– Budding environmentalist, Marine Biologist excited to be back home

GUYANA is a country of vast wonders, from the coastland to the hinterland regions our lands are covered in vibrant forestry, mighty rivers and soaring mountains. However, we the people are not the only inhabitants of this beautiful land. Guyana is home to many animals and even some endangered species and we the people have to do our part in preserving and making this land safe for our wildlife.

With a love for the environment and its inhabitants, 23-year-old Felicia Collins has dedicated her time and energy to preserving the environment and teaching others how they can protect their surroundings and the animals that live in them.

Having grown up in Port Kaituma, Region One, Collins spent most of her childhood surrounded by the forest and its beauty and wanting to learn more of the wonders, after completing her secondary education at the North Georgetown Secondary School and Queens’ College, she pursued Marine Biology and Ecology & Environmental Biology studies at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad.
Collins disclosed that her career path had already been set, as she was to have become a doctor; however, she was very much intrigued with the phenomena of nature and all that depended on it.

“My interest lies more in conservation and indigenous development or community development. Even though I like conservation work and environmental protection, I also see the importance of working in the communities and working in minor groups just to empower more people on the ground to know more about the environment,” Collins told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Collins, who recently graduated last year is now back home in her hometown working closely with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) on a project to monitor the wildlife in the Barima Mora Passage.

“Since coming back home I started volunteering with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society and a research project came up in Region One and they saw it fit for me to be the project coordinator as it was in my field and I’m from Region One,” she said adding:

“We went to Region One to set up some camera traps; the purpose of setting up the camera traps in the mangrove forest is to see what kind of animals are the biodiversity there,” she said.
The traps, she explained, will be able to capture photos of some of the small and large-bodied animals in the area, thereby helping herself and team collect data for their research.
“We can hopefully use that data to get abundance and the distribution of that data and the activity patterns of these mammals, just their mindset, how they behave, how they live and that kind of thing,” she said.

In simpler terms, she explained that the research is to determine how many animals call the mangrove area in the region their home.
The young woman disclosed that she is particularly excited about being back home and having the means and resources to do what she loves.
Her biggest achievement thus far is just being an inspiration to other children from the hinterland region.

Collins stated that in her line of work, she is able to travel and explore the different layers of Guyana, all while meeting new people which for her is very much rewarding.
She noted that the best part of her job is working with people from the hinterland region to ensure community development and teaching them how to care for and protect the environment, to preserve the lives of the many wildlife and exotic creatures that share the land of Guyana.

“At one point I was overwhelmed with emotions, but mostly positive emotions because in so many ways I am to give back to my community, my region and to me that is something that I really like to do,” she said, adding: “The fact that I came from here and I can come back and I can be an inspiration to others from the region. Being a part of this research project here and being in the field and interacting with the people on the ground.”

On the days when she is not working, Collins spends her free time reading and travelling through to various parts of the country.
Additionally, she also does some light photography, taking pictures of the various places that she visits on her own free time and when she is working in the fields.