Guyana: Physical Features & Vegetation
This map shows landscapes in Guyana. The red dots are major towns. You can see that the biggest town is Georgetown on the North part of the country. The yellow dots are Nature resorts usually for tourists. The blue dots are waterfalls and the brown dots are Amerindian Sites. There are also many airports around the North Central and South Central parts of the country.
This is a really simple to read map on the vegetation in Guyana. Most of the country is made up of dense tropical forest. Georgetown, where it was first settled, is made up of mostly cultivated land.
Guyana: Landscape
Guyana has many small remote villages. This is a picture of one, Surama. One of its' villagers is traveling through one of many rivers. (Physical landscape)
This is Stabroek Market. It is one of the largest markets in the country. It is located in the country's capital, Georgetown. (Human landscape)
Guyana is a tourist location. Since it is coast is very close to the Caribbean, Guyana's beaches are beautiful. This is one picture of it's quiet Shell Beach. (Physical Landscape)
This is the Town Hall in Guyana. It has been in Georgetown since 1888. It has a Gothic style. (Human landscape)
In one of Guyana's small villages, there are many homes along the river. These huts in the picture are homes and docks the villagers use for traveling down the river. (Human Landscape)
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This is Georgetown. Georgetown is one of the biggest towns in Guyana. (Human landscape)
Guyana is known for all its remote jungles and waterfalls. This is one of Guyana's waterfalls. (Physical landscape)
Another one of Guyana's waterfalls. This one is called Kaieteur Falls which is located in Kaieteur National Park. (Physical Landscape)
Guyana has many small villages. Most of these villages have huts for their homes. Here is a picture of what the huts look like. (Physical Landscape)
This is another huge waterfall in Guyana's National Park. (Physical Landscape) (Above)
(The Right) This is part of Guyana's massive rain forest. As you can see it is very dense and green. It is located in Guyana's National Park. (Physical Landscape)
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Biodiversity and Cultural Diveristy
In Guyana there are over 8000 floral species and 1850 species of fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals known (Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity). Guyana is located West of Suriname and is the only English-speaking country in South America. About 85% of the land area in Guyana is made up of forests (Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity). One of the major threats to Guyana's forests are logging, fuel wood collection, unregulated chainsaw operations, conversion to agriculture and other uses, unregulated and unmanaged exploitation of forest resources in Amerindian communities indiscriminate burning and over-harvesting of resources (Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity). In Guyana there are some invasive species, like, Adenanthera pavonina (Redbead tree or Red Sandalwood tree); Psidium guajava (Guava) and Leucaena leucocephala (Jumbie bean) Leucaena leucocephala (Jumbie bean). For Animals, Columba livia (Pigeon), Herpestes javanicus (Indian mongoose), and Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique tilapia) (Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity). Below is a list of other threats to Guyana's biodiversity:
"DIRECT THREATS ORIGINATE PRINCIPALLY FROM:
§ Overfishing and overhunting on commercial scales;
§ Savannah and Forest fires, in particular, in the Rupununi Savannahs and surrounding forested areas of the Kanuku Mountains, Muri Scub etc.;
§ Indiscriminate land-use practices (mining, logging practices, agriculture)
§ Hinterland road construction;
§ Uncontrolled harvesting and poaching of wildlife;
§ Uncontrolled harvesting of NTFPs;
§ Uncontrolled and inappropriate use of agro-chemicals (human induced pollution);
§ Climate change events and related natural disasters (the unpredictable weather patterns can affect availability of water and food resources for some wildlife species- key fruiting trees will be affected; more direct impacts may result from flash floods in some hilly regions); and
§ Introduction of Alien Invasive Species.
INDIRECT THREATS MAINLY ORIGINATE FROM:
§ Climate change events and related natural disasters such as floods and periodic dry spells;
§ Institutional fragmentation and conflicting legislation;
§ Limited Knowledge of biodiversity and species range and behavior;
§ Weak environmental law enforcement;
§ Limited number of legalized, demarcated and managed protected areas systems (although there are two legally recognized protected areas43 – Kaieteur and Iwokrama);
§ Limited relevant judicial awareness and experience; and
§ Increased accessibility to and economic activities in hinterland areas – rapid opening up of areas to commercial activity may lead to clash of cultures and practices that may make local people more vulnerable to diseases etc. Some of the major direct and indirect threats are listed below with respect to specific biodiversity components. These are: Forests and savannahs:
§ Large scale selective logging (“high grading”) of certain species;
§ Fuel wood collection in natural forests;
§ Unregulated chainsaw operations"
(Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity).
Guyana releases a biodiversity national report to show where the country is in biodiversity. In this report they share goals they want to accomplish. Here is one of them:
"Goal: To promote and achieve the conservation of Guyana‟s biodiversity, to use its components in a sustainable way, and to encourage the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of Guyana‟s biodiversity.
Objectives of NBAP I: I. Evaluate the state of capacity nationally to achieve the above goal; II. Identify gaps and needs relating to achieving the above goal; III. Propose actions to achieve this goal and close the gaps; IV. Develop activities in a number of priority areas relating to the overall goal; V. Identify the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholder groups in the implementation of the plan; VI. Obtain and harness stakeholder involvement and support for the development and implementation of the plan; and, VII. Increase public awareness of biodiversity. Source: EPA (1999b)" (Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity).
