Securing and Enhancing Indigenous Land Tenure in Guyana

Guyana is a country with unique importance for indigenous rights, forest protection and climate change mitigation. It has one of the highest percentages of forest cover of any tropical country, and the vast majority of this forest is in areas populated and used by indigenous peoples. Guyana is an example of a high forest cover, low deforestation rate (HFLD) country. This special feature has made Guyana incredibly attractive to REDD+ schemes.

Ongoing

From: 01/07/2019

To: 31/01/2023

Budget: 2,149,500 USD

Proponents: Amerindian Peoples Association (APA)
South Rupununi District Council (SRDC)

Stakeholders: 14 indigenous communities who will receive land title (and extensions to existing title); indigenous peoples in communities throughout Guyana who will benefit from a revised policy framework; indigenous representative organisations (District Councils); the National Toshaos Council, and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs.

With one of the highest percentages of forested land of any tropical country, the majority of which is populated and used by indigenous peoples, Guyana has unique importance for indigenous rights, forest protection and climate change mitigation. As well as nearly 90% forest cover, it also boasts a very low deforestation rate. These two characteristics have made the country especially attractive to REDD+ schemes, while the creation of the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) has resulted in a renewed government effort in support of indigenous land rights through the GRIF-funded Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation Project. 

Nevertheless, around half of the indigenous communities in Guyana still lack fully secured titles. This makes it a key country for the Tenure Facility’s work, where we are supporting the 70,000-strong indigenous population – roughly 10% of the nation – in work to protect their cultural and practical links to the land, by securing legal ownership.

To read a brief overview of Guyana, click here.

For a timeline of land and forest rights in Guyana, click here.

Learn more

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