Green Leaf July - September 2008

1

In this quarter, many activities were successfully com-

pleted. The EPA coordinated and participated in a

number of events on a national level and a range of

activities were executed in various parts of the country.

These include Environmental Camps, interactive ses-

sions and visits to Project sites.

A number of projects under the Protected Areas Small

Grants KfW funded projects were also implementation

while training stipulated under the Darwin Initiative

was completed.

As we enter the final quarter of the year, let‘s strive to

work collaboratively with all stakeholders to effectively

execute our mandate.

In this Issue...

Volume 4 Issue 1V July - September 2008

Editorial Note

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined with the rest of Guyana and the Caribbean in celebrating the historic Carifesta X. The EPA took on the challenging but exciting role of coordi-nating the Environmental segment of the Youth Village by ensur-ing the participation of key stakeholders.

The Youth Village was held at the National Park from August 25 - 29, 2008. The Environmental Centre was hosted by the EPA along with several environmental partners such as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Guyana Amazon Tropical Bird Society (GATBS), Iwokrama, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Guyana Ma-rine Turtles Conservation Society (GMTCS) and Conservation International (CI).

The activities coordinated by the environmental advocacy groups were very interactive and aimed at promoting environmental awareness and fostering better attitudes towards the environment. They stimulated the interest of patrons who were not only youths but adults as well.

The décor of the booth brought alive various aspects of the natu-ral environment so that patrons could have a unique experience.

EPA takes the Environmental Message to Carifesta X

EPA takes Environmental message to Carifesta X

Environmental Camps Successful

Inter - Schools Jeopardy Competition

International Ozone Day 2008

Noise Applications show a steady increase

Environmental Authorisations

Kids corner

Yupukari Kitchen - Garden Project Implemented

Meriwau Livestock Project under Kanuku Mountains Study Areas

begins

GMTCS Education and Public Awareness Program starts

Amazing Facts

Activities ranged from pictorial displays, videos, documentaries, display of craft items , quizzes and speed drawing competitions to interactive surveys, demonstrations and bird watching.

These activi-ties attracted huge crowds of all age group on a daily basis.

There is no doubt that the environmental message was spread at Carifesta X and the EPA wishes to ex-tend gratitude to the organi-sations which were instrumental in affording us the us the opportu-nity to participate in such a memorable event and to its partners for helping to make this grand event a success.

The EPA booth at Carifesta X 2008

2

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), held a jeopardy

competition among selected primary schools in Georgetown and

in Essequibo. This competition was a follow-up to the activities

held in observance of World Environment Day (WED) 2008;

which was celebrated under the international theme - ―C02, Kick

the Habit Towards a Low Carbon Economy” which focused

on the issues of climate change and the importance of reducing

carbon emissions.

The competition sought to raise awareness of the issues of climate

change through interaction. The competitions were held over a

EPA hosts Environmental Camps

Inter –Schools Climate Change Jeopardy Competition

Vo lume 4 Issue 1V Ju ly – Se p tember, 2008

The EPA hosted Environmental Camps, one of which was con-ducted at the Nature School of the Guyana Zoological Park during the month of July, 2008. Representatives from environmental clubs in Georgetown and its environs benefited from this Camp.

Youths from the community of Agatash in Barticathe were the beneficiaries of the other Cam which was facilitated through the Ministry of Youth and Culture.

The Camps served to train youth in School Yard Ecology Methodology, proposal writing and leadership skills as well as raise awareness of environmental issues.

Activities were tailored to improve communication and interaction between clubs and the EPA as well as strengthen relations among environmental clubs.

During the Camps, youths were involved in both indoor and outdoor activities which included a tour of a farm which promotes the use of environ-mentally sound practices and utilized hydro-ponics in farming prac-tices, presen-tations, dis-

cussions and group work. Activities were packaged in a fun way to stimulate innate curiosities and enhance confidence and focused on developing skills and enhancing critical thinking.

