For how much longer?  Where the canopy hums, in the unseen life, where in the sunlight shadows show and move lightly. These golden eyes catch the river’s reflection. But for how much longer?
 
Common name: Jaguar
 Scientific name: Panthera onca
 Conservation status: Near threatened (Quigley, et al., 2018)
 Range: Central and South America
 Habitat: Wet and dry forest, Savannahs, shrublands

​In the Amazon of Guyana’s rainforest, the jaguar has long been more than just what we sometimes see as a big cat. This golden species represents strength courage and the delicate balance of nature to the natives. As Guyana’s national animal, the jaguar is woven into our folklore and identity as a people of this country. It is represented in our Coat-of-Arms and the $5000 bill. Its likeness has also been molded into a monument at Eccles Roundabout on Heroes Highway. Even the National Football Team has been named after the predator.
 
Beyond Guyana, the jaguar is a symbol of power in many Latin American cultures, generally seen as the protector of the rainforest. The name ‘jaguar’ is derived from ‘yaguareté’ which, when translated from the South American languages Tupi and Guarani, means “true, fierce beast” and “he who kills in one leap (Bastamante, 2025). This animal is the largest cat in Americas, and can only be rivalled globally by the tiger and lion in size.  Its muscular and solitary features enable it to swim and climb, setting them aside from its cousins. It’s a top predator, controlling populations of herbivores and maintaining ecological balance (Bastamante, 2025; Cummings, LaCruz, & Stoeckel, 2019).
 
 
Why are they disappearing?
According to the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWGMC), jaguars are mostly killed out of fear or in retaliation for killing a domestic animal. “Every 9-13 days a jaguar is killed as it comes into contact with cattle farmers, gold miners or someone engages in similar economic activity” (Guyana Wildlife conservation and Management Commission, 2023). The evidence suggests that jaguars are killed by farmers who do so with the intention of protecting their livestock and themselves.  
 
On the other hand, the reality of hunters still persists. The rare animal is hunted for sport or profit.  Notably, a cycle of killing has been highlighted by Alona Sankar, Commissioner at the GWCMC, who explains that jaguars who may have been injured by hunters are too weak to hunt their own prey. This forces them to turn to domesticated animals leading to farmers killing them to protect their economic interest (Cummings, LaCruz, & Stoeckel, 2019).
 
Interestingly, climate change has impacted the balance of ecosystems, to the extent that the prey of the jaguar had been displaced by events like El Nino. This dispersion has the same crippling effect as a hunting injury, as it forces the jaguar to seek domesticated prey (Cummings, LaCruz, & Stoeckel, 2019).
 
Furthermore, while the country's economy depends on logging, gold mining, agriculture and other industries that brings jobs and development, these come with great cost. These lead to not only forest displacement but the fragmentation of ecosystems, which makes it harder for the species to hunt and breed (Cummings, LaCruz, & Stoeckel, 2019).
 
 
Efforts to preserve the Jaguar
Considering the near-threatened status of the predator, many national and international efforts have been made to preserve the population. Most notably, Guyana has made legislative protections under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2016 which prohibits unauthorized breeding, marking, exportation, inter alia (Parliament of Guyana, 2016).
 
Moreover, The Government of Guyana, through the Iwokrama Research Centre, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Panthera Corporation, aimed at conserving the Jaguar. The Panthera Corporation is an organization founded in 2006 who, led by a team of biologists, law enforcements and wild cat advocates, develop innovative strategies to preserve jaguars and its feline cousins. This MOU engages the Environmental Protection Agency Wildlife Division, The Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Guyana Protected Areas Commission (Stabreok News, 2016).
 
Additionally, Guyana has signed the Jaguar 2030 Conservation Roadmap for the Americas in 2018, which was presented on the side of the Conference of the Parties (COP) 14 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The roadmap is designed to strengthen the Jaguar Corridor from Mexico to Argentina with thirty (30) priority Jaguar Landscapes by the year 2030 (Department of Public Information, 2018; El-Sheikh, 2018).
 
