The Centre manages the nearly one million acre (371,000 hectares) Iwokrama Forest in central Guyana to show how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used to provide ecological, social and economic benefits to local, national and international communities.

For the past decade Iwokrama has been at the forefront of Research and Development into best practices for sustainable forest management. Heavily integrated into our best practices are our strong community relations with the communities of the North Rupununi and the Village of Fair View within the Iwokrama Forest. These integral activities form the core of the Iwokrama International Centre. This core in turn supports the businesses of Iwokrama. By integrating human needs and values into business development and conservation strategies, partnerships with local communities are established so they can assist in forest management and get direct benefits through joint business development.

Ecotourism, Conservation, Intellectual Property and Services, Sustainable Forestry and Training, all bring Iwokrama closer to fulfilling its mandate; however its heartbeat lies not in its programmes, breath taking beauty, or wealth of biological diversity, but with the people who strive daily to help Iwokrama to achieve and maintain its mandate. This rare blend of technology, ancient culture, and traditional knowledge will ensure that Iwokrama fulfills its mandate and promise to the world.