I HAD a conversation once with a professor from abroad about his visit to Guyana a few years ago. He described Guyana as the “greenest” place he had visited. That description prompted me to ponder Guyana’s forests and landscape. As Guyanese, we hardly ever reflect on the rich history and preservation of our rainforests. It is often said that most of Guyana’s lands are untouched by modern development and are rich in natural resources, flora and fauna—a reality that seems scarce in the developed world. Who then is responsible for the protection of our greenlands, and why aren’t they given more credit for it?

Our Indigenous people, the Amerindians, have treated our forests as sacred grounds for centuries. As the first people of Guyana, most of the inland and interior regions are considered their ancestral lands. The world is now increasingly environmentally conscious, and countries are implementing sustainability policies and projects to combat climate change and mitigate environmental hazards. These concepts may be worded differently, but the idea of “sustainability” is not new to the natives of our land. They mastered the art of balancing nature with life. It is safe to say that nobody knows Guyana’s rainforests better than the Indigenous peoples.

In observance of Amerindian Heritage Month, I would like to highlight the Indigenous peoples as the protectors of our rainforests. Their contributions to Guyana extend far beyond the national dish of Pepperpot or their craft. Today, Guyana is known globally as one of the best eco-tourism destinations there is. The conservation of our rainforests also means the conservation of the ancestral lands of the Amerindians. For them, conservation is not for mere statistics—it is a personal, intergenerational quest.

According to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Guyana has five established protected areas: Shell Beach, Kaieteur National Park, the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, the Kanuku Mountains, and the Kanashen Community. These areas are legally protected by the laws of Guyana and, by extension, international law. However, decades—indeed centuries—before these areas were protected under law, the Indigenous people protected, guarded and navigated them.

The community of Kanashen is described as Guyana’s largest protected area, and it is home to the Wai-Wai people. While acres of trees and plants are protected in this area, it is also home to many animals, including 350 species of birds. The Amerindians in Kanashen and other communities have even been internationally recognised for their conservation work.

In 2015, the Wapichan people received the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Equator Prize for their work in mapping and monitoring rainforest deforestation caused by illegal mining, using community-built drones. In 2017, some of the Wai-Wai were trained by the World Wildlife Fund in the Kanashen area to use technology to navigate the forest, track illegal resource concessions, and record ecological data. The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development operates within 900,000 acres of the Iwokrama rainforest, protecting the Makushi people’s way of life and ancestral lands. They partner with locals to support human resources through employment and resource mobility to help further protect the forest. Do you know the famous canopy walk that many social media influencers frequent? Well, it is located within the Iwokrama forest.

The Indigenous peoples of Guyana have also practised sustainable farming, such as rotational farming and seasonal fishing, which are now mirrored across Guyana and the world. They view the land, forests and waterways as respectful forces that should not be exploited through overproduction. The concept of sustainability has been a part of their daily lives for generations. Today, many Amerindians are open to using technology to amplify their impact in conserving their lands, while also maintaining many of their ancestral methods.

In a world that is now environmentally conscious, Guyana relies heavily on the Amerindians to help us achieve our climate ambitions of remaining green, with our forests intact. Policies and laws, such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the protected areas framework, are often cited and described as successful initiatives undertaken to combat climate change. While that remains a fact, I also wish to see everyone quote and describe the Amerindian communities for their commitment, methods, and knowledge that they contribute to these initiatives.

I am pleading that the recognition shown to the Amerindians goes beyond symbolic measures. They deserve equal opportunities for social services and representation at all levels, including but not limited to the protection of their land. They should be seen as equal partners and leaders of these projects, not just as a benefitting party, because illegal mining, deforestation and large-scale farming still threaten their sustainable way of life.

The Amerindians protected our rainforests for centuries. I hope all policymakers, authority figures, and every Guyanese citizen realise that it is now our responsibility to help protect the Amerindians in return.