Above: Guyanese Environment Minister Robert Persaud talks with the Congolese delegation

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A Congolese delegation recently paid a courtesy call on Guyanese Environment Minister Robert Persaud to discuss matters relating to the upcoming Rio+20 Summit.

A major point of discussion was Congo’s desire to learn from Guyana’s experience in forest management.

The Congolese delegation was led by Bruno Itoua, Congolese Minister of Scientific Research.

Guyana and Congo are similarly covered by forests; the team from Congo was also seeking guidance on developing Memoranda of Understanding and the planning of side events for the Rio summit.

The two countries pledged to continue “close collaboration” on both forest management and sustainability.

The Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development will take place in Brazil from June 20 to June 22, to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

The conference will focus on two themes: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, along with the institutional framework for sustainable development.

Guyana and Congo are both members of the Three Basins, which include the Congo, the Amazon and South East Asian forest basins. Former Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo is a roving ambassador for the Three Basins.