The Kaieteur National Park occupies a prominent position in the center of the Guiana Shield. Here the 741 foot single-drop majestic Kaieteur Falls, located on the Potaro River, along with the scenic flora, fauna and wildlife are the main attractions of the park.
Chairman of the National Parks Commission, Shyam Nokta, on a visit to the Park on Friday, highlighted that in commercialising tourism at Kaieteur, protective measures have to be adhered to so as to maintain a good balance in terms of developing the area without compromising the natural ecosystem.

“If we are not very careful and we move rapidly in putting in place infrastructure for tourism development, such as campsites, lodges and trails, we could run the risk of losing these rare species,” Nokta said.
For the first time since its establishment, an integrated management plan has been devised to direct and enhance the entire park.
The Chairman said that this process was put in motion about a year and half ago with assistance from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
“The management plan will see the accumulation of information on the plants, animals, landscape, geology, geography and other social aspects of the Park,” he said.
This information will be entered in a Geographical Information System (GIS) database, so as to begin the development of a zonation model. This model will allow for the mapping out of areas that could be highlighted for development without disturbing those earmarked for conservation.
Nokta disclosed that this management plan which will aid in enhanced administration of the Park is expected to be ready for implementation later in the year.

There are two major projects being undertaken by the Commission with funding from the German Development Bank (KFW) through the Government of Guyana and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These are a visitor arrival center at the Park and a guest house and wardens’ quarters at Tukeit.
“These are the kind of interventions that help us enhance visitors’ experience at the Park,” Nokta said.
The visitor arrival center, expected to be completed by the end of May, will feature an information center that will provide the opportunity for visitors to be briefed on what is expected of them in relation to basic measures of safety and security. Additionally, this solar powered facility will also have a craft/souvenir store, waiting areas, restaurant, restrooms and sanitary facilities, and improved communication facilities, such as internet access.
At present, there are three trained wardens at the Park, who are tasked with the management of an existing guest house that was built in 1974 to accommodate then Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
The Commission will be undertaking to recruit more wardens shortly.
The Chairman was accompanied by Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall, who expressed optimism that the collaboration between his Ministry and the wider stakeholdership of the Park, including the indigenous population in that area, would be fostered.

The PS added that the area is significant to the Ministry because of its close proximity to Amerindian villages such as Chenapau and Karisparau. He noted that the Chenapau villagers have had some outstanding concerns regarding their link to the Kaieteur National Park, as it relates to their involvement in the EPA/KFW Project.
“Amerindian Development is not limited to Government alone; it is also extended to the community perspectives as to how they can benefit from what obtains from their environment. This is one of our national and natural assets; and in facilitating the interest of the villagers as provided for under the Amerindian Act, we at the level of the Ministry expect that the village of Chenapau is fully integrated into the operations of the Park,” Dharamlall said.
General Manager of Kaieteur National Parks Commission, Yolanda Vasconcellos, emphasised that tourists visiting the Park should always be under the supervision of one of the wardens regardless of whether or not the tour operators have their own tour guides.
Five times the height of Niagara Falls, the Kaieteur Falls is unquestionably the crown jewel of Guyana’s interior, attracting hundreds of tourists on a monthly basis. It is also home to numerous rare and endangered species that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Most notable are the cock-of-the-rock, and the golden frog.
The inaccessibility of the interior, coupled with its low population density, has allowed for much of the rich tropical rainforest remaining reasonably intact.
According to Amerindian legend, the name Kaieteur was conferred to this majestic wonder after an old Patamona Chief, Kaie, sacrificed himself by paddling his canoe over the Falls to appease Makonaima, the great spirit, in order to save his tribe from the savage Caribisi tribe. The word “teur” translates “ falls”, hence the name Kaieteur. (GINA)