– Seven plant and animal species discovered in Iwokrama forest

OVER the past decade or so, research has established that seven plant and animal species that are new to science have been discovered in the Iwokrama forest. It is believed that more will be forthcoming in the not- too-distant future.

The Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development shared the research that was done that led to the discovery of the new species on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day, which was celebrated last May 22 under the theme, “Building a shared future for all life.”

In a subsequent interview with Pepperpot Magazine, Director of Resource Management and Training, Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar, called attention to the research work that has been ongoing by the agency over the past two decades.

Researchers come in from different parts of the world to work along with local rangers and staff, and together, they’d go out into the fields and search for new species of plants and animals.
The researchers from various international universities who are taking the lead would undoubtedly have to be experts in the field. In the case of plants, samples would usually have to be taken, while there are other specific methods related to animals, such as camera traps and other visual means.

The team cannot simply decide that they’ve found new species based on features they observe or other details, but as Thomas-Caesar pointed out, there are very strict procedures regarding this. “In most cases, they would have to take it further[sic] afield and consult other experts in the scientific community to determine if it’s a new specie.”

For this kind of work, local researchers and rangers play a pivotal role while working along with international researchers. In many cases, the locals would possess great knowledge of the specie even though they may not have scientific information.

The seven new species discovered, according to the Iwokrama Centre are 1. Stilbella Iwokramensis (Ascomycotina, Hypocreales) – a new entomopathogenic species (new beetle pathogen species distinguished from other fungi of the genus Stilbella; 2. Carapa Akuri – a new tree species belonging to the family Meliaceae considered endemic to Central Guyana; 3. Gonatodes Timidus – a new species of lizard; 4. Microcaecilia Iwokramae – a new type and species of Lungless Caecilian; 5. Allobates Amissibilis – a new species of frog; 6. a new species of broad-nosed bat – Platyrrhinus guianensis Saussure; and 7. a new species of beetle Lycomorphon Iwokrama.

These discoveries, according to Thomas-Caesar, cement the importance of the Iwokrama ‘protected area’ as a valuable biological ‘laboratory’ as envisaged over two decades ago when a collaboration between the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth was sealed to set aside the 371,000 hectares of intact tropical rain forest for research and development, inclusive of sustainable use models.

“The Iwokrama International Centre was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest, in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general,” Thomas-Caesar noted.

The forest is zoned into a Sustainable Utilization Area (SUA) and a Wilderness Preserve (WP) in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing.

The centre collaborates with the Government of Guyana, the Commonwealth and other international partners and donors to develop new approaches and forest-management models to enable countries with rainforests to market their ecosystem services, whilst carefully managing their resources through innovative and creative conservation practices.

In more recent years, it has received support from corporate partners such as Exxon Mobil (Guyana) Limited, who has funded the development of its Science Programme and continues to provide an annual contribution to the implementation of this Programme.

Iwokrama brings together 20 local communities (approximately 7,000 people) who are shareholders and participants in the centre’s sustainable timber, tourism, research operations and forest-management activities through complex co-management and benefit-sharing arrangements.