IWOKRAMA will be celebrating 30 years of commemoration of the pledge of nearly one million acres of Guyana’s intact rainforest to the international community at the 1989 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In 1989, President Hugh Desmond Hoyte offered the 371,681 hectares of rainforest to the international community for research.

In 1995, an Iwokrama Agreement was signed by President Cheddi Jagan and the Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. Then in 1996, the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development Act (1996) was passed by the Parliament of Guyana.

The legislation oversaw the establishment of the centre to manage the forest area and to promote the conservation and the sustainable and equitable use of tropical rainforests in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general.

Over the years, Iwokrama has been doing just that in all aspects of its operations from tourism, research, community development and even sustainable forestry.
Iwokrama has made significant strides over the years. Numerous new species of flora and fauna have been discovered within the rainforest including a new species of lizard (Gonatodes timidus) and a new species of poison dart frog (Allobates amissibilis).

In 2002, the state-of-the-art canopy walkway was installed in the Iwokrama Forest with support from the Canadian International Development Agency.

In 2007, the first phase of the model low-impact sustainable timber harvesting operation started in the Iwokrama Forest. Today, this sustainably-harvested wood is being used on the rehabilitation of the St. George’s Cathedral.

In 2009, a groundbreaking agreement for climate and forest partnership between the Guyana Government and the Kingdom of Norway was signed by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Norwegian Minister of International Development and the Environment, Erik Solheim in Fair View Village within the Iwokrama Forest.

Over the years, many other milestones have been achieved inclusive of research and science programmes, projects related to cultural heritage, climate change, and use of participatory video techniques to preserve heritage information.

In 2016, Iwokrama, via its second phase of timber harvesting, got its second international certification. It had visits from the President, Prime Minister, Commonwealth Secretary General and Prince Harry.

“We stand very proud with regards to capacity development over the years where we are seeing many persons that were trained or worked at Iwokrama now in leadership positions as community village leaders, as conservation leaders in key agencies around Georgetown as well, inclusive of Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, Protected Areas Commission, to name a few. This impact may not be as visible, but surely has had the most significant impact on conservation development in Guyana. We are proud,” Iwokrama said in a release.

To celebrate its anniversary, Iwokrama will be launching three exciting projects which will help to raise awareness and promote the Iwokrama Rainforest.

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