–thanks to CATS initiative

By Zena Henry
THE dream of one day making the East Coast Demerara village of Mahaica a premier local bird-watching destination is closer to being realised with the recent acquisition of a key means of transportation. Last Friday, the community was presented with a brand new boat and engine costing U.S.$37,000, courtesy of the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ) through its regional programme, the Caribbean Aqua Terrestrial Solutions (CATS).
GIZ, as its name suggests, is a German-sponsored initiative that focuses on the adaptation of rural economies and natural resources to climate change, and the management of coastal resources and the conservation of marine biodiversity.
The vessel was officially handed over to a group of tour guides drawn from Mahaica and neighbouring villages by Head of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Indranauth Haralsingh, and local CATS Project Officer, Ms Annette Arjoon-Martins.
SPECIAL TRAINING
The GTA head said guides had been privy to special birding and tour guide training sessions, courtesy of the same CATS initiative more than a year ago.
During the ceremony, Haralsingh seized the opportunity to commend the training programme’s facilitators as well as its participants for staying the course and forging ahead with their plans to boost not only the economy of the community of Mahaica, but also for preserving its natural environs.
He also commended the community proper, as well as the GIZ/CATS team for the sterling effort they have been making to protect the mangroves in their neighbourhood.
As Dr Horst Vogel, who is heading the CATS programme on behalf of GIZ, observed that the new boat is expected to assist in improving the lives of persons in Mahaica, while helping to protect the area’s natural environment through tour-guiding initiatives.

THE TOUR
Officially, the Mahaica Birding Tour is some three hours long, and goes several miles into the Mahaica River.
The tour costs as little as US$50, which includes transportation to and from the city, or U.S.$35 for the river leg of the tour only.
The Mahaica birding tour comes after the recently established horse-cart tours, which was kicked off in another East Coast community to bring tourists closer to country life and its culture.
The river-top tours have, however, been diversified since persons, especially outside visitors, have boosted the game-fishing activity.
The birding tour, however, affords visitors the opportunity of viewing some 50 different species of the 150 birds living within the mangroves.
These birds include the national bird, the Canje Pheasant, which is on proud display in the early morning and late afternoon hours.
Howler monkeys, Red Cap Cardinals, White Collar hawks, Otters and caimans are among numerous intriguing animals that can also be seen in their mangrove habitat.
The preservation of mangroves is a major concern for local and foreign-based conservation workers.
Mangroves not only protect inland areas from rising sea levels, but also provide breeding grounds for a wide variety of animal and plant life, and a great place for bird-watching.
Water-top tours and sport fishing are just some ways of promoting the importance of mangroves, in a bid to ensure their survival.