Project/activity information

The Parliament of Guyana has recently passed legislation to create the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development as an autonomous institution and has set aside 360,000 ha of pristine forest to be managed by Iwokrama. The Iwokrama Act requires that half of this area be set aside as a wilderness preserve. This project addresses the other half which is destined for sustainable and equitable utilization. The objective of this project is to design, plan and initiate model commercial management of the Iwokrama Forest, in order to improve practices in Guyana and elsewhere. The project will help Iwokrama produce a state-of-the-art forest management plan for multiple products and services, and feasibility studies for management and harvest based on this plan. It will assist in finding appropriate business partners and negotiating contracts that will assure adherence to principles of sustainable forest management. Demonstration, research and training in improved practices will be integrated into these model commercial operations.