Closing remarks
It must be reiterated that the jaguar is a symbol of strength and courage in Guyana and the wider Americas. Therefore, to ignore their decimation and vulnerability, is to neglect a pertinent part of our culture. The piece of us that shapes our stories, symbols, and our spirit would fall silent.
 
So next time you hear rain against the leaves or see the golden animal shimmering in art remember: the jaguar still walks among us and of course only if we let it. 

​Although carbon dioxide (CO2) stands as the most recognized villain in the climate change crisis, methane (CH4) is a formidable competitor. This powerful greenhouse gas, although commonly overlooked, has the ability to trap significantly more heat than CO2 molecules. O’Neill (2023) noted that “because of its chemical composition, methane has a much higher global-warming potential than carbon dioxide does—up to 80 times as much—and is responsible for about a third of current global warming”. However, unlike CO2, methane has a relatively short lifespan of approximately 20 years or less. Thus, it is greatly responsible for near-term global warming.
 
Methane is introduced into the atmosphere from both natural sources and human activities. While natural sources such as wetlands contribute to 40% of methane emissions, human activities, such as agriculture, fossil fuels and landfills, contribute substantially, recording 60% of global methane emissions (NASA, 2024). The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has continued to steadily increase from the 1900s as seen below.

Consequently, the reduction of methane emissions should be a primary focus in climate change discussions, as it can be utilized as an effective short-term response strategy. A notable effort in the reduction of methane emissions is the methane fee initiated by President Biden for oil and gas producers in the United States. According to Phillis and Daly (2025) “oil and gas producers are among the biggest U.S. methane emitters and controlling it is critical to address climate change”. As such, the policy, which formed part of the 2022 Inflation Act, aimed to promote the adoption of more environmentally friendly practices in the industry that reduced emissions and increased the efficiency of operations. Phillis and Daly also highlighted that “the fee was expected to reduce 1.2 million metric tons of methane emissions by 2035 — that’s about the same as removing 8 million cars from the road for a year”. Although rescinded before being fully implemented, this strategy had the potential to generate substantial revenue from oil and gas producers that could have been invested into furthering the fight against climate change. Additionally, it would have fostered innovation through the implementation of clean energy technologies, intensified the research and monitoring of methane emissions and contributed to overall cleaner air quality in the U.S.
 
Initiatives such as this, from large greenhouse gas emitting countries, serve as exemplary moves on the global stage. These strategies encourage other countries, especially those with oil and gas industries, to adopt similar policies that align with global climate initiatives. Thus, given Guyana’s booming oil and gas industry, policies such as methane emission fees will encourage environmentally friendly practices that will sustain low levels of greenhouse emissions.

References

• O’Neill, R. (2023, February 9). Methane’s role in climate change. https://seas.harvard.edu/news/2023/02/methanes-role-climate-change
• Phillis, M., & Daly, M. (2025, February 28). Congress votes to kill Biden-era methane fee on oil and gas producers | AP News. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/methane-fee-repeal-epa-oil-gas-drilling-4844558bece1e683da9246ee226c57b5
• NASA. (2024, April 11). Methane | Vital Signs – Climate change: Vital signs of the planet. https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/methane/?intent=121

Imagine an economy that not only sustains livelihoods but also revitalizes the very planet we live on. This is the promise of the Blue Economy. Oceans and seas cover more than two-thirds of the Earth, making them a vital component of our planet's systems. Beyond providing food and regulating climate, oceans serve as critical highways for global trade and are a major source of economic opportunity. Thus, given the ocean's significant economic value, the Blue Economy is seen as a sector with vast potential to drive sustainable development while preserving marine ecosystems. The Blue Economy as defined by Youssef (2023) is "the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean health". The economy comprises several key sectors including aquaculture, blue renewable energy, blue biotechnology, environmental protection and regeneration, fisheries, water management, shipping and ports, and coastal and maritime tourism.
While the concept of the Ocean Economy has been around since the early 2000s, it has gained recent momentum as a beacon of hope in the face of mounting global challenges. The pressing need for sustainable development, increasing environmental and climate change concerns, as well as the development of innovative ocean-based technologies, have pushed the Blue Economy into the spotlight. Additionally, the sector's significant contribution to the global economy has become more apparent. As highlighted by the European Union (2024) "in terms of economic and environmental benefits, coastal populations globally contribute approximately to €1.5 trillion annually, with projections indicating an increase to €3 trillion by 2030".
 
