Nature in Guyana

The Low Coastal Plain covers about 9,120 square kilometres and lies roughly 1–3 metres below mean sea level in places. It includes about 440 kilometres of Atlantic coastline, mangroves, mudflats, estuaries and swamp forests. The Hilly Sand and Clay Region covers about 28,920 square kilometres and contains white-sand forest, wallaba and dakama forest, scrub and savanna. The Hinterland Forest covers about 156,450 square kilometres, or about 73% of Guyana, and forms part of the Guiana Shield and the wider Amazon-linked landscape. The Rupununi Savannah includes northern and southern savannas, the Kanuku Mountains, wetlands, grassland, scrub and low trees. Guyana has about 18 million hectares of natural forest. The Ministry of Natural Resources has reported that more than 99% of the forest area remains intact. Forests regulate water, store carbon, support biodiversity, provide non-timber forest products and sustain cultural and economic activities. The Guyana Forestry Commission uses forest inventories, geographic information systems and monitoring, reporting and verification systems for zoning, conservation and decisions about timber, mining and other resource use. The NPAS includes Kaieteur National Park, Iwokrama, Shell Beach Protected Area, Kanuku Mountains Protected Area, Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area and four urban parks. Kaieteur National Park covers 62,700 hectares, was established in 1929 and protects Kaieteur Falls, the Pakaraima Highlands and species associated with the Guiana Shield. Iwokrama covers 371,000 hectares and has operated since 1996 under the Iwokrama Act through the Iwokrama International Centre and an international board. It combines sustainable forestry, research, tourism and Makushi-linked community interests. Shell Beach Protected Area covers 123,055 hectares along about 120 kilometres of coast and protects extensive mangrove and beach habitat. Kanuku Mountains Protected Area covers 611,000 hectares of forest, savanna, wetlands and mixed habitats. Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area covers about 648,000 hectares and is managed through the Kanashen Village Council as a Wai Wai community conservation area. The Protected Areas Commission directly manages Kaieteur, Shell Beach, Kanuku Mountains and the urban parks, while the Iwokrama International Centre manages Iwokrama and the Kanashen Village Council manages Kanashen with technical support from the commission. The Protected Areas Commission's 2024–2028 management plan records about 1,816,391 hectares of formal conservation areas, approximately 8.5% of Guyana. Many protected areas follow IUCN Category VI principles, which allow conservation together with controlled sustainable use. The Protected Areas Act 2011, management plans and local decisions determine what activities are allowed. Kaieteur's legal framework protects Indigenous traditional use subject to its management rules. Kanashen combines Indigenous land rights, an absolute title dating from 2004 and community-owned conservation arrangements created under the Amerindian Act 2006. Guyana's forests and wetlands support jaguars, pumas, harpy eagles, giant anteaters, giant otters, black caimans, manatees, river dolphins and many other species. Iwokrama records more than 500 bird species. Shell Beach provides nesting habitat for leatherback, hawksbill, olive ridley and green turtles, with nesting typically occurring from February to August. The Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission regulates protected species, wildlife research, monitoring, rescue, release and CITES-related trade. Trapping, hunting or killing protected species can be a criminal offence. Wildlife use can require a domestic licence, such as a wildlife trapping, commercial, collecting, recreational, captive wildlife or special wildlife licence. Applications commonly require identification or a passport, photographs and a tax identification number. Recreational hunters also need a firearm licence. Registered users may in some cases receive licences through Indigenous village councils. The commission sets quotas and harvest zones, and the 2026 closed seasons include ibises from 1 January to 31 August, psittacines from 1 December to 31 May and ducks from 1 April to 30 September. Published licence fees range roughly from GY$10,000 to GY$100,000 for trapping, GY$20,000 to GY$200,000 for commercial use and GY$50,000 to GY$300,000 for recreational use. The current species calendar and fees should be checked before applying. International wildlife trade can require a commercial import or export licence, a holding-premises licence and a transaction permit or certificate. Traditional use around protected areas includes hunting, fishing, farming, gathering and the collection of non-timber forest products. Forestry in State Forests requires approval from the Guyana Forestry Commission. Large concessions may cover more than 8,097 hectares under a forest concession agreement, timber sales agreement or wood-cutting licence, generally for up to 40 years with conditional renewal. Smaller concessions of up to 8,097 hectares may use a State Forest Permission or Community Forest Management Agreement, commonly for up to three years. A State Forest Exploratory Permit is also commonly limited to three years. Projects that may affect the environment, including resource extraction, construction, industry and biodiversity research, can require an Environmental Authorisation or Environmental Permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. Mining is regulated by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission under the Mining Act 1989 and may also require environmental review. The combination of mining, infrastructure, logging, overfishing, wild-meat trade and illegal harvesting can damage forests, rivers and wildlife. Gold mining is identified in official assessments as a major driver of deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss. Commercial mineral exploitation is not permitted in the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area under its governing arrangements. Access to remote natural areas often depends on the site, a local community, an approved provider and a guide. Travel may require road transport, boats or aircraft, and there is no single reliably established nationwide entrance fee for all protected areas. Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama's River Lodge, trails and research centre, the Rupununi and the Shell Beach turtle and mangrove landscape are established nature-tourism settings. Turtle observation is seasonal and governed by site rules. Visitors must follow protected-area instructions and respect local cultural and sacred places. Kaieteur also excludes extreme sports and activities considered incompatible with Patamona customs. Natural conditions create different risks across Guyana. Coastal areas face sea-level rise, storm surges, erosion, saltwater intrusion and loss of mangrove, estuary and beach habitat. Rivers and lowlands can experience seasonal or river flooding and changes in water quality. Inland areas face drought, heat, savanna fires, habitat degradation and wildlife mortality or movement. Heavy rain can cause erosion, landslides and sedimentation. Mining can alter river flows and increase silt, heavy-metal contamination and noise. The Hydrometeorological Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Protected Areas Commission, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission monitor different parts of these risks. Environmental education is provided through formal schools, protected-area outreach, camps and community programmes. The Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission's 2026 Sustainable Wildlife Management environmental education curriculum began in five schools in Regions 4 and 6 and covers native plants, wildlife, habitats, waterways, farming, fishing and coastal culture. A Region 9 model serves children over seven years old. The Protected Areas Commission runs Zoo Camp for ages 6–14, nature camps and school outreach, while Iwokrama provides learning services in ranger work, guiding, participatory community resource management and protected-area management.