Konashen to become part of Guyana’s Protected Areas System

Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 February 2016, 14:22 by Denis Chabrol

Guyana is actively considering the establishment of  a new Protected Area by adding the village of Konashen in the southern part of the country, Natural Minister Raphael Trotman announced Tuesday.

Responding to questions from People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) parliamentarians during the consideration of proposed expenditures for 2016, he said a legal opinion has been already acquired and would be dispatched to Attorney General, Basil Williams before proceeding.

“We do have one other legal opinion that suggests we  may take in the area of Konashen,” he told the House which is now in Committee of Supply to consider the budgetary estimates.

The decision to do so dates back to March 2015

Conservation International describes Konashen as a community-owned conservation area is unofficially regarded as Guyana’s largest protected area in the country and is being managed exclusively by an indigenous group.

Konashen, which is inhabited mainly by Wai-Wai Indians,  has an estimated one million acres of rainforest

The Wai Wai of Konashen District in the south of Guyana received title to the land in 2004 and partnered with Conservation International and the government of Guyana to have the entire area established as a protected area.

The existing protected areas are Kaieteur National Park, Shell Beach in Region 1 (Barima/Waini) and the Kanuku Mountains in the Rupununi.