For instance, countries like Norway and Iceland are pioneering blue renewable energy initiatives, using offshore wind and wave technologies to meet their energy demands sustainably. Similarly, small island nations such as Seychelles are investing in blue bonds to finance sustainable fisheries and marine conservation projects, demonstrating the diverse ways the Blue Economy is being leveraged globally.
 
The blue economy's potential in Guyana is becoming increasingly evident, particularly with the growth of the oil and gas sector alongside established industries like fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. As such, Guyana’s plans for maritime resource development and ocean management model the principles of the blue economy. The government of Guyana has prioritized low-carbon marine developments, resource efficiency, social inclusivity, ecosystem-based approaches, and an overall integrative approach to maritime plans. Such plans are expected to produce vast economic growth while sustaining maritime ecosystems.
 
Although the blue economy has been recognized as a critical strategy for achieving sustainable development by the World Bank, its potential is currently hindered by several challenges. As highlighted by Youssef (2023) "climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction are significant threats to the health of oceans and their resources". The sector is further challenged by insufficient investments in human capital, infrastructure, and research and a lack of comprehensive understanding and effective management of oceanic sustainability. The exploitation of ocean resources by current economic trends also undermines the potential of the blue economy.
 
Consequently, the need for collaboration across borders and sectors for the achievement of oceanic sustainability has been emphasized. According to Youssef (2023), "Scholars have emphasized the importance of policy coherence, governance frameworks, and stakeholder engagement to ensure the sustainable use of ocean resources". Such efforts will enable a flourishing marine ecosystem while fostering a plethora of socioeconomic benefits and contributing to the achievement of the UN's sustainable development goals, particularly goal 14: life below water.
 
The time to unlock the full potential of the Blue Economy is now. By prioritizing collaboration, innovative technologies, and sustainable practices, we can create a future where oceans thrive alongside humanity. With the right investments and partnerships, the Blue Economy holds the key to achieving economic prosperity while safeguarding the planet's most precious resource—our oceans.

​Since the industrial revolution, scientists have noticed the rise of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, and at present, the transportation sector is among the top three largest carbon emitting industries, accounting for approximately twenty percent of the global carbon emissions. This figure is expected to increase by 1.7% annually up to 2030 due to the number of fossil fuel vehicles. Many strategies and methods were put in place to solve this global issue of climate change and utilizing electric vehicles has been one of them for decades. The first electric car was created in the 1800s, and coming to present day, there have been sky-rocketing success in their transformation and improvement, even sales for these eco-friendly cars exceed 10 million.

What makes these vehicles so successful?

Electric Vehicles (E.Vs) are reputably known for having many advantages, all of which make the cars look, sound and feel worth spending.

• With zero emissions from the tailpipe, electric cars are environmentally friendly. This helps lower the greenhouse gas, thus carrying the small carbon footprint, and reduce the effects of climate change.
• Electric cars have fewer parts in its internal structure, and so, this means less maintenance than gasoline-fuelled cars and reduced costs spent on car repairs each year, and there could be training sessions to instil in E.V owners the basics of an electric car and how to fix minor problems, just as one knows how to fix some issues of a gasoline-fuelled car.
• Electric motors are more efficient than internal combustion engines because they can transform a better percent of the energy from the power source to the wheels.
• By getting an electric vehicle, many governments in the world, including Guyana, offer tax reductions, credits, rebates and/or incentives to promote the use of these efficient machines year.
• Gasoline-fuelled cars are much noisier than electric vehicles. By investing in an E.V, there is reduced noise pollution in an area or city.
• Finally, with the rise of gas prices, owners of an E.V can save money.

