GUYANA has taken a significant step toward restoring degraded lands and expanding economic opportunities for forest-dependent communities with the launch of a bamboo pilot project in Region Ten, where nearly 500 plants are being established at a former bauxite mining site.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, on Wednesday, planted the first bamboo seedlings at Three Friends/Old Coomacka Mines, marking the official start of the initiative spearheaded by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) in collaboration with international partners.
The project, titled “Piloting Bamboo for Restoration & Sustainable Livelihoods in Guyana,” is funded by the European Union under its Euroclima programme and implemented with technical support from Expertise France and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR). It aims to rehabilitate mined-out lands while creating new income-generating opportunities for communities.
The initiative builds on the National Forest Restoration Initiative (NFRI), launched in 2023 through a partnership between the GFC and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) under the Ministry of Natural Resources. The NFRI promotes diversified restoration approaches, including non-timber forest products and agroforestry systems, alongside traditional reforestation.
Minister Bharrat underscored bamboo’s potential as a fast-growing species capable of delivering short- to medium-term environmental and economic benefits. He noted that the crop offers a practical solution for revegetation while supporting sustainable livelihoods through value-added industries.
The pilot will see the cultivation of Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris at the Coomacka site, with technical guidance from INBAR. The species is being tested for its suitability in rehabilitating mined lands and its potential for commercial use.
Communities across Region Ten, including Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends, Coomacka, Old England/Siberien, Nottinghamshire, and Richmond Hill, have played a central role in shaping the project. Their involvement is expected to continue through hands-on training in bamboo propagation, management, and product development.
Officials say the initiative goes beyond environmental restoration, positioning bamboo as an underutilised but viable resource that could support a new, sustainable industry in Guyana. The project also seeks to build technical capacity at multiple levels and foster partnerships among government agencies, international organisations, and local stakeholders.
The Coomacka planting exercise is the first of several planned rollouts, with similar activities expected to be replicated in other parts of the country as Guyana advances its broader forest restoration and economic diversification agenda.
