Introduction

Welcome to the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (IIC)

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The IIC is an international not-for-profit organisation, governed by an International Board of Trustees and managed by a professional team of around seventy permanent staff in Georgetown and at the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre at Kurupukari. The IIC’s Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.

The Iwokrama River Lodge

The Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest, “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general”.

The Iwokrama forest and its research centre are unique, providing a dedicated site in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest – where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing. Drawing on its earlier work in sustainable forest management, the IIC is now, in close collaboration with the Government of Guyana, the Commonwealth and other international partners including the UK company Canopy Capital, developing a new approach to enable countries with rainforests to earn significant income from eco-system services and creative conservation practice.

Iwokrama is waiting for you. . . . .

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In the news 15th July 2010

The Prince of Wales to continue His Patronage

Georgetown/London, 15th July 2010 – His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will be Patron of the Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) for another five years.

Reports 12th May 2010

Annual Report 2009

Project 19th March 2010

New EU Funded Project

Building Individual, Organizational and Institutional Capacities for Ecological Sustainable Tourism Development and Fisheries Management in the North Rupununi

Climate Change

While we hear every day about climate change and what we need to do about it, unfortunately the importance of the world’s rainforests in tackling climate change seldom makes the front page. The task confronting the international community today is to:

communicate and put in place a new approach to rainforest sustainability and
promote and implement investment in rainforest ecosystem services as an immediate and practical key step to mitigating climate change

Rainforest destruction is driven by increasing demands for immediate profit – for valuable ‘cash crops’ such as timber, soya, biofuels and beef. ‘Hard’ financial values have too often overshadowed the ’softer’ and less quantified ecological values. Yet the financial value of a standing forest is real and can be quantified.

Find out more about Climate Change

Sustainable Forestry

With rainforests located primarily in some of the world’s poorest countries, it is paramount that these unique global assets are retained in order to generate sustainable income for the communities that live there, not short-lived gains for others. If the services of the rainforest canopy can no longer go unrecognised or unpaid, the IIC’s pioneering solution is to pave the way for sustainable and innovative sources of derived finance to match a new global priority of rainforest preservation. Such a solution could help bring an end to the destruction of rainforests and create a new international market for eco-system payments and a regulatory framework.

Find out more about Sustainable Forestry

Eco-Tourism

The Iwokrama Forest is a vast wilderness of nearly one million acres – a protected area and homeland of the Makushi people who have used the forest for generations. A unique blend of technology, ancient culture, and traditional knowledge, Iwokrama fulfils its mandate and promise to the world.

Come and retrace the footsteps of the Makushi people, wander our extensive trail system and discover the unforgettable flora, fauna and Amerindian history so special to this tropical paradise. With an unparalleled abundance of wildlife, the Iwokrama Forest is an extraordinary destination for naturalists, birders and for those seeking an authentic retreat to the jungle.

Find out more about Eco-Tourism