Guyana launches bamboo pilot project

A milestone bamboo planting activity has commenced for the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) project: “Piloting Bamboo for Restoration & Sustainable Livelihoods in Guyana” – funded by the European Union (EU) under the Euroclima programme; and implemented with technical assistance from Expertise France and the International Bamboo & Rattan Organisation (INBAR).

This planting activity marks a significant step toward an era of livelihood diversification for forest-dependent Guyanese communities through meaningful restoration of degraded lands, and an opportunity to economise an underutilised but present non-timber resource in Guyana – bamboo.

Bamboo plants of the species Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris are being trialed for the restoration of a mined-out bauxite site in the old Coomacka mines area, close to the Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends community, with the technical guidance of INBAR. Mines communities in Region Ten: Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends, Coomacka, Old England/Siberien, Nottinghamshire, and Richmond Hill have been steady partners in designing a project that fits the context of their landscape and their people.

This flagship project continues to focus on actionable and tangible targets, not only for bamboo trials, but for building bamboo knowledge and capacity at all levels; and for hands-on community training in both bamboo resource propagation and management, and value-added product creation. It also sets the stage for dynamic partnerships at all stakeholder levels for a new industry based on nature and sustainability.

Almost 500 bamboo plants will be planted at Coomacka. This exercise will be replicated in other areas throughout the country.

Since 2023, the National Forest Restoration Initiative (NFRI) – a collaborative effort between the GFC and the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) under the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), has provided a framework for exploring restoration through the lens of diversification through the consideration of non-timber and agroforestry pathways, alongside native forest species (Modified Ministry of Natural Resources press release)