Guyana lies at the heart of the Guiana Shield, one of the world's last four intact rainforests, and forests make up over 85% of the country's land area. It also has one of the highest levels of biodiversity of any country in the world, with approximately 8,000 plant species, half of which are endemic.

As a country with a historically low deforestation rate, Guyana has positioned itself at the forefront of international negotiations on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation (REDD). A financing agreement with Norway could be worth up to US$250 million over five years to Guyana – this money must be used as leverage to ensure that the country’s forests are protected.  Guyana is therefore a key test case for REDD’s ability to promote sustainable and transparent forest management.  

Following a scoping visit to Guyana by Global Witness in mid-2009, we hosted a public meeting in London with the President of Guyana, to explore the opportunities and risks of REDD, and provide a forum for NGOs, leading academics, government representatives and the press to question the president, as well as a leader of indigenous people's groups, on Guyana’s ambitious plan to stop deforestation and embark on a ‘Low Carbon Development’ path.

The event exposed the tension that exists between protecting rainforests and pursuing economic development. A key contentious issue is whether developing countries can increase their rate of deforestation in the cause of economic development whilst still claiming international performance-based payments for reducing carbon emissions. Global Witness continues to raise this with Norway and Guyana.

Key documents from the public meeting with President Jagdeo of Guyana

• Global Witness comments on Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, October 2009
• Press Release: Guyana - a test case for UN deforestation scheme, 21^st November 2009
• Transcript of the event.
• YouTube: recording of the event.
• Follow-up letter from Global Witness to President Jagdeo, 30^th November 2009.
• Technical Note from Norway International Climate and Forest Initiative in response to our letter.