“Under Siege: Guyana’s Indigenous Communities Fight Back Against Opaque Carbon-Offsetting Scheme”

Indigenous communities in Guyana, particularly in the Essequibo region, are facing multiple threats to their lands and way of life. Mario Hastings, a community leader and former Toshao of Kako Village in Upper Mazaruni, Guyana, highlights the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in the face of economic expansion and environmental degradation.

The Essequibo region, where many Indigenous communities reside, is at the center of Guyana’s economic growth, fueled by industries such as oil drilling, mining, and agriculture. To the north, oil drilling off the coast poses a threat to the marine environment. To the west, the Venezuelan army’s claims on Essequibo’s natural resources add to the pressure on Indigenous lands. To the south, fires set by Brazilian farmers for land clearance encroach on the rainforest borderlands. And to the east, the Guyanese government has entered into carbon-offsetting schemes and granted gold-mine concessions on Indigenous territories, without proper consultation or consent.

The forests of Guyana are highly valued for their biodiversity, carbon sequestration capabilities, and mineral wealth. Indigenous communities have played a crucial role in preserving these forests for generations. However, the government’s opaque carbon-offsetting scheme, which involves the sale of carbon credits without proper consultation with Indigenous communities, undermines traditional governance systems and land rights.

The carbon credit transactions in Guyana have raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and the rights of Indigenous peoples. The Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), the organization overseeing the carbon credit scheme, has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and failure to address Indigenous land rights. Despite complaints from the Amerindian Peoples Association, the ART Secretariat dismissed the appeal, citing procedural requirements.

Indigenous communities in Guyana are calling for respect for their rights over their lands and resources. They emphasize the importance of involving Indigenous peoples in decision-making processes related to environmental conservation and sustainable development. As the global community seeks to address climate change and protect tropical forests, it is essential to recognize and uphold the rights of Indigenous communities who have been the stewards of these lands for generations.