Guyana joined the globe in celebrating International Day of Forests on March 21, under the theme of “Forests and food.” The occasion spotlighted Guyana’s leadership in forest conservation and its commitment to protecting its critical asset – not just for national benefit, but for the globe. Covering more than 85% of the country’s landmass and storing some 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon, Guyana’s forests are much much more than a massive carbon sink; they serve as a pristine source of healing cabinets, sustaining local diets, traditional medicine, economic livelihoods and food security.
Our forests are vital as a source of nourishment, providing wild fruits, nuts, honey, bush meat, clean water, and support for fisheries. This is especially so for the nine indigenous tribes which live synergistically within the forest, namely the Akawaio, Arecunas, Arawaks, Caribs, Macushi, Patamonas, Warraus, Wai-Wais, and Wapishiana, who currently own approximately 12.8% of forests in Guyana. ….