By Wendella Davidson

CONSERVATION without money is just a conversation, says Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development Director of Resource Management and Training, Dr Raquel Thomas.

The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development is an autonomous body which is required to generate funds for sustainability.
According to Dr Thomas, Iwokrama’s financial situation “is always a challenge,” and the Centre always looks at ways to raise money.

Over the past five to six years, the Centre has been receiving financial help from the government, but according to Dr Thomas, a lot of work is done through special projects, since the Centre explores new avenues to generate money.

She said focus is placed on tourism development as well as forestry, in keeping with guidelines of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).

Recognising also the vision to share lessons learnt and its role in education, other projects through which funds are generated are the holding of training programmes; the hosting of researchers, groups, schools and universities and the promotion of tours which are sold at a discounted rate during the low season.

However, the condition of the roadway, which is an economical way by which to reach the Centre, poses a great challenge during the rainy season, Thomas pointed out.

She related that the Centre has a strategic partnership with the Commonwealth, as the offer of the Iwokrama Forest was made in 1989 by then President Desmond Hoyte as a place to develop research models in sustainable use of forests, where the concept of conservation is linked to managing the resources through wise use.

Along with many other partnerships, there is also an important one in relation to the 20 Amerindian communities that are linked to the Iwokrama forest, one of which (Fairview) is located within the protected area.

In addition to concretising relations with these communities through the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), Iwokrama has a collaborative management agreement and a MoU which give the respective villages responsibility and a say on how the Centre manages its one million-acre of forest.

Dr Thomas also pointed out that before 2002, the village of Fairview did not have legal land ownership. However, Fairview, since 2006, was granted legal title to 22,000 hectares within the Iwokrama rainforest area, and the village opted to remain and be recognised as a part of the protected area.

RESEARCH
Since 2017, Iwokrama has partnered with ExxonMobil to execute several projects, and this year, the company will be aiding the Centre in fresh areas of research.

The Centre has also linked with Repsol, an energy company with headquarters in Madrid, Spain, that conducts upstream and downstream activities worldwide, to compile biodiversity booklets and other activities.

It has completed mammal and bird guides, and is currently in the process of completing one on flora. Dr Thomas said the idea is to compile a series of other booklets with information on other fauna, for example fishes and reptiles.

In the area of science, two very important projects are due to come onstream shortly, one with the theme encompassing biodiversity conservation and the other dealing with hydrology and climate. The Centre will also be collaborating with the University of Guyana to have some of its PhD students on board.

Meanwhile, it will continue to host schools, universities and other outreaches, both local and international, and seek to obtain international certification for its tourism business.

With the management of two of the most sought-after tourism lodges in the country: The Iwokrama River Lodge and the Atta Lodge, Iwokrama continues to test models of business with the intention of sharing this knowledge through lessons learnt. The Atta Lodge, which is at the site of the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, is managed by a business consortium which includes the Iwokrama International Centre and other private sector operators, including Surama Ecolodge, Wilderness Explorers and Rock View Lodge.

ADHERING TO GUIDELINES

Regarding the forestry operation, Dr Thomas noted that Iwokrama continues to adhere to all guidelines of the Guyana Forestry Commission, as well as the international forestry guidelines, as it relates to the forest allocated for forestry business. Utilising harvesting practices that follow low-impact logging, considered low- volume impact, some 16 species were harvested as at the end of 2018. The products are exported to the UK, the Netherlands and the Caribbean.

The Centre has entered into a partnership with local private sector company, Farfan & Mendes and its partner McVantage Guyana, to undertake its timber business.

Iwokrama’s work is being undertaken by a significant number of employees that are from the region, under a commitment which Iwokrama has with the NRDDB, to give the first priority for jobs to residents from the region, once they have the requisite qualifications.

Additionally, key to Iwokrama’s successful management of the programme site is the recognition that traditional knowledge must be respected and twinned with science for best results.

As Iwokrama celebrates 30 years since the offer of the Iwokrama Forest to the international community for research and development, the commitment of this novel programme to showcasing how forests can be wisely used and yet left in an intact state for generations to come, is really a gift from Guyana to the world.