Miners arrested for illegal operations in Iwokrama Forest

Mar 05, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- Three persons were arrested on February 23, 2025 for illegal mining in the Iwokrama forest, the Iwokrama International Centre said on Tuesday.

Miners arrested for illegal operations in Iwokrama Forest

According to the statement, the illegal miners included a Brazilian national with family ties to a nearby community, who has a long history of illegal incursions in the Iwokrama forest along with two other Guyanese – from the Essequibo Coast and Paramakatoi Village.

The arrests were made as a result of cooperation with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Iwokrama Forest is a Protected Area by law.

“Iwokrama, over the past years, has been besieged by illegal gold mining in the Siparuni area and has sent stern warnings that such intrusions will be forcefully dealt with. Several enforcement activities led by the Government of Guyana regulatory agencies have been undertaken to curb these illegal activities which saw 14 persons arrested in 2024,” the statement said.

Illegal mining and damage in the Iwokrama Forest

Further, Iwokrama said that community leaders associated with the Centre have also strongly condemned resident community persons’ involvement in illegal gold mining within this protected area and signed on to a joint communique in October 2024.

Iwokrama and the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) strongly condemned the illegal operations in the Iwokrama Forest and undertook to ensure that members of the communities understand that gold mining is illegal in this area and that supplying the illegal operations with materials and supplies is also illegal.

Iwokrama and the NRDDB are committed to working together on a comprehensive monitoring programme that will include communication and reporting mechanisms between each other and report on any suspicious activities in and around their communities and the Iwokrama Forest.

Miners arrested for illegal operations in Iwokrama Forest

The joint communique also pointed to the importance of the Iwokrama Forest to the livelihoods of the communities of Regions 8 and 9 and to the national reputation of Guyana as a country known for its biodiversity conservation initiatives.

“The Centre would like to once again remind the public that gold mining activities are absolutely not allowed in the Iwokrama Forest. Furthermore, such illegal activities are a threat to the Centre’s international certification and to Guyana’s forest management system as a whole and will not be tolerated. Iwokrama reserves the right to publish the names and photographs of persons found conducting illegal gold mining activities in the Protected Area. “

Meanwhile, Iwokrama’s management acknowledged that collaboration is the most effective way to target illegal activities and expressed gratitude for the continued support from the Ministry of Natural Resources, GGMC, the GPF, the Protected Areas Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

For further information on the management of the Iwokrama Forest and to report any illegal activities in the forest, please contact Dr. Raquel Thomas, Director, Resource Management on rthomas@iwokrama.org. More information on the Centre’s work is available on www.iwokrama.org , www.iwokramariverlodge.com and www.iwokramacanopywalkway.com

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