By Wendella Davidson

THIRTY years ago, then President of Guyana, Hugh Desmond Hoyte, during his attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Malaysia, gifted to the world one million hectares of Guyana’s pristine rainforest, regarded as one of the four last untouched tropical forests in the world.

At that 1989 meeting, the need for drastic measures to be taken to save the environment was high on the agenda, as such the generous offer made by President Hoyte on behalf of Guyana, was lauded as `extraordinarily generous.’
In 1996, former President, Dr Cheddi Jagan, under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat, signed the Iwokrama Act.

The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation is as an autonomous, non-profit institution which was set up to manage the Iwokrama forest, as a “living laboratory”.
The aim of the centre is to show how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used for ecological, social and economic benefits to local national and international communities.

Snuggled in the heart of the Guiana Shield, it is approximately 3,710 square kilometres and represents an important transition zone in rainfall, landforms, human histories and biological communities. Also, the Iwokrama Mountains are some 400 kilometres inland and stands at 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) high, form the geographic focal point of the forest.

The Iwokrama forest is in the homeland of the Makushi people who have lived and used the forest for thousands of years. As such, the Centre got its name Iwokrama from the range of mountains and according to the indigenous peoples, Iwokrama means ‘place of refuge’.

Since its creation, Iwokrama has sought to advance best practices in the sustainable management of the world’s remaining rain forests. It currently boasts a wide range of diverse flora and fauna making it an ideal location for bird-watching lovers, students, scientists, volunteers and interns interested in seeing and experiencing the untouched, lush rain forest. And, over the years, the Centre has attracted the likes of His Royal Highness Prince Charles; Prince Harry; President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger, Ministers of government, among others.

In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, the Centre’s Director of Resource Management and Training of Iwokrama, Raquel Thomas, explained that when Iwokrama was offered to the world no protected areas legislation was in place until 2011. However, even though the Centre continues to function as part of the protected areas system of Guyana, it is not managed by the Protected Areas Commission.

This 23-year-old Centre has an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Commonwealth and its own legislation that was specially passed in 1996, thus making the body autonomous because of its relationship with the Commonwealth.

Alluding to Iwokrama’s 2019 work agenda, Thomas said it will involve the 20 Makushi communities, as she reminded that the United Nations has declared 2019 as the Year of Indigenous Languages. The aim is to “draw attention to the critical loss of indigenous languages and the urgent need to preserve, revitalise and promote indigenous languages and to take further urgent steps at the national and international levels.”

With assistance from the communities through the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), Thomas said the centre will this year embark on a project which will entail recording the national anthem in Makushi language. She noted that last year the Centre undertook the first 3D mapping of the Fairview community, and hopes to extend this to a few more communities.

The 3D mapping allows for the contours, elevations the river and creeks, roads and houses in the respective to be seen.