The participants were able to develop a knowledge of the inquiry cycle in learning about the environment and better understand some environmental issues such as habitat and species relationship.

Social issues dealt helped in the development of communication skills and enhanced awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS..

On the way to see first-hand Hydroponic farming

On a zoo safari in the Guyana Zoo

2-day period on separate occasions at the National Library in

Georgetown and the Anna Regina Multilateral School on the Esse-

quibo Coast respectively.

Students benefited from an interactive lecture and were provided

with appropriate reading materials. A quizz based on the presenta-

tion was administered and the three highest scorers were selected to

compete in the Jeopardy.

In Georgetown, students of the Coven Garden Primary School

emerged winner in the Primary category while those of the North

Ruimveldt Multilateral School emerged winner at the secondary

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Volume 4 Issue 1V Ju ly – Se p tember, 2008

International Ozone Day 2008

International Ozone Day 2008 was celebrated under the theme ‗Montreal Protocol– Global Partnerships for Global Benefits’.

This year the EPA targeted Students of Secondary Schools in the Charlestown—Georgetown area. The Students assembled at the Dolphin Secondary School for the activity. They were treated to an interactive video presentation on the Ozone Layer, participated in a Quiz based on the Video presentation and enjoyed lively discus-sions.

In addition, the students were given the opportunity to use their creative abilities by using discarded materials to make useful items such as aquariums and wind mills.

The Agency also collaborated with the Hydro-meteorological De-partment to co ordinate an exhibition at the National Library.

Newspaper articles on the Ozone was also done, a panel discussion for broadcast on national television was coordinated as well as ap-pearance on the Guyana Today Show.

Inter - Schools Climate Change Jeopardy Competition

The EPA extends gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the

participating schools for making this activity successful.

The MOE is one of the EPA‘s key partners in the thrust to pro-

mote environmental education in schools.

Intensely concentrating on a Quizz at the Interna-

tional Ozone Day forum

Part of the climate change prepping session in

Essequibo before the jeopardy competition

Level.

In Essequibo, students of the V. C. Nunes Primary School excelled

at the primary level while the Anna Regina Multilateral School came

out on top in the secondary

category.

The competition was both

informative and fun and

students were very enthusi-

astic and eager to learn. The

activity also served to pique

students‘ interest in envi-

ronmental issues.

This jeopardy competition

was the first of its kind

done by the EPA and was

conceptualized as the

Agency seeks creative

strategies to deliver environment education. The overwhelming re-

sponse received from the participating schools indicated that the

approach was highly successful. As the Agency extends the scope of

its work, other approaches to environmental awareness will be ap-

plied to different target groups across Guyana.

The finalists in the Primary category of the

Georgetown Jeopardy competition

4

The number of environmental applications received for the third

(3rd) quarter has decreased significantly. This quarter recorded the

lowest number of environmental applications for the year. How-

ever, this may be attributed to a decline in investment during this

period but the EPA excepts to see an increase in the final quarter of

the year.

Fifty-two (52) applications were received for both new and existing

projects. Of these, twenty-eight (28) were for new projects and

twenty-two (22) for existing operations.

There was one (1) application for Renewal of Environmental Au-

thorisation and one (1) application for a Variance of Environmental

Authorisations.

During this period forty-seven (47) Environmental Authorisations

were granted. This included the Demerara Distillers Limited -

Vo lume 4 Issue 1V Ju ly - September, 2008

Noise Applications show a Steady Increase

Environmental Authorisations

Blending and Bottling Plant.

The Agency also facilitated nine (9) projects through the Environ-

mental Impact Assessment process. Seven (7) of these projects

had commenced the process in 2007. No new projects were re-

quired to conduct EIAs during this period.

The Environmental Management Division made significant efforts

to focus on verification of these existing industries. The Agency

conducted approximately twenty-nine (29) verification visits, most

of which were in the wood sector. This trend is expected to con-

tinue.

The EPA despite several limitations this year has been working

assiduously to enhance environmental management this quarter .

