GUYANA will forge ahead with the noble intention of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, despite global community’s falling off of support for the project.This assurance was given earlier this week by President Donald Ramotar, who noted that the intent of the project was (and still is) that the Iwokrama forest would serve as a research and development centre which would also test models of sustainable forest use and local community partnerships.

Guyana, in 1989, pioneered the establishment of the Iwokrama Conservation Concession, the first in the world, with a donation to the international community of approximately 360,000 hectares of prime virgin state forest land in the Iwokrama area in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni). The Mission of the project was to promote conservation, sustainable and equitable use of tropical rainforests in a manner that would lead to lasting ecological and social benefits to the people of Guyana, and to the world in general.

The method by which this end was to be achieved was by undertaking research, training, and the development and dissemination of technologies.

Seven years after its formal establishment in 1996, the Centre has sought to advance best practices in the sustainable management of the rain forest.

President Ramotar said the partnerships with local communities represent some of the most transparent and benefit-sharing models in the world. Unfortunately, after some years, the holders of the Conservation concession indicated that they were no longer in a position to pay the required fees.

“They took this decision even though the monies paid were a small fraction of the opportunity costs foregone by Guyana, compared to traditional sustainable forest activities.”

President Ramotar said that, despite these disappointments, Guyana continues and will continue to show its unwavering commitment to good forest governance and sustainable multiple use forest activities with the perpetuation of this project.

Last month, Cabinet approved a financial tranche of US$100,000 to the Centre in a continuing programme of support to ensure its viability for the rest of 2015. (Clifford Stanley)