In a statement, the centre says it joins with all Guyanese to make the preservation of the nation's biological diversity a priority, and to promote practices that are environmentally friendly.

By operating within the context of its mission statement to promote the conservation and sustainable and equitable use of the tropical forest, in a manner that will lead to ecological, economic and social benefits to the people and the world in general through undertaking research, training and the development and dissemination of technologies, the centre says it is committed to the biodiversity of Guyana.

It notes that it also has direct responsibility for the day-to-day management of he Iwokrama Forest which covers 370,000 hectares in the centre of Guyana and a wide variety of rain forest environments.

The bulk of the forest lies between 50 and 100 metres above sea level but includes the Iwokrama Mountains which rise to some 1,000 metres above sea level.

In addition, the area is biologically diverse with more than 1,500 recorded plant species, 450 species of birds, 400 species of fish,120 species of amphibians and 180 species of mammals, the centre notes.

A key feature of the forest is the abundance of jaguar, harpy eagles, giant river otters, arapaima, black caiman and giant river turtles that are endangered elsewhere in their range.

The centre says too that its direct forest management responsibility ensures that the research it undertakes will find immediate application in the management of the Iworama Forest.

This greatly increases its relevance and provides valuable opportunities for training and extension, using the Iwokrama Forest as a key global demonstration area for conservation and sustainable management practices, it adds.