Press Release 25 May 2004

Iwokrama Presented as Case Study to
United Nations Forum on Forests

Geneva, Switzerland -- Iwokrama was presented as a case study on 11 May 2004 at the Fourth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) in Geneva, Switzerland. The presentation by Iwokrama Director General (Ag) Graham Watkins, Ph.D., focused on the need for sustainable forest management to focus on involving local people and businesses. Iwokrama was discussed in the context of the main "Barbados Programme of Action" (from the April/May 1994 Global Conference On The Sustainable Development Of Small Island Developing States), including the need to build and maintain human resource capacities in developing nations, addressing the involvement and rights of indigenous peoples, the need to access high value, low volume niche markets and the role of partnerships in people-centred development. Dr. Watkins reinforced the nature of Iwokrama as a partnership between Guyana and the international community.

Also representing Guyana at the Forum were Mr. George Talbot of the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the UN in New York and Mr. James Singh, Commissioner of Guyana's Forests and Iwokrama Trustee. Both Mr. Talbot and Commissioner Singh made additional critical contributions in support of Guyana's and Iwokrama's progress in Sustainable Forest Management.

Other panellists in the session on Small Island Developing States included representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Dominican Republic, Seychelles, Ireland, and Fiji. The session was designed to contribute to preparations for the review of the "Barbados Programme of Action" to take place this year in Mauritius.

Through Guyana's and Iwokrama's participation in international fora such as the recent UNFF conference, Iwokrama and Guyana are becoming increasingly recognised as international leaders in the development of community partnerships and coordination between local and national development for the ultimate purpose of tropical rain forest conservation. Iwokrama's mission to disseminate the lessons learned in Guyana are helping to create a better understanding of the constraints and challenges faced by developing nations as they seek to implement sustainable development programs.