The EPA is also committed to ensure that persons comply with

environmental standards.

Noise is regulated to protect people and the environment against Noise Pollution. The problem of high noise levels has become prevalent in our society today, pervading our homes, businesses, public and private transportation and public places. It is a cause for concern not only because it creates annoyance but also because it is linked to hearing loss, stress and other human health conditions.

Legislation empowers the Police to enforce against Noise and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to regulate Noise under the Environmental Protection Noise Management Regulations (EPR –NM) (2000).

The EPR –NM (2000) is the most recent of the noise regulating legislations and requires that persons engaging in specified activities apply for Noise Permits. Noise Permits are valid for a maximum of one (1) year, after which, it could be renewed.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards has developed Interim Guidelines for Noise Emission that indicate permissible noise levels for activities that are residential, commercial and industrial . Permissible noise levels for the different categories are: residential: 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night; commercial: 65

decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night and industrial: 75 decibels during the day and 70 decibels at night.

The EPA received thirty (30) Noise Applications during the period

July-September. The EPA has observed a steady increase in noise

applications over the past few months and expects this trend to

continue during the last quarter of the year. The EPA is working

closely with the police to regularize this problem.

Several applications for long-term Noise Permits were received for Liquor Restaurants, Discos and Bars. Applications for short-term Noise Permits were for fund-raising activities such as Barbecues, Fairs, and Fun Days.

The permit would require that the person responsible for produc-ing noise put certain measure in place to minimize the effects of noise on the surrounding environment and people.

Defaulters, on summary conviction of a noise related offence may be required to pay between $30,000 to 750,000 and can face up to one year imprisonment.

5

Kids’ Corner

Volume 4 Issue 1V Ju ly - September, 2008

Test you knowledge in Ozone Layer Science and Ozone Depletion in this cross word puzzle.

Clues

Across

3. Microscopic animals harmed by excess UV

6. Especially harmful band of UV radiation

11. One atom of this can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules

12. Unnatural thinning of the ozone layer by human activities

13. Skin ___: One of the worst health effects of too much sun

14. ___ conditioning: one type of equipment that used CFCs

15. Unit for measuring column ozone

17. ___osphere: Part of the atmosphere containing the ozone layer

Down 1. The southernmost continent; location of the ozone hole

2. Wind pattern over Antarctica that isolates the ozone hole

4. Ozone ___: region containing most atmospheric ozone

5. Montreal ___: Treaty protecting the ozone layer

7. Chemical that makes methyl bromide an ozone-depleting substance

8. Molecule that absorbs UVB radiation from the sun, protecting Earth

9. A substitute for CFCs that's much less damaging to the ozone layer

10. Ultra___: Harmful solar radiation

16. Measure of how much a chemical harms the ozone layer

Ozone Science Cross Word Puzzle

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Volume 4 Issue 1V Ju ly - September, 2008

Yupukari Kitchen-Garden Project is Implemented

A ‗Kitchen-Garden Project‘ focusing on improving local agriculture and food security in Yupukari and promote the conservation of the Kanuku Mountains is currently underway.

The Project seeks to foster crop diversification and income genera-tion in Yupukari Village, establish an irrigation system for small-scale agriculture and supply the Village with agricultural infrastruc-ture and equipment.

The project costs are estimated at G$6,514,615, of which

G$5,994,615 will be provided by GPAS, and G$520,000 will

be contributed by the community. The project commenced in July and is expected to end in December, 2008.

The people of Yupukari are unable to establish farms within their village due to a lack of water during the eight month dry season. Community members therefore farm in the surrounding forests, where slash and burn agriculture is practised. The resulting loss of forest is becoming a major threat to the Kanuku Mountains and its linked ecosystems.

This project will allow for farming within Yupukari by installing an irrigation network and providing farming infrastructure and equip-ment.

Project activities include the purchasing of construction materials for fencing and the irrigation network, purchasing of farming mate-

rials and equipment (fertilizers, rakes, hoes, seeds, etc.), transport-ing materials and equipment to and from the village, installation of the irrigation network, construction of fences, and the distribution of materials and equipment to farmers.

