Iwokrama International Centre Embarks on Sustainable Timber Harvesting Operation

Since its foundation a decade ago the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama) has responsibility for management, conservation and sustainable development of the Iwokrama Forest (approximately one million acres of tropical forest), through the Iwokrama Act of 1996, and an Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth signed on November 9th 1995. Iwokrama is a collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana and the International Community. Its main objectives are to conserve biological diversity, to promote sustainable use and management of the Iwokrama Forest and to study, develop and demonstrate methods and techniques for the conservation and equitable and sustainable use of tropical rainforests that will bring ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana.

In fulfilling its mission, Iwokrama manages the Iwokrama Forest (371,681 ha) to demonstrate how to conserve and sustainably use tropical rain forests. In this vein Iwokrama continues to expand its innovative ecotourism business which is based on the principle of collaborative management with the local communities and the private sector.

Additionally Iwokrama is developing a Sustainable Timber Harvesting operation that is designed to test a new business model, to demonstrate to the people of Guyana and the International Community that tropical rainforests can maintain biological diversity while supporting economic and social activities and indicates a commitment to one of the principle aspects of tropical forest management. Iwokrama recognises that development of successful techniques for sustainable use of tropical rain forests that meet commercial, local and conservation needs is dependent on the ownership and commitment of communities, private sector and public agencies.  In this context the Centre has fully engaged with local communities, national agencies, non-Guyanese institutions, international organisations and businesses to enhance our collective capacity to manage the Iwokrama Forest. The overall objective is to provide models of best practices for sustainable forest management to Guyana and the world.

Iwokrama intends to harvest logs and process timber from the Iwokrama Forest in a manner that brings economic benefits and is socially and environmentally responsible.  As part of the sustainable process, Iwokrama has commenced the forest certification process with Soil Association – Woodmark and has completed the pre-assessment phase. 

Iwokrama’s timber business is expected to be based on the extraction of logs to produce sawnwood, kiln-dried and other high value and downstream timber products for the local and export markets.  It is the intention to expand on the existing local and export timber markets through the supply of low volume, high value, certified and branded timber products based on the precepts of the sustainable use of tropical rainforests.  Tree species to be harvested include Greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiei), Mora (Mora excelsa), Crabwood (Carapa guianensis), and Purpleheart (Peltogyne venosa) among others.

Iwokrama’s long term vision is that there will be a proliferation of successful forest management programmes across the world that use Iwokrama’s “blueprints” for collaborative management and business models.  The centre will prove that successful management comes through wise use and protection of tropical forests can be achieved through collaborative management with local communities.

Iwokrama has received international support for its effort thus far the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for feasibility studies and management level and operational inventory planning and commencement of the forest certification process.