Guyanese Summer Evening attracted a large crowd at the British Bird Watching Fair in London on August 25.
According to a release from the Guyana Wildlife and Nature Experiences, Guyana followed another successful year at the event which saw a capacity crowd of about 150, including tour operators, media representatives, dignitaries, tourism industry delegates, and Guyanese.
Former British High Commissioner to Guyana and Chairman of the Iwokrama Board of Trustees, Edward Glover, introduced a video featuring the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development which featured interviews and stunning shots of Iwokrama’s scenery, wildlife and people.
The film also focused on Iwokrama’s ongoing research into climate change and how to sustainably use rainforests without losing them in the process.
Guyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Laleshwar Singh, highlighted the importance of rainforest conservation while touching on President Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy for Guyana.
Paul Waldron then spoke about Iwokrama’s tourism offerings and ongoing work in sustainable rainforest use and management.
Managing Director of Wilderness Explorers, Tony Thorne, provided an overview of new tourism products in Guyana, including the Eco-Lodges at Rewa and Nappi villages, while Judy Karwacki, consultant of the Guyana Trade and Investment Support, also gave an update on the Guyana’s Sustainable Tourism Initiative, a joint project of Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Other presenters were Dianne McTurk, who spoke about her work rehabilitating orphaned giant river otters into the wild at Karanambu Ranch, and John Gimlette, who talked about his off-the-beaten-path travels in Guyana.
The event was sponsored by Wilderness Explorers, a Guyana-based tour operator, in collaboration with the Guyana Sustainable Tourism Initiative (GSTI), Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project, Demerara Distillers Ltd., and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. (GINA)
