Georgetown, Guyana — His Majesty King Charles III has praised Guyana for preserving a significant portion of its forest cover, describing the achievement as remarkable and deserving of international recognition and financial rewards.
The British monarch made the remarks on Friday on the sidelines of the Second Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) Conference and Financing Forum at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Georgetown.
“You’ve managed to keep an enormous percentage of your forests. That is an incredible achievement and, of course, deserves to be rewarded,” the King said.
He described Guyana’s forests as a valuable natural heritage and highlighted the importance of recognising the economic and environmental contributions of countries that protect their natural resources.
King Charles Highlights Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy
King Charles recalled his involvement in the early development of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) through his Rainforest Project and the International Sustainability Unit.
The initiative helped bring together international partners to demonstrate how countries could protect forests while continuing to pursue economic development.
He expressed hope that Guyana’s approach could be replicated in other parts of the world, particularly in countries seeking to balance environmental conservation with economic growth.
The monarch also highlighted the potential of agroforestry and mixed land-management approaches in protecting ecosystems and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
Nature Has Value Beyond Economic Measurements
King Charles stressed that the importance of nature cannot be measured solely in financial terms.
He described nature as “totally priceless” and warned that continued deforestation and biodiversity destruction could have serious consequences for human health and future generations.
The King emphasised that people are part of nature and that damaging ecosystems ultimately threatens human wellbeing.
He also pointed to the relationship between biodiversity loss and worsening health challenges, reinforcing the importance of protecting natural environments as part of broader efforts to safeguard communities.
King Congratulates President Ali on Global Biodiversity Alliance
The monarch congratulated President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali for establishing the Global Biodiversity Alliance, which seeks to bring countries and other stakeholders together to strengthen biodiversity conservation and mobilise sustainable financing.
He expressed admiration for Guyana’s environmental efforts and said he looked forward to seeing how the country continues to balance economic development, nature regeneration and environmental protection.
The second GBA conference has brought together governments, financial institutions, scientists, Indigenous representatives and private-sector organisations to explore practical approaches to biodiversity financing.
Guyana’s Forest Conservation Experience Draws International Attention
Guyana has become an important example in international discussions about forest conservation and sustainable development through its Low Carbon Development Strategy.
The country has pursued a model that seeks to generate economic value from protecting forests while directing resources towards national development and community projects.
King Charles has supported Guyana’s environmental agenda for many years, including its partnership with Norway and efforts to establish international financing mechanisms for forest protection.
His latest remarks reinforce the importance of recognising countries that maintain substantial forest cover and contribute to global climate and biodiversity objectives.
Longstanding Partnership on Conservation Continues
King Charles returned to Guyana after 26 years, having last visited the country in February 2000 as Prince of Wales.
During that visit, he became Patron of the Iwokrama International Centre, a role he renewed in 2024.
His longstanding engagement with Guyana’s environmental agenda has included support for the Low Carbon Development Strategy since its launch in 2009.
The monarch’s latest visit has further highlighted opportunities for international cooperation on forest conservation, biodiversity financing and sustainable development.
His message was clear: countries that protect their natural resources should receive meaningful recognition, while global efforts must ensure that economic development does not come at the expense of nature.