Since formation in 1996 and acting under its mandate from Guyana and the Commonwealth to develop sustainable management of the Iwokrama forest, the IIC has invested significant capital in surveying and inventorying of the Iwokrama Forest and its resources.

Of the total forest area of 371,681 ha, just under 50%, or 184,506 ha., is designated for sustainable exploitation, the Sustainable Utilisation Area (SUA); the other 186,175 ha. being set aside  permanently as Wilderness Preserve (WP).

Surveying of the SUA by the IIC for land-uses and sustainable forestry in particular, has led to elimination of 75,500 ha. judged non-commercial for a variety of reasons (settlements, water-courses, buffer zones, slopes >40%, non-commercial forest-types, flood areas, etc.), leaving 108,992 ha. designated for sustainable forestry operations, the Net Operable Area (NOA).