providing over US$15.2 billion annually in ecosystem services. This remarkable valuation was highlighted last Wednesday by President Dr. Irfaan Ali at the opening of the Global Biodiversity Summit, currently underway in the country’s capital.

“The forest of Guyana not being cleared, not being sold, not being converted, are providing more economic value by standing than they would if destroyed,” the President said. Dr. Ali reminded delegates that Guyana’s commitment is rooted in a larger planetary responsibility: “This is the very essence of nature, positive economy, and its value is not unique to Guyana. It is echoed in every forest, reef, wetland, savannah, and mountain on Earth.”

The country’s forests are home to nearly 8,000 plant species, many of which thrive only in this ancient and ecologically rich region. “Guyana is a sanctuary of botanical wonder,” President Ali proclaimed, adding that conservation efforts are not only ecological necessities but also powerful economic tools. “We are committed to scaling blended finance to de-risk investment in nature-based enterprises, piloting biodiversity credits that reward stewardship, expanding the debt-for-nature swap model based on our own experience, and supporting community-driven finance models that place Indigenous leadership at the centre.”

Against this backdrop of policy and finance, the natural spectacle of Guyana remains at the heart of its call for co-operation and greater financing. President Ali described the nation’s ecosystems as nothing short of symphonic:

“Here in our beloved country, nature doesn’t whisper. It sings, it soars, and it roars. Guyana is home to more than 1,200 species of birds a staggering number that rivals or even surpasses much larger nations.” In addition to its avian diversity, Guyana hosts approximately 225 mammal species, including the majestic golden jaguar and the elusive giant river otter, “the gentle guardian of our rivers and wetlands,” President Ali noted. Back in 2024 a team of experts recorded more than 600 species of plants and at least 713 species of vertebrates, including 22 species that had never before been recorded in Guyana and at least 23 species that are potentially new to science. (Guyana Chronicle/ Delano Williams)