 
The benefits to having an E.V are all quite amazing. And it is hoped that in the future most will be driving one. But they also come with their disadvantages.

• The first and probably the largest hurdle is the purchasing price. Electrical vehicles are typically more expensive owing to the nature of their design and the technology used to enhance their battery life. However, though initially expensive, over time the cost of handling an electric vehicle will dwindle as compared to a gasoline-fuelled car.
• There is limited charging infrastructure in most countries. Adequate infrastructure needs to be erected to facilitate an easy shift towards electrical vehicles. But Guyana is now on the verge of making adequate charging areas possible. With six charging stations already spread out in the country, more is bound to come and reduce the limitations and range anxiety many experience, which is nervousness or worry of how fast one can travel before running out of power and no charging station is around.
• Charging speeds determine how quickly the vehicle is to be fully charged. Low charging speeds and interrupted energy disrupts the charging process and thereby prolonging it.
• Electrical vehicles require trained technicians to service them. The market of available technicians is limited which aids in driving the prices to up due to having little or no competition.

​Although the electric vehicle does come with their demerits, the ideal situation is reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thus saving the environment, all living things, and at large, the planet.

With the global rise in ecotourism as a leading sector in sustainable travel, Guyana has joined the bandwagon and is on track to becoming a global leader in the industry. Guyana is now utilizing the power of ecotourism to drive both environmental conservation and community development thanks to its vast ecological nature, biodiverse rainforests, stunning array of wildlife, and natural treasures.

​The country’s ecotourism sector is fueled by its commitment to environmental protection. Establishing protected areas, such as Shell Beach and Kaieteur Falls, the protection of Indigenous communities, and initiatives such as the Norway agreement to preserve forests, ensures that the natural environment remains relatively undisturbed. This allows Guyana to be a key attraction as tourists can immerse in the country’s natural beauty and culture, all while contributing to ongoing efforts of environmental conservation.

Guyana is nestled between the Amazon rainforest and the Caribbean coastline in South America and spans 83,000 square miles. However, despite its small nature, the land of many waters is renowned for its pristine rainforests, wetlands, vast savannahs, and mountainous terrains.  Guyana’s enormous diversity of wildlife includes giant river otters, turtles, jaguars, and over 800 bird species.  Additionally, the country offers several natural treasures, such as the Kaieteur Falls, Shell Beach, Mount Roraima, Aishalton Petroglyphs, and Fort Island, and a rich cultural heritage that not only showcases the long history of the country but also allows it to exist as a standout destination. Despite the numerous physical attractions and diverse heritage, Guyana's dedication to sustainable development, which includes striking a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation while the tourism industry blossoms, is what distinguishes the country as a premier sustainable travel destination.

​Tourism contributed 3.2% of the country's GDP in 2014, and its contribution was predicted to expand significantly by 2025. As a result, it is one of Guyana's fastest-growing industries, with enormous potential to be a key driver in achieving global goals such as sustainable development. Hence, Guyana has been designated as a high-priority area for conservation. Eco-tourism in Guyana's protected regions, such as the Iwokrama Rainforest and the Kanuku Mountains, generates revenue from eco-loges, tours, and external contributions, which is then reinvested in park management, habitat restoration, research, and environmental education. Consequently, the goal of conservation alongside economic development is achieved.

​Community-led tourism, particularly among indigenous people, is another high-priority sector for ecotourism development. Tourism growth in indigenous villages like Surama and Santa Mission leads to greater spending, increased pride in cultural heritage, and reduced outmigration. Partnerships with external stakeholders and indigenous people, such as the Macushi and Wapishana people, promote sustainable travel experiences that include guided tours, cultural exchanges, and eco-lodging that supports both their traditional lifestyles and the protection of their lands. Eco-tourism development has aided in communities having significant economic boosts through vast local employment at eco lodges, reduced poverty, skill development, and the diversification of income streams from traditional destructive industries such as mining and logging.

