His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali expressed optimism that the achievements of the landmark Georgetown Declaration would serve as a catalyst for positive global change.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, President Ali said the summit’s success marks a turning point in global biodiversity conservation efforts.
The event forged meaningful partnerships and united international initiatives aimed at halting biodiversity loss, while crafting strategies to revolutionise conservation practices.
“We have made a commitment to have at least 140 countries and organisations, including NGOs and the private sector, sign on to this agreement by the end of COP30,” the President affirmed.
He further announced that his Government would operationalise a fully standardised national biodiversity monitoring system in Guyana by 2030 — the first of its kind globally.
Over the past two days, delegates also agreed on a 2030 Action Plan to establish a framework for transparent, science-driven biodiversity conservation, alongside the creation of an international biodiversity research consortium anchored in Guyana.
The President explained that his Government has committed to conducting a full audit of Guyana’s biodiversity and establishing baseline data.
“We’ve decided that we’re going to take the work further and focus on the area around the Essequibo headwaters… Importantly, to have that interlinked with the data collection… This will be a national border-to-border data collection on biodiversity that we will be doing with Yale, and with the European Union supporting that initiative,” he said.
In line with the Alliance’s mission, Guyana will expand its role in carbon financing to include biodiversity financing, ensuring that the conservation of natural resources is directly integrated into the country’s sustainable development plans.
“This initiative will enable us to meet and exceed our 30 by 30 targets, while embedding biodiversity stewardship in Guyana’s development pathway,” he added.
Governance and Coordination
The Alliance will operate as a voluntary, inclusive and non-binding platform, encouraging broad participation, President Ali said. He disclosed that Guyana will chair the Alliance, with technical secretariat support and hosting provided by Conservation International.
Additionally, President Ali explained that efforts are underway to establish the necessary framework to cement the support of other countries ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
He stated, “The founding members of the Alliance will continue to work virtually to finalise and crystallise the input document for COP30, and for us to assemble a high-level team to the United Nations.”
President Ali also used the opportunity to appeal to tropical forest countries to join the initiative. He said these countries should seize the opportunity to advance sustainable development pathways that protect standing tropical forests and rich biodiversity.
He emphasised the urgent need for developed countries to mobilise substantial, predictable, and long-term financial resources to support tropical forest conservation efforts.