IN a significant announcement marking the first anniversary of His Majesty King Charles III’s coronation, it has been confirmed that he will continue to serve as Patron of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (IIC).
This renewal underscores His Majesty’s ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable rainforest management and bolstering climate-change resilience efforts worldwide.
Originally appointed the Patron in 2000, when he was the HRH Prince of Wales, His Majesty has been a steadfast supporter of IIC’s mission following his visit to Guyana and the Iwokrama Forest. His advocacy has been pivotal in promoting modern conservation practices and in recognising the ecosystem services provided by tropical forests for humanity’s benefit.

IIC, while generating revenue internally, heavily relies on support from donors, corporate programmes, and crucially, the Government of Guyana. The nation’s President, H. E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has championed a visionary green development agenda through the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS 2030), in which Iwokrama plays a crucial role in guiding biodiversity research and conservation efforts.

In response to the news, the board, management, and staff of Iwokrama, alongside community partners such as the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), expressed enthusiastic support for His Majesty’s continued patronage. They emphasised IIC’s role not only in environmental conservation, but also in fostering socioeconomic development for local communities whose livelihoods depend on the rainforest.

His Majesty’s personal dedication to rainforest conservation has earned him deep respect within the global environmental community, reflecting his enduring commitment to preserving natural habitats and mitigating climate change impacts.
The extension of His Majesty King Charles III’s patronage to Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation reaffirms a shared commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship on a global scale.
The Iwokrama Forest was gifted to the international community in 1989 at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malaysia.

Subsequently, the Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 through an Act of Parliament and under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest, “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general.”