The Minister within the Housing Ministry, Vanessa Benn, has highlighted the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development as a valued asset to national and international initiatives as the organisation commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Iwokrama Act. In a video message shared on Iwokrama’s Facebook page as part of the anniversary celebrations, Minister Benn reflected on some of the centre’s major achievements over the past three decades while congratulating the organisation on its milestone.

“Iwokrama’s work has earned the reputation of being a valued asset to national and international initiatives. I have had the privilege and pure joy of being part of the Iwokrama team for over 15 years,” she said. Congratulating the organisation on the anniversary, the Minister added, “Congratulations, Team Iwokrama, on your 30th anniversary. Continue to be an exemplar of sound, sustainable forest management and community partnerships for national and global benefit. Cheers.” Benn highlighted several landmark initiatives undertaken by the Centre. She noted that Iwokrama commissioned the first three-dimensional map of an Indigenous village in Guyana.

“Did you know that Iwokrama commissioned the first three-dimensional map of an Indigenous village in Guyana? That village was Fair View. And the model, drawn to scale, has been a fantastic tool to help the villagers in the management of their natural resources,” she said. The Minister also pointed to Iwokrama’s role in strengthening regional forest research. “Iwokrama served as the Caribbean’s focal point organisation in the establishment of the Forest Research Network project. That project has enabled countries across the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific region to collaborate on joint research projects, looking at the various economic services and ecological services derived from the forest and addressing the issues related to climate change,” she noted.