The Project will encourage community members to move away from slash and burn agriculture. In so doing, this initiative will reduce the conversion of forests to agricultural land, and foster natural reforestation. The reduced threat to local forest will signifi-cantly contribute to the conservation of the proposed Kanuku Mountains Protected Area and its linked ecosystems.

The EPA is the coordinating agency for these projects and is therefore, very instrumental in securing funding, aiding the com-munities in the development of their proposals and sourcing the necessary materials for the various projects.

The ―Yupukari Kitchen-Garden Project‖ is being implemented under the KFW Small-grants Component of the Guyana Protected Area System (GPAS).

GMTCS Education and Public awareness Project Starts

The Guyana Marine Turtles Conservation (GMTCS) through the EPA and with funding from KfW is in the process of implementing an education and public awareness programme.

The project focuses on environmental education and awareness of the main sea turtles using communities in and adjacent to the pro-posed Shell Beach Protected Area. The project is expected to be implemented over a period of six(6) month and the first phase ended in July , 2008.

The main goal of the project is to ensure the future existence and population recovery of all four (4) species of marine turtles known to nest in Guyana by engaging teachers, students, communities, fishers and the general Guyanese public in environmental and sea turtle education and awareness projects.

Activities include, development and implementation of an Environ-ment Education Training Programme for teachers, development and /or reactivation of wildlife/environmental clubs and accompa-nying wildlife kids; community workshops to address sea turtle by catch and a national awareness programme.

Four (4) endangered species of sea turtles nest at Shell Beach an-nually. This is a rare occurrence as most nesting beaches in the world only has 1 or 2 species of sea turtles nesting on them. Shell beach is home for several Amerindian communities which have traditionally harvested these turtles and their eggs for food and income for over 70 years. The other main factors contributing to this practice is the lack of alternative income and awareness activi-ties in this area.

GMTCS in an effort to address this problem has established North West Organics and Moruca Embroidery brands as alterna-tive income projects within Shell Beach and the surrounding com-munities.

In addition, the impact of this education and awareness initiative will be assessed through GMTCS‘ annual sea turtle monitoring activities. A number of education materials will also be produced and distributed as part of the programme.

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Meriwau Livestock Project Begins

Volume 4 Issue 1V Ju ly – S ep tember , 2008

Another project—―Meriwau Livestock Project‖, is currently being implemented by the Shulinab Village Council under the KfW Small Grants Component of the Guyana Protected Area System (GPAS) Project.

This Lifestock Project will focus on improving food security for the Meriwau satellite community whilst promoting the conservation of the Kanuku Mountains.

The project is intended to assist in establishing a cattle herd in the Meriwau community and supply cattle ranching infrastructure and equipment for members of the community.

The project costs are estimated at G$3,078,600, of which G$2,452,600 is to be funded by KfW and G$626,000 is to be con-tributed by the community. The project, to be implemented over a period of six (6) months, got underway in September.

Lifestock rearing in Meriwau will go a long way in providing an alternative source of food for members of the community who are primarily dependent on hunting as a means of living. Hunting is increasingly becoming unsustainable and is also posing a threat to local biodiversity. This project will therefore increase local food security and reduce the need for commercial hunting and fishing in the Kanuku Mountains.

The Project activities will include the purchase and transport of 27 cattle (25 cows, 2 bulls), and 2 working horses, the purchase and transport of construction materials, site preparation and the con-struction of a 3.2 km (2 miles) fence, ―Baracoon‖ and corral.

By establishing a community cattle ranch in Meriwau, villagers will have access to an alternative source of food and income. As a re-sult, the project will address local livelihood needs, while reducing the demand for wildlife. This livelihood approach will ultimately contribute to the long – term conservation of the proposed Kanuku Mountain Protected Area.

