Iwokrama
Dane Gobin - CEO
Topics:
01:04 start interview and history Iwokrama – 30 years old last year
04:22 What is driving Dane –
Two areas of importance for rainforests & the need to show that forest have value.
Establish value – exploration of different areas
Show that people can invest in the forest
12:11 Sustainable forest
Story development for line of merchandise
Amazing plans for next there years
Support from corporations
16:41 Donor fatigue
18:51 Iwokrama = only 2% of Guyana rainforests
19:11 Oil money – preservation of the rainforest – full support of the government
20:08 Green State Development Strategy (GSDS)
Iwokrama to take the lead in developing models
21:57 Government 1000% committed to Green Guyana
26:44 Patron of the forest – HRH Prince Charles
28:37 There will be change
30:30 60 year cycle, where can people find Iwokrama & end note.
https://iwokramariverlodge.com
ARTICLES DISCUSSED
Even today the little-known South American country of Guyana remains uncharted territory for man, boasting around 85% forest cover from one of only four primary rainforests in the world.
Perhaps it comes as no surprise then that this mysterious land of dense jungle and hidden corners was the inspiration behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World.
The Discover Guyana pages are still active and sharing images and content that will inspire, remind travellers that there is still plenty of beauty in the world, and give them a taste of what discoveries await them in Guyana.
Guyana intends to become a low-carbon, ‘green state’, with eco-tourism a major feature. But the country is also poised to become the Western Hemisphere’s next big oil producer.
Rovin starts doing the maths for me. “We have about 350 square kilometres of jungle and have applied to take over another 350 of what is now state land. We get about 200 visitors a year and we want 400, no more. We don’t want to be rich, but we want to keep our forest. We do need money for medicines, education and supplies.”
Take away the tourists and the need for an income would soon drive these communities into the arms of loggers, ranchers, goldminers and oilmen.
“You know what,” I say to Rovin, “your jungle is full of treasures that are better than gold or oil.”
