Guyana joins the rest of the world in recognizing and celebrating International Day of the Forests 2025 under the theme FORESTS AND FOODS. The United Nations in recognizing the important role of forests globally has designated March 21 as International Day of the Forests.
Guyana is blessed with over 18 million hectares of natural pristine tropical rain forests. Guyana’s Forests has remained intact despite over a century of utilization. The Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 has provided the Strategic and Policy Framework for the Sustainable Utilization and monetization of the Forests Resources and its Ecosystems.
- Guyana’s pristine tropical forests cover an estimated 85 % of the country’s landmass. It acts as a global carbon sink supporting activities vital for living organisms, inclusive of livelihoods, watershed management and biodiversity.
- In fact, due to its strategic location in two (2) of the world’s premier biodiversity rich zones (the Amazon Region and the Guiana Shield), Guyana has been noted for its unique biodiversity that is significant both regionally and globally.
- Forests provide a range of ecosystem services that are integral to the sustaining of life as we know it. Ecosystem services that are provided include:
- Provisioning services: the material or energy outputs from an ecosystem, including food, forage, fibre, fresh water, and other resources
- Regulating services: benefits obtained through moderation or control of ecosystem processes, including regulation of local climate, air, or soil quality; carbon sequestration; flood, erosion, or disease control; and pollination
- Supporting services: services that maintain fundamental ecosystem processes, such as habitat for plants and wildlife, or the maintenance of genetic and biological diversity
- Guyana’s forests are home to a vast array of plants with medicinal properties, some of which are used in traditional medicine and have been the source of active ingredients in modern pharmaceuticals. Conservative estimates are that the active ingredients found in 25 percent of prescription drugs come from medicinal plants. Also, mostof the so-called alternative medicines are also based on plant extracts.
- Cultural services: the non-material benefits that ecosystems provide to human societies and culture, including opportunities for recreation, tourism, aesthetic or artistic appreciation, and spirituality.
- Guyana has maintained the second highest percentage of forest cover on earth, with more than 99% of the forest’s 18 million hectares remaining.
- Guyana’s approximately 18 million hectares of forests continue to play an integral role in the provision of these ecosystem services to the people of Guyana.
- Guyana’s forests are also highly valued for its food supply, providing sustenance and clean water resources, whilst also supporting diverse ecosystems and livelihoods.
- This is especially so for the nine (9) indigenous tribes which live synergistically within the forest, namely the Akawaio, Arecunas, Arawaks, Caribs, Macushi, Patamonas, Warraus, Wai-Wais, Wapishiana.
- For these forest-dwellers, forests represent a source of fuel wood for cooking and other essential household needs, particularly in regions where access to alternative fuels is limited.
- Guyana’s forests offer cultural, religious and aesthetic value to the indigenous populations as well as for tourism.
- Guyana’s forests offer climate regulation and carbon sequestration which have been recognised internationally. The forest stores 19.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent – the measure used for the greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change (the world emits about 50 billion tons a year). Guyana has been able to advocate this important ecosystem services to the world, and has been able to receive payments, through the sale of carbon credits, to maintain this very important asset.
- Guyana’s forests are home to our indigenous populations, who currently own approximately 12.8% of forests in Guyana.
- Guyana’s forests are renowned globally for its rich biodiversity, providing habitats for thousands of species of flora and fauna. Due to Guyana’s efforts in sustaining a very low rate of deforestation and enhanced forest protection, Guyana’s ecosystems are largely intact and functional – and as a result, the country has been recognised as having extraordinary levels of biodiversity, which is of regional and global significance. New species are discovered every year and the country is known to have more than 100,000 invertebrate species, more than 7,000 vascular plant species most of which are native, more than 900 species of birds, 625 freshwater fish species, 250 mammal species, 250 amphibians, and 210 reptiles. Nearly 100 of the vertebrate species occur nowhere else on Earth.
- Guyana’s forests play a vital role in the provision and maintenance of high-quality water resources, acting as natural filters, regulating water flow, and protecting watersheds.
- In terms of livelihoods and employment within the forest sector, currently more than 25,000 Guyanese are employed within Guyana’s forestry sector.
- Forests play a crucial role in food security, nutrition and livelihoods. Forests support soil fertility, protect water resources, and offer habitats for biodiversity, including vital pollinators.
- Through Guyana’s carbon credit programme, Amerindian and hinterland communities have developed Village Sustainability Plans serve as roadmaps for local development, outlining key areas where the village wishes to invest its portion of the carbon credit revenue and other money. The plans are highly individualized, reflecting the unique needs and aspirations of each community. Among the areas identified for investments within these VSPs are:
- Agriculture: Investment in modern farming equipment, irrigation systems, and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure food security and income generation.
- Through Guyana’s carbon credit programme, Amerindian and hinterland communities have developed Village Sustainability Plans serve as roadmaps for local development, outlining key areas where the village wishes to invest its portion of the carbon credit revenue and other money. The plans are highly individualized, reflecting the unique needs and aspirations of each community. Among the areas identified for investments within these VSPs are:
- Many medicines are derived from forests. Globally, 25 per cent of drugs used in modern medicine are derived from rainforest plants. Forests also provide essential health products, such as hygiene and sanitary items like toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, and ethanol for sanitizers.[1]
- Mangroves play a critical role in ensuring food security in Guyana. Mangroves serve as natural nurseries for nearly 800 billion fish species, prawns and crabs every year worldwide. They are critical for maintaining fisheries, which both local livelihoods. Mangroves also provide other foods such as honey, fruits and medicinal leaves and provide a sustainable source of income for coastal communities by ensuring a year-round supply of these resources.
As Ministry of Natural Resources I want to thank all Forest Sector Operators both Local and International, Our International Partners, Donor Community, Non-Governmental Organization, Academic Institutions, The Private Sector, Indigenous and Local Communities, Government Agencies and the valued staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Forestry Commission and indeed all other partners and stakeholders for the tremendous effort you have made in joining hands with us in Protecting and Sustainable Utilization of the Forests. Your hard work, commitment and dedication to strong Sustainable forestry Management Practices has enable the Forest of Guyana to be recognize as Global Asset and one which all Guyanese can be proud of as a rich Natural Resource of Guyana.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE FORESTS 2025
[1] Forests And Health, https://guyanatimesgy.com/forests-and-health/, March 12, 2023