Lifestock rearing will also allow for the collection of organic ma-nure to increase the production of local kitchen gardens. Some of the animals will be used to pull bullock carts for the transportation of produce from farms to the community market. The management of the herd will require the hiring of a ranch-hands who will be paid in kind (a cow) annually. The project will therefore address a num-ber of local needs, reduce the demand for wildlife, and contribute to the long – term conservation of the Kanuku Mountains.

Expected Impacts...

Social: The project will increase the availability of meat to the Ministry of Education school feeding programme and to villagers. This will result in increased attendance to school and an im-proved learning environment for the youth of Meriwau.

The project will also increase community income and reduce the amount of time spent on hunting and farming. The increase in surplus and time available to villagers can be used for the imple-mentation of other community development projects.

Economic: This project has the potential of generating income for the settlement. Meat and produce will be sold to the school feeding programme and neighbouring communities.

With the availability of cow manure, some farmers will be able to boost the production of subsistence and commercial crops. In the long – term, bull drawn carts will be able to transport more crops to market in a shorter time. This would allow farmers to diversify their crops, cultivate more perishable produce, and access mar-kets in surrounding communities.

Ecological: Another major benefit of improved food security will likely be a reduction in intensity to fishing and hunting by providing an alternative protein source to the community as the project will reduce the need to harvest fish and wildlife within the Kanuku Mountains.

Additionally, the manure supplied as a by-product of cattle ranch-ing can be used to increase crop production without increasing the area of land under cultivation. As such, the project may also improve the efficiency of land-use within the community‘s farm-ing areas.

The EPA proposed a number of areas for protection under the Guyana Protected Areas System because of their ecological and cultural value. One such area is the Kanuku Mountains where Meriwu is located.

The proposed Protected Areas are currently under study and as such the EPA is using a collaborative approach to manage them.. One such approach is to involve and empower communities to effectively and efficiently manage communities within the pro-tected Areas. The EPA as the coordinating agency for Environ-mental management in Guyana has secured funding for such Projects under the KfW Small Grants Projects.

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Amazing Facts

Capybara is the largest living rodent in the world and weighs up to 65kg

(140 1b) . Adult capybaras may grow to 130 centimetres (4.3 ft). They have

slightly webbed feet, no tail, and 20 teeth.

Their back legs are slightly longer than their front legs and their muzzles are

blunt with eyes, nostrils, and ears on top of their head.

Capybaras are semi-aquatic mammals found in wild densely forested areas

near bodies of water. The Capybara is an herbivore (more specifically, a

graminivore, grazing mainly on grasses and aquatic plants, as well as fruits

and tree bark.

The Capybara's jaw hinge is non-perpendicular and they thus chew food by

grinding back and forth rather than side-to-side.

Capybaras are copro-

hagous, meaning they

eat their own feces as a

source of bacterial gut

flora and in order to

help digest the cellulose

in the grass that forms

their normal diet and

extract the maximum

protein from their food

About Our Logo...

Our logo is the passion fruit leaf. Yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis

flavicarpa) is native to the Amazon.

It produces beautiful flowers and sweet– tart fruit. It was named by the Span-

ish missionaries in South America.

Passion fruit is widely grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. The

leaves are used in traditional medicine to settle edgy nerves, also for colic,

diarrhea, dysentery and insomnia.

THE GREEN LEAF The Green Leaf is published quarterly by

the Environmental Protection Agency,

Guyana.

This publication is intended to promote

awareness of the work of the Environ-

mental Protection Agency.

Editorial Committee:

Sharifah Razack

Padmini Persaud

Sonia Gumbs-Luke

Candacie Brower - Thompson

Renwick English

Michelle Chow.

E-mail: [email protected]

Mailing address:

Environmental Protection Agency,

Lot 7 Broad and Charles Streets

Charlestown

Georgetown.

EIT DIVISION:

Ground Floor

7 Broad and Charles Streets

Charlestown

Georgetown.

Volume 4 Issue 1V Ju ly – Se p tember, 2008

Did you know that?