"DIRECT THREATS ORIGINATE PRINCIPALLY FROM:
§ Overfishing and overhunting on commercial scales;
§ Savannah and Forest fires, in particular, in the Rupununi Savannahs and surrounding forested areas of the Kanuku Mountains, Muri Scub etc.;
§ Indiscriminate land-use practices (mining, logging practices, agriculture)
§ Hinterland road construction;
§ Uncontrolled harvesting and poaching of wildlife;
§ Uncontrolled harvesting of NTFPs;
§ Uncontrolled and inappropriate use of agro-chemicals (human induced pollution);
§ Climate change events and related natural disasters (the unpredictable weather patterns can affect availability of water and food resources for some wildlife species- key fruiting trees will be affected; more direct impacts may result from flash floods in some hilly regions); and
§ Introduction of Alien Invasive Species.
INDIRECT THREATS MAINLY ORIGINATE FROM:
§ Climate change events and related natural disasters such as floods and periodic dry spells;
§ Institutional fragmentation and conflicting legislation;
§ Limited Knowledge of biodiversity and species range and behavior;
§ Weak environmental law enforcement;
§ Limited number of legalized, demarcated and managed protected areas systems (although there are two legally recognized protected areas43 – Kaieteur and Iwokrama);
§ Limited relevant judicial awareness and experience; and
§ Increased accessibility to and economic activities in hinterland areas – rapid opening up of areas to commercial activity may lead to clash of cultures and practices that may make local people more vulnerable to diseases etc. Some of the major direct and indirect threats are listed below with respect to specific biodiversity components. These are: Forests and savannahs:
§ Large scale selective logging (“high grading”) of certain species;
§ Fuel wood collection in natural forests;
§ Unregulated chainsaw operations"
(Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity).
Guyana releases a biodiversity national report to show where the country is in biodiversity. In this report they share goals they want to accomplish. Here is one of them:
"Goal: To promote and achieve the conservation of Guyana‟s biodiversity, to use its components in a sustainable way, and to encourage the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of Guyana‟s biodiversity.
Objectives of NBAP I: I. Evaluate the state of capacity nationally to achieve the above goal; II. Identify gaps and needs relating to achieving the above goal; III. Propose actions to achieve this goal and close the gaps; IV. Develop activities in a number of priority areas relating to the overall goal; V. Identify the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholder groups in the implementation of the plan; VI. Obtain and harness stakeholder involvement and support for the development and implementation of the plan; and, VII. Increase public awareness of biodiversity. Source: EPA (1999b)" (Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity).
References:
Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2015, from https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/gy/gy-nr-04-en.pdf
Maps:
Georgetown Guyana. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://georgetown-guyana.com/category/guyana/
Geography of Guyana. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Guyana
Guyana Ethnic Groups Map. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.zonu.com/guyana_maps/Guyana_Ethnic_Groups_Map_2.htm
Landscapes:
Backpacking in Guyana: Top 16 Things to See and Do in Georgetown. (2014, July 7). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://dontstopliving.net/backpacking-in-guyana-top-16-things-to-see-and-do-in-georgetown/
Destination of the Week: Guyana. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.racheltalkstravel.com/post/9050817095/destination-of-the-week-guyana
Explore Guyana's rainforest. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/?p=7036
Gimlette, J. (Photographer). (209, August 12). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/6010674/Guyana-A-journey-into-the-Jurassic.html
Guyana Beaches 93048 | NANOZINE. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.nanozine.net/guyana-beaches.html
Sac, A. (Photographer). (2012, April 11). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://traveladventureeverywhere.blogspot.com/2012/04/voyage-to-guiana-old-british-guiana.html
Stabroek Market. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabroek_Market
The World's Best Photos by Fryer2tuck - Flickr Hive Mind. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://flickrhivemind.net/User/Fryer2tuck/Interesting
Maps:
Georgetown Guyana. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://georgetown-guyana.com/category/guyana/
Geography of Guyana. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Guyana
Guyana Ethnic Groups Map. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.zonu.com/guyana_maps/Guyana_Ethnic_Groups_Map_2.htm
Landscapes:
Backpacking in Guyana: Top 16 Things to See and Do in Georgetown. (2014, July 7). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://dontstopliving.net/backpacking-in-guyana-top-16-things-to-see-and-do-in-georgetown/
Destination of the Week: Guyana. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.racheltalkstravel.com/post/9050817095/destination-of-the-week-guyana
Explore Guyana's rainforest. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/?p=7036
Gimlette, J. (Photographer). (209, August 12). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/6010674/Guyana-A-journey-into-the-Jurassic.html
Guyana Beaches 93048 | NANOZINE. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.nanozine.net/guyana-beaches.html
Sac, A. (Photographer). (2012, April 11). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://traveladventureeverywhere.blogspot.com/2012/04/voyage-to-guiana-old-british-guiana.html
Stabroek Market. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabroek_Market
The World's Best Photos by Fryer2tuck - Flickr Hive Mind. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://flickrhivemind.net/User/Fryer2tuck/Interesting