Guyana, Belize sign forest cooperation agreement with automatic extension provision

Guyana and Belize have formalised a major step toward regional environmental cooperation and sustainable development, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on strengthening collaboration in the forest sector.

The agreement was signed on Friday, March 27, at Ramphal House in Georgetown, marking what officials described as the beginning of a long-term partnership.

A key feature of the MOU is its automatic extension, signalling the countries’ commitment to sustained collaboration beyond its initial five-year period.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, emphasised that the agreement is intended to endure well into the future.

“It’s an automatic extension… I can see this agreement outliving us,” he said, noting that the responsibility now lies in building strong institutional frameworks to carry the work forward.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaborative conservation and sustainable development, including:

• Joint forest conservation projects
• Sharing of technology and technical expertise
• Support for Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems
• Development of carbon market opportunities
• Strengthened monitoring, surveillance, and disaster preparedness
• Expanded research and training initiatives

The MOU also promotes community engagement, education, and sustainable livelihoods, while respecting traditional knowledge and cultural practices.

Minister Todd highlighted that the partnership reflects deeper regional integration within CARICOM and strengthens the countries’ collective voice on global environmental issues.

“We are two small states reaching above and beyond… this partnership puts us in a stronger position regionally and globally,” he said.

He added that Guyana continues to position itself as a net carbon sink and a leader in environmental stewardship, even as it pursues economic development.

Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, Orlando Habet, described the agreement as the result of years of collaboration that began with technical exchanges and joint participation in international climate forums.

“This MOU is more than a document—it is a reflection of a journey,” Habet said.

He noted that both countries recognised shared challenges and ambitions in areas such as climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and carbon financing, which ultimately led to formalising the partnership.

Both countries underscored the importance of leveraging their rich forest resources and biodiversity as economic and environmental assets.

Habet pointed out that Caribbean nations must better value their natural resources to unlock financing for sustainable development.

“These assets can be leveraged to get funding to do more work for our countries,” he said.

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