In essence, Guyana is developing as an ecotourism leader, expertly leveraging the potential of its natural beauty and rich cultural legacy to achieve economic development and environmental preservation. By focusing on sustainable tourism, the country empowers indigenous populations and ensures that they play an active role in the stewardship of their land and traditions. This strategy enables Guyana to successfully balance environmental preservation and economic growth, providing an inspirational example of how ecotourism may act as a catalyst for both ecological and social advancement. Guyana's efforts are preparing the path for a future in which tourism acts as a bridge between cultural preservation and sustainable economic growth.

​
At the most recent 9th Beekeeping Congress opens at Guyana School of Agriculture, The Guyana Apiculture Society (GAS), Minister Holder stated; “Our beekeepers play a pivotal role in the sector and the work of this organization (GAS) is an important element in reshaping and repositioning the Caribbean honey industry by exposing new persons to beekeeping, introducing international best practices to existing beekeepers, developing export potential in the apiculture trade in the Caribbean and boosting local beekeeping businesses via the promotion of local apiculture products to Caribbean visitors”. Guyana has approximately three hundred Beekeepers/honey harvesters but they are not all part of the Apiculture Society. This sweet liquid goodness offers a much healthier option than sugar, and could become the next best natural economic earner with Guyana becoming a major producer while promoting the nation as a true emerging Green State.

A few members of the Eco Trust Society caught up with apiculturist Francis Bailey at one of his many bee farms across Guyana. During our engagement, he made it clear that Guyanese see bees as enemies instead of co-existing habitants of the planet. He posited that in Guyana, we have the Africanized bee which has adapted to the climate and weather patterns of Guyana. He also noted that bees do not attack without reason. Bees are deaf but they respond to vibration and scents. It was important for the Eco Trust team to walk quietly when approaching the boxes and ensuring that none of us wore any high scented perfume.
The economical dents of purchasing your own protective clothing is massive. Mr. Bailey made us aware that the high-quality suits are $70,000 and he insists that in order to host any Honey Harvesting Training, only the best protective gear will be used. He has over the years, learned about natural beekeeping and he practices both natural and commercial beekeeping to ensure productivity. He made it clear that he does not clip his queens’ wings so as to allow them leeway. Splitting hives is the main technique he uses for expansion. Though he has only been in beekeeping for four years, he looks forward to having a data set which represents the impact of climate change on his bees. Parts of the climate change predictions show that it will have an impact on the bees. For example, if we have a drought when there should be a rainy season, we will have a dearth. However, he sees that the Africanized bees have adapted to the particular circumstances.

Bee colonies can be as old as fifty years. Mr. Bailey offers several pointed notes for persons to follow with regards to preserving bees. Deforestation, the willful destruction of entire ecosystems as well as the disastrous outcome of a world without bees. Food being one, as well as aesthetic purposes in flowering plants and overall beauty to our overall landscape. He hopes that we as humans do what we must to avoid this. Colony collapse has affected the colonies in the USA due to pesticides but luckily, we have not had a similar problem here. Though pesticides have been used here, he recommends more training to be done for the staff who sell the products so that they know what they are selling to farmers. Mr. Bailey is open to teaching about bees, he even hopes to have bee tours to demystify bees. He outlined the many ways bees can die, some of which are assissation, at the end of their chores, there are undertaker bees which remove the dead bees from the hives, pesticides, there are robber bees which look for vulnerable hives and fight with each other. Female bees are not allowed to visit the hives of other bees. Once they do, they could be killed. Bees may assassinate their own queens. If the queen is not laying the right sort of eggs, male or female, for example if she is laying too many male eggs, they will force her to lay her replacement and then kill her in a process called Bawling the Queen. Bees also die seasonally, if they are running out of food, they kill all the men (meno-cide).
​
There are many different types of honey produced here in Guyana, since of which are mangrove honey, jamoon honey, a plant that is dominant in a landscape, there will be honey produced using that plant. For example, if there are ten types of flowers but the bees decide there is one flavour they like, that is the flavour they will produce!
All this and more awesome facts about the wonderful world of bees can be found when you watch our documentary on bees.