Iwokrama Centre raises alarm over increased requests for forest access

The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (IIC) has expressed concern over the surge in requests for access through the Iwokrama Forest, and numerous North Rupununi communities have voiced similar apprehensions.
According to Iwokrama, this trend has emerged alongside an uptick in illegal mining activities within the protected area since onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it presents a growing challenge for the Centre as it battles these incursions.
Iwokrama has reported that some of these requests for access are being camouflaged as “research” proposals, and are often submitted by the same individuals who had previously been implicated in unlawful activities.
To protect the ecological integrity and prevent further damage to the forest, Iwokrama’s Management Team and Board have reiterated strict access rules: passage through the Iwokrama Forest to access any mining or forestry areas is strictly prohibited; mining within the Iwokrama Reserve is absolutely forbidden; and activities such as logging, hunting, and fishing are permitted only with explicit permission from Iwokrama’s management.
Iwokrama has also emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for unauthorised activities, noting that such actions disrupt the forest ecosystem and put its international certification at risk. Offenders would face legal consequences, with enforcement under the Iwokrama Act and other applicable laws.
In response to these challenges, Iwokrama has expressed gratitude to the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) and other community partners, the Natural Resources Ministry, and the Guyana Police Force for their steadfast support in upholding the protections contained in the Iwokrama Act.
The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (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”.