From the unique and spectacular tepuis of the
Pakaraima Mountains, to the extensive savannahs of the Rupununi and Iwokrama the
green heart of Guyana; to the fringing mangroves and the unbounded ocean depths
of the Atlantic Ocean, Guyana is a wonder of different landscapes, materials,
colours and textures. The land, air and seas of our planet are home to microscopic
organisms and the largest animals, all playing a role in this interconnecting
and interdependent tapestry of life. This is life, this is biodiversity.[i]
In its simplest terms biodiversity or
“biological diversity” is the degree of variation of life on Earth and includes
all animals, plants, fungi, micro-organisms, the genetic variation among these;
and their assemblages of communities and ecosystems.[ii] Ecosystems vary in size
and can be as small as a puddle of water or as large as the Earth itself.[iii]
Further depending on climate, biodiversity
varies from location to location; with the humid tropics having the greatest
biodiversity, while the biodiversity decreases towards the north and south as
temperatures decrease. Less humidity is also associated with decreasing species
density.[iv]
Ranging from the coastal mangroves to the old
growth rainforests and the sprawling savannahs Guyana’s biodiversity is
considered to be important and largely untouched, as approximately 85%[v] of its 21.5 million
hectares is in a pristine state.
Guyana’s proximity to the Atlantic seaboard,
along with its position within both the Guiana shield and the Amazon Basin
gives rise to a unique mix of ecosystems which supports a rich diversity of
plants and animals, endemics and threatened species.
Biodiversity of Guyana
To date, the floral diversity recorded in
Guyana has been estimated as 8000[vi] species while almost 2000
species of faunal diversity have been identified, inclusive of amphibians,
birds, reptiles, fishes and mammals.
Worldwide, biodiversity is vital to humans
providing them with food, shelter and medicine and livelihoods. In Guyana it is
no different – our biodiversity supports the well-being of people, providing cultural,
socio-economic and environmental services.
[i]United
Nations Environment Programme (2010) – What is biological diversity? http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/CampaignNews/Docs/BIODIVERSITY.pdf
[ii]United
Nations Environment Programme (2010) – What is biological diversity? http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/CampaignNews/Docs/BIODIVERSITY.pdf
[iii]
The Franklin Institute – Resources for Science Learning: Living Things:
Habitats and Ecosystems http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/habitat/habitat.html
[iv]
World Institute for Conservation and Environment - Nature Worldwide:
Biodiversity – Biodiversity Concept http://www.biodiversity-worldwide.info/biodiverstity/biodiversity_concept.htm
[v]Environmental Protection Agency (2010) - Guyana's Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity
[vi]Guyana Forestry Commission (2007) – Forestry in Guyana 2007 http://www.forestry.gov.gy/Downloads/Fact%20Sheet%202007.pdf
Biodiversity
