The Iwokrama International Centre, custodian of 371,000 hectares of Guyana’s rainforest, is alarmed at the spate of illegal activities in its forest.
In a release on Tuesday, the Centre stated that it has noted again with serious concern, the “proliferation of illegal activities” in the Iwokrama Forest including but not limited to fishing, hunting, logging and mining. This in spite of the fact that in November 2019 it conducted an education and awareness activity so the public should now be well aware of the boundaries of the Iwokrama Forest and permitted activities in the forest.
The disclosure was made that again, over the past weekend, the Centre’s staff together with teams from the Corps of Wardens under the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Police Force, carried out raids in the Iwokrama Forest. Camps with several 4-inch dredges were discovered along with “substantive” destruction of the forest floor.
According to Iwokrama, “This was a marked increase in intensity from the usual one-man operation using metal detectors and a spade and is of grave concern to the Centre.” It is of the opinion that these activities are being perpetuated by individuals taking advantage of the current restrictions and lockdown protocols established to combat the COVID-19 virus.
In light of these occurrences, the Centre has seen it fit to remind the public and other stakeholders that these activities are not allowed in the Iwokrama Forest unless express written permission is granted for any of these activities to be undertaken.
The Centre went on to cite specifically, section 2 of the clause titled “Control of the Programme Site” of the Iwokrama Act which states:
Subject to section 6(1), and notwithstanding anything in any other written law –
(a) no mining, forestry or other resources utilisation activity shall be carried out on the Programme Site by any person other than the Centre, except with the prior written permission of the Centre; and
(b) no lease of land or permission to use land in the Programme Site shall be issued by any person other than the Centre, and all activities on the Programme Site shall be in accordance with regulations prescribed therefor under this Act.
Section 3 goes on to prescribe the penalties:
“Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (2) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period of one year, and where the offence is of a continuing nature, to a further fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.”
Iwokrama let it be known that it has previously already imposed penalties on one “errant” tourism operator who was caught illegally logging in the Iwokrama Forest and a gold miner who was arrested and placed before the courts. And as far as it is concerned, it has spent enough time and resources on education and awareness with regard to these illegal activities in the Iwokrama Forest. The Centre says it fully intends to continue its zero tolerance approach to these activities, especially the gold mining and logging operations.
The Centre’s monitoring team together with the regulatory institutions in Guyana, including but not limited to the Natural Resources Corps of Wardens, Guyana Police Service, the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency has committed to undertake regular monitoring and enforcement activities within the environs of the Iwokrama Forest. It will also be rigidly enforcing the prescribed penalties under the Iwokrama Act and other laws of Guyana to any person(s) found illegally operating in the Iwokrama Forest.
In an effort to boost security, the Centre says it is installing cameras in certain areas and has also acquired a drone with facial recognition software for remote aerial monitoring. A monitoring station will also be strategically placed to monitor boat traffic in these areas.
Iwokrama expressed its belief in the development of the hinterland region of Guyana, which it acknowledges “provides livelihoods for many Guyanese,” but at the same time feels strongly that “all activities must be done within the confines of the laws of Guyana.”
The Centre is offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of persons(s) involved in illegal activities in the Iwokrama Forest. It will also be following up on information it received on specific mining operators who have been reported to be working in the Iwokrama Forest. Any arrests will be fully publicized.
