Guyana uses bamboo to reclaim old mining lands
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Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat announced Guyana is using bamboo to restore land damaged by mining, starting with a pilot project in Region 10.
The government launched the project to reforest former mining areas while creating economic opportunities for nearby communities. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission have worked together for three years on reclamation and reforestation, with bamboo now playing a central role.
Bharrat noted that Guyana currently holds the title of second-most forested country in the world, with 86% forest cover, trailing only Suriname. The country also maintains a very low deforestation rate despite ongoing resource extraction. The National Forest Restoration Initiative, begun in 2023, provided the framework for considering bamboo as a restoration option alongside native trees. Recently, the project “Piloting Bamboo for Restoration & Sustainable Livelihoods in Guyana” began with the planting of almost 500 Bambusa vulgaris var.
Vulgaris plants in Coomacka, Region 10. The European Union funds the initiative, with technical support from Expertise France and the International Bamboo & Rattan Organisation. Communities in Region 10 helped design the project to suit the local landscape, and the program will expand to other areas of Guyana.
