trees ought to be a last resort to the installation and building of infrastructure, in any local community.
About two years ago, at the City Council, under the Environment Commit-tee, which was chaired by the then Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, I had suggested and, in fact, formulated the framework of a policy on sustainable management of trees in Georgetown. At that time, we were contemplating promoting Urban Agriculture as provided for under the Act 28:01. I am not sure what has become of it. However, I would respectfully urge the Hon. Minister to consider appointing a team to formulate specific public policies, legislation and regulations to govern the sustainable management of trees. Perhaps, a good place to start is to consider an inventory of existing strategy documents, vision and mission statements, and policies of competent ministries in charge of forestry, public health, environment, agriculture, and local government bodies, in order to select relevant policy statements, and laws that relate to trees. I am aware that there are policies and regulations on trees in forestry, in Guyana. However, trees on farms, and in urban areas and rural communities, on lands, under the control of local governments, and for which individuals have right of tenure, seem to be outside of those policies and regulations. Specific public policies on trees would achieve a number of things, including, raising public awareness about the high importance of these natural carbon sequesters; provide institutional support to communities to sustainably grow, care and manage trees; protect the natural ecology, and enhance public and environment health.
Yours truly,
Royston King
