– PAHO Rep. Under the theme “Forests: Nature at your service” Environmental Community Health Organization (ECHO) celebrated World Environmental Day with groups of enthusiastic environmentally concerned and socially committed students.The workshop which was held at the Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, was intended to update eco-club members from 10 schools in Regions Three, Four and Georgetown on the work of the organization.Adrianus Ton Veugman, Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development and Environment Health of the Pan American Health Organization in his address at the event, indicated that the volatility of climate change is threatening food security around the world.He noted that El Nino and La Nina conditions have affected food production in many countries and Guyana is fortunate to have good grounds for agriculture. However, with heavy rainfall in the hinterland region many farms are being destroyed. Events like these adversely affect the nutrition of humans.In addition,NFL Jerseys China, such harsh conditions are conducive to many diseases including Malaria and Cholera. It was emphasized that environments that are covered with stagnant water are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.Veugman noted that the UN has a Sustainable United Nations (SUN) programme that measures carbon footprint. It focuses on initiatives that would reduce carbon emissions such as less fuel consumption, green energy and recycling.In relation to recycling, he pointed to the fact that plastic bottles can be crushed into PET flakes. This is used to manufacture many items that are used daily including clothing and carpet,Wholesale Jerseys China, and it also helps to clean the environment.Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy is an excellent initiative which gives the country a unique opportunity to set an example to the rest of the world, Veugman stated. He added that the strategy provides empowerment for Guyanese; creates green technology and employment.However,Wholesale Authentic NFL Jerseys, other countries are working to safeguard the environment including Germany. It was emphasized that Germany has closed its nuclear power plants and will be utilizing renewable energy.ECHO Executive Director, Royston King said trees are among the many living things that make up the forest, and the forest can be seen as a living ocean because of the vast amount of water that is in the millions of different trees, which make up the forest.Students of Leonora Primary being presented with the winning trophy for best drawing at Environmental Community Health Organization (ECHO) workshop by Uma Devi Madray Resource Planning Officer of Guyana Forestry CommissionAdding that trees are the largest and among longest living organisms on earth,Cheap NFL Jerseys, King said to grow tall the tree has become a miracle of engineering and a complex chemical factory. It is able to take water and salts out of the earth and lift them up to the leaves, sometimes over 400 ft above.The Executive Director noted that trees remove carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, from the air and are of continued importance to the environment.However, tropical rain forests have of particular significance; although they now occupy less than six per cent of the land surface of the earth, they probable sustain more than half of the biological species on the planet.“We need to do everything in our power to save our trees and help preserve the health of our natural environment. One way we all can begin to do something is to do an audit of all the trees we have in our school yards, map them on a board and put it up in a noticeable place in your ECHO clubs and take responsibility to care and protect them. I am encouraging all ECHO -clubs to get involved in this exercise,” King said.In relation to Guyana’s forest and the cutting of logs, Uma Devi Madray, Resource Planning Officer of Guyana Forestry Commission enlightened the students of the proper way to harvest logs. She noted that logs being cut from concessions are identified via specific tags; for instance one concession may have a green tag while another concession may have a pink.This allows the rangers who monitor timber leaving the area to identify which concession the timber was cut from.The Echo-club members were engaged in an art competition depicting Guyana’s forest.Utilising pencils, crayons and water paint the students poured their hearts and imaginations into their drawings, highlighting extensive forested areas and the animals which live in the forest.The winner of the competition was Leonora Primary School. The group drew a forested area with vast waterways showing Guyana’s bio-diversity. The piece was graded on presentat