Importance of the Guiana Shield Facility

10.12.2013

Question for written answer E-013974-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE) , Karl-Heinz Florenz (PPE) , Jo Leinen (S&D) , Bas Eickhout (Verts/ALE)

The Guiana Shield, covering 270 million hectares in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana, is one of the most important eco-regions in the world, with an enormous variety of ecosystems, some of which are unique in the world. It contains one of the largest undisturbed areas of primary tropical forest in the world with a carbon sequestration of approximately 500 million tons per year, and it provides 10 to 15% of the world’s fresh water supply.

The Commission has been actively promoting the conservation and sustainable development of the area since the 1990s, including via the funding of the 2006-2009 Guiana Shield Initiative, and the Guiana Shield Facility, an initiative established by the Commission in cooperation with the UNDP, from 2010 to 2014.

Given the importance of the Guiana Shield in halting the loss of biodiversity in the world, and as regards its fresh water supply, its tropical forest protection and its carbon sequestration in relation to global warming, does the Commission consider that the area should continue to be protected in the long term?

Based on its policy intentions in the new multiannual financial framework, is the Commission prepared to continue to ensure, both politically and financially, the long-term sustainable development of the Guiana Shield, as well as its cooperation with the UNDP and the Guiana Shield Facility?

OJ C 273, 20/08/2014