Priorities Establish formal partnerships with international research institutions.
Far from new, the policy, technical, legal, institutional, and other issues that Guyana is struggling with now have been studied intensely by many institutions around the world. The Government of Guyana should encourage such national institutions as the University of Guyana and Iwokrama to invite experienced foreign groups to Guyana to do similar research and to help develop strategies, laws, and institutions. Some of them may already have their own funding to do this, or could raise it, so it would cost the country little or nothing. The first step would be to stengthen links with the Dutch group, Tropenbos, that is already doing world class research on the ecology and forestry potential of Guyana's forests. Some of Guyana's neighbors have also amassed significant expertise, but contact between the Forestry Commission and groups in Brazil and elsewhere have been only sporadic.