THE European Union and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation & Development are currently partnering in a sustainable tourism development and fisheries management project in the North Rupununi area. The EU is providing 90% of this 300,000 Euro project, which began in December 2009 and will end in June 2012. The remaining funds have been contributed by Iwokrama.
The Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký, was accompanied by officials from Iwokrama on a working visit during April 12-14, 2012 to appreciate the impact of the project, as it comes to an end.
Ambassador Kopecký, in remarks during the visit, stated that such a form of Guyanese – European cooperation is in line with EU global priorities in the area of sustainable development and the environment.
“I was heartened to see tangible results of all the different programmes, which are the product of a lot of effort and devotion of real people, all this on the eve of the upcoming Rio+20 Conference due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, which means literally next door, in June this year,” he said.
A statement from the local EU office noted that the project is implemented primarily in six communities: Annai, Wowetta, Surama, Fairview, Rewa and Yupukari and focuses on strengthening the organisational capacity of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), which is the umbrella body for the 18 communities of the North Rupununi.

The key areas of activity are:

– Enhancement of fisheries management by extending the North Rupununi Arapaima Management Plan to cover all fish species;
– Enhancement of awareness and development strategies to manage three key areas in the North Rupununi – Upper Rewa, Pirara-Karanambu-Simuni and the Surama Conservation areas;
– Enhancement of existing tourism products in Annai, Wowetta, Surama, Fairview, Rewa and Yupukari;
– Enhancement of the international marketing of the Rupununi community tourism products; and
– Building and establishment of research and tourism networks especially linkages to outside entities.

To improve the fisheries sector in the six communities, a manual was developed and management plans were drafted in consultation with each community. The objective is to establish sustainable fishing in the wetlands (rivers and lakes). Fisheries in the community can be described in three categories: on the community level, small scale fishing and commercial fishing.
According to the EU office, permits are necessary for the latter. Workshops were held in the communities to create a better framework for fisheries, which defines fishing periods for certain species and explains new fishing techniques and methods. Three of the communities are involved in developing aquaculture in their villages.
In the area of tourism, the major activity is capacity building and manuals in the area of financial record keeping, product development, services delivery, ethics and standards have been developed during the course of the project. Workshops were conducted in the villages and tourism business plans are being finalised.
Iwokrama will continue to work with the communities beyond the close of the project to further build on capacity.