Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Development and Management

Results Achieved (as of June 2025)

Land Policy and Governance

• The National Land Use Policy Paper has been completed and submitted to the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. This document addresses policy, legal, and institutional frameworks, as well as international conventions, and serves as a guiding resource for policymakers by outlining current challenges, future visions, and strategic directions for Guyana’s land sector.
• Strategic planning has resulted in the development of a five-year Strategic and Business Plan and an Annual Business Plan for the GLSC. These plans enhance operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and the Commission’s ability to address emerging land management challenges.
• With technical support from the SLDM Project, GLSC is upgrading its land information system into an integrated workflow-based platform, combining spatial and non-spatial lease data and tenure records to create a more secure, efficient, and transparent system.

Technology Integration and Geospatial Infrastructure

• The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Action Plan has been completed and implementation initiated.
• Developed under the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF), Guyana became the first country to receive UN approval for its NSDI under the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management. This milestone will streamline geospatial data sharing, updating, and analysis among agencies.
• The National Topographic Base mapping is being updated with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology. Covering 545 km² of urbanized area and 15,736 km² of rural land, the updated maps provide terrain data, aerial imagery, and extracted features for use in hydrography, housing, environment, agriculture, forestry, and urban/rural planning.
• Eleven (11) NextGen web-based modules were developed to process land leases more efficiently. The system simplifies workflows and eliminates the need for local installation, supported by newly developed standard operating procedures.

Land Management and Restoration

• Land degradation diagnostics were conducted in pilot regions using the SEPAL platform, complemented by soil analysis and fieldwork at sites in Regions 4, 7, and 10. These assessments informed recommendations for sustainable interventions.
• Pilot interventions on degraded and deforested lands are 38% complete, with restoration activities underway to generate lessons for future scaling.

Capacity Building and Training

• 482 personnel from GLSC and other government agencies received training to strengthen institutional capabilities in land policy and regulatory frameworks.
• 18 staff from GLSC and related agencies completed the Diploma in Land Administration Program at the University of Guyana.
• 131 stakeholders (over 50% women) were trained in land policy, regulations, and GIS/land administration systems to improve national and local capacity for sustainable land use.
• Capacity development activities have been completed (100%), ensuring stronger compliance and institutional understanding of land governance.

Infrastructure Development

• GLSC’s regional offices have been constructed or rehabilitated in Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Black Bush Polder, and Bartica. These upgrades are expanding access to decentralized land administration services and improving service delivery for citizens nationwide.

Progress and Financial Performance

• Improved Land Administration and GIS Services: 85% progress
• National-Level Mapping for Land Cover and Land Use: 90% progress (maps being finalized)
• Pilot Intervention on Degraded Lands: 38% progress
• Capacity Development on Land Policy and Regulations: 100% completed
• Financially, the project is on track with over 90% of allocated resources utilized or committed.

Looking Ahead

Scheduled to close in December 2025, the SLDM Project is focusing on consolidating results, finalizing the national land cover/land use mapping, and scaling pilot restoration interventions. With its strong emphasis on capacity development, GIS services, and policy frameworks, the project is expected to leave a lasting impact on land management in Guyana, directly supporting the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030) and contributing to global climate resilience.