With its oil sector growing rapidly, Guyana has one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world. While 85% of the country is untouched wilderness, mostly tropical rainforest, development, like tourism, will eventually happen there too.

Georgetown

Guyana has experienced unprecedented economic growth, averaging about 47% between 2022 and 2024, making it the fastest growing economy globally. This surge is primarily attributed to significant oil discoveries. Despite this rapid development, the country maintains a strong focus on environmental conservation, with 85% of its land remaining untouched wilderness and a longstanding low-carbon strategy.

The government is also promoting sustainable tourism and infrastructure projects to support remote communities, while seeking to diversify the economy beyond oil. Efforts are underway to ensure that economic progress does not compromise the nation's rich biodiversity or its environmental reputation.

Oil makes Guyana fastest growing economy in the world

From the summit of Turtle Mountain, the expanse of Guyana's rainforest is breathtaking. That is what we call the boba palm. Indigenous guide Marci Joni takes pride in sharing this beauty. So the forest is very important for me and my community because we all benefit from it. With 85% of the nation still untouched wilderness, Guyana has earned international praise for its conservation commitment. But beneath that canopy, a new era is unfolding. Between 2022 and 2024, Guyana posted an average growth of about 47%, the world's top GDP gains driven by a major oil discovery. And is trying to diversify by, among other things, opening up to the world. Tourism is a relatively new but a growing sector in our country. Because the numbers are still very small, the manner in which the tourism is being implemented is along a very sustainable fashion. Most of Guyana is uncharted, pristine and unexploited. And while tourism, and in particular ecotourism, is growing, local communities hope it will help develop remote areas without spoiling the biodiversity. The government is paving roads through the forest, intended to open up remote villages to agriculture and commerce, and in many places mining, much of it gold. For some, it's a sign of progress, for others, a risk to Guyana's hard-won environmental reputation. The government of Guyana... But Guyana's president says its development model is showing that economic growth doesn't have to come at the expense of its forests, thanks to a low-carbon strategy first launched in 2009. Keeping the standing forests one, adopting the best technologies in terms of our forestry sector, subjecting ourselves to the highest form of monitoring and evaluation, so people should judge us on our track record. Amid rapid change, Guyana is trying to grow without letting go of its forests and traditions, hoping to balance progress with preservation. Alessandro Rampietti, Al Jazeera, Iwokrama Forest, Guyana.

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