Iwokrama reception attracts crème
de la crème in London
Kaieteur News, 28 June 2007
The Iwokrama trustees were delighted that there were so many elite
personalities present at the reception hosted by the Prince of Wales
for the IIC, at the Clarence House.
in London recently.
The inclusion of Carbon Capital Limited, International Forest Products
Corporation, KPMG International, HSBC, Marks and Spencer Shell
International, Caribbean Airlines, Acclimatise, Tate and Lyle,
Environmental Resource Management and ABM-AMRO Bank, among others,
demonstrated their readiness to support and work with a new and focused
Iwokrama Centre that is committed to sustainable forest management and
climate change mitigation.
The presence of the Commonwealth Secretary General and representatives
from the DFID, the FCO, the University of New Castle , WWF-UK, Flora
and Fauna International, further underlined the significance of the
event.
Earlier this week the Iwokrama International Centre took two major
steps towards its transformation from a financially dependent
scientific laboratory with low international profile to an effective
and imaginative international business and research institution,
providing strong environmental and community benefits.
The Iwokrama International Center for Rain and Forest Conversation and
Development is a non profit organisation established by Guyana and the
Commonwealth.
The centre manages nearly one million acres (371 000 hectares) of
Iwokrama Forest in central Guyana to show how tropical forests can be
conserved and sustainably used for ecological, social and economic
benefits to local, national and international communities.
Meeting in London , the trustees approved the opening of negotiations
with International Forest Products Corporation, a major US owned trader
of forest products commodities.
IFP is keen to purchase and market under the exclusive Iwokrama brand
the forest's annual sustainable timber harvest.
The trustees also agreed there should be discussions with an important
UK company, Carbon Capital Limited, which creates and manages
investments in the carbon economy, about a possible carbon facility for
Iwokrama in accordance with Guyana 's national guidelines.
When completed, these agreements will bring significant new
opportunities to the IIC and to Guyana .
Other possible partnership arrangements were also identified for early
progress, including co-operation with Marks and Spencer and the
University of New Castle .
While it is said that there is much work ahead to secure these
agreement, the trustee have set September 30 as the date for successful
completion and for the FSC certification of the forest.
The centre's Director General, has emphasised that the successful
conclusion of these negotiations was dependent on the continued hard
work and commitment of staff and partners in Guyana .
The IIC's partnership with the local communities as well as with state
agencies and the private sector underpinned the Iwokrama brand and
would be positive factors in meeting the deadline set by the trustees.
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