‘Historic’ agreement inked between Toshaos Council, Guyana Marine Conservation Society

See below the full release from the Guyana Marine Conservation Society: 

The Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) and the National Toshaos Council (NTC) on Thursday signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing collaboration on marine and coastal conservation efforts, with a strong focus on Indigenous community engagement and leadership.

The MoU was signed by Annette Arjoon-Martins, Project Director of GMCS, and Ms Sonia Latchman, Vice Chairperson of the NTC, at a ceremony held at the NTC’s Headquarters in Sophia, Georgetown. The agreement outlines a framework for cooperation between the two organizations in support of sustainable natural resource governance, biodiversity protection, and community-led development in Indigenous communities, particularly in and around the Barima Mora Passage (BMP) in Region 1.

Under the agreement, GMCS will provide financial and technical support for the preparation and implementation of Village Sustainability Plans, development of community-based green enterprises, and delivery of training and education programmes focused on mangrove conservation and coastal ecosystem stewardship. In turn, the NTC will support the integration of these initiatives into community planning and assist with stakeholder coordination and knowledge sharing.

The partnership underscores the shared commitment of GMCS and the NTC to ensure that Indigenous peoples are central actors in conserving Guyana’s rich coastal and marine biodiversity. The MoU will be in effect for two years, with both parties meeting quarterly to review progress and identify future actions.

This collaboration is an important step toward strengthening Indigenous leadership in biodiversity conservation while building resilience and sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable coastal communities. It also directly supports the goals of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, which emphasizes the importance of Indigenous inclusion, ecosystem protection, and the development of sustainable, low-carbon economic opportunities at the community level.

The planned collaborative work between the two organizations will be supported through two major ongoing projects implemented by GMCS: the EU-funded project “Developing the Capacity of the Barima Mora Passage Communities in Natural Resources Governance”, and the IDB-funded project Securing the Future of the Barima Mora Passage Mangroves and Its People”. Both initiatives aim to strengthen natural resource governance, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods in coastal and Indigenous communities in the BMP, with a focus on building local capacity, supporting green enterprises, and advancing the goals of Guyana’s LCDS 2030.