Hypothesized relationship
A pressing question that arises from last week’s brief introduction to the forest transition hypothesis is whether it offers useful guidance as regards future trends in Guyana’s extractive forest sector.
Introduction
Today’s column reflects on a well-known hypothesis (forest transition theory), developed in research on the dynamics of forests in human societies.
Economic growth and net forest loss
This week’s column continues with the exploration of the relationship between, on the one hand, Guyana’s population and real national income growth, and, on the other, its rate of net forest loss/deforestation, over similar long-term periods, (that is roughly from the early 1960s to the early 2000s).
Introduction
Last week I indicated that, for a small nation, Guyana has exhibited exemplary ambition in the development of its responses to worldwide environmental challenges, in the face of global warming and climate change.
Resolute action
Between Earth Day 2016 and Earth Day 2017, 55 national instruments of ratification will have to be submitted to the Paris Agreement before it comes into operation.
Earth Day 2016 Signing ceremony
As indicated last week, Guyana, together with 174 other nations, have all reportedly signed on to the Paris Agreement, finally negotiated last December (2015).
The MDGs and the Forest agenda
Last week’s column addressed the burning question: “Is the global community driving the domestic agenda for Guyana’s forests?”
Although in my ongoing presentation of these articles on Guyana’s forests it has not been so far singled out for attention, it should be clear from last week’s contribution that the international forest agenda is directly driving much of the agenda items framing Guyana’s forests and land use policies, as the country goes forward.
Method
March 21 was International Day of the Forest, 2016. Its thematic focus was “to shine a spotlight on the connections between forests, water systems, and sustainable development”.
Introduction
As indicated, the coming presentations on the forest sub-sector (a strategic segment of the non-mineral extractive sector) utilize the FAO’s definition of the forest.
Introduction
Last week I had indicated today’s column would continue to discuss potential pitfalls arising from Guyana’s heavy dependence on extractive export industries, and the likely deepening of this dependence in the coming time of oil and gas production and export.
Shifting perceptions/reality
This week’s column and the next will wrap up this somewhat extended discussion I have been having on Guyana’s dependence on the export of minerals.
Bauxite trends
As promised, this week I resume discussion of the bauxite industry in the context of Guyana’s extractive mineral resources export dependence.
Introduction: one-off
As I have done over the past several years, I had intended, some time much later in the year, to devote a few columns to an update on the state of Guyana’s sugar industry.
Introduction
Last week’s column provided information for readers seeking a basic appreciation of the role the gold industry (Guyana’s leading mineral sub-sector), plays when assessing the pitfalls posed by its dependence on extractive industries.