Georgetown, Guyana – (May 8, 2017) The Iwokrama Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development today marked the 21st anniversary of the passing of the Iwokrama Act of 1996 with an interactive sensitisation session with the children, who reside at Joshua House. The event, which was held at the Centre’s High Street, Kingston head office, was attended by President David Granger and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, who both had an opportunity to engage with the children as they were taught about the importance of issues such as forest conservation and proper solid waste disposal.
President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger with the children of Joshua House, who were part of the sensitisation session at Iwokrama’s head office today.
Iwokrama’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Dane Gobin explained that it is easier to influence a change in culture with regard to the way environmental issues are perceived by educating and sensitising children. “If you talk about climate change to children at a young age you influence their behaviour and make them more responsible,” he said. The CEO also urged the children to stay focused on their studies so that they will be able to make meaningful contributions to the ‘green’ development agenda and the preservation of the national patrimony.
The children engaged in poetry recitation, games, visual art and discussions on rare flora and fauna that can be found in Guyana and the work of the Centre with regard to conservation and the protection of the forests. The session was facilitated by the staff stationed at the head office.
Last month the organisation held similar sessions with differently-abled groups and two more such sessions are planned targeting children on the East and West Coasts of Demerara. Mr. Gobin also lauded President Granger for his unequivocal support for Iwokrama, noting that he is the first Head of State in the country’s history to overnight at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development in Region Eight.
Last year, the First Couple spent two days at Iwokrama when the President became the First Head of State to cross the famous canopy walkway, which is suspended at some 33 metres (100 feet) from the forest floor.
The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation was established in 1996 through an agreement by the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat with the aim of managing and preserving 371,000 hectares of pristine rainforest. Former President Desmond Hoyte Committed to the Iwokrama Rainforest Project in 1989.
President David Granger, First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger and Iwokrama’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Dane Gobin looking at some of the artwork created by the childrenThe children were told of the various wildlife species that can be found in the forests at Iwokrama
President David Granger, First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger and Iwokrama’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Dane Gobin looking at some of the artwork created by the childrenFirst Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger was presented with a book, which features some of the wildlife that can be found at Iwokrama
Guyana’s Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo and wife Sita Nagamootoo tour the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and the Canopy Walkway as part of his visit to Region Nine. The Prime Minister is strongly advocating for funds to support Iwokrama’s sustainability.
(Office of the Prime Minister, July 25, 2016) – Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo today made a special plea on behalf of the people of the North Rupununi to local airline operators to explore the possibility of regularly scheduled flights to Annai, Region Nine.
An aircraft arriving at the Annai airstrip.
On a two-day visit to villages in Regions 8 and 9 on Friday and Saturday, residents raised the issue with the Prime Minister and sought his assistance. Previously there were daily flights to Annai, but this ceased and persons travelling to and from the North Rupununi have to journey several hours by trail to Lethem to depart via daily flights from the Lethem airstrip. Alternatively, they can travel to Georgetown by trail which takes between 10 to 12 hours by bus and includes crossing the Essequibo River by ferry at the privately operated Kurupukari Crossing.
A teacher of the Annai Secondary School receives the OPM Certificate of Recognition from Mrs Sita Nagamootoo while Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and VP Sydney Allicock look on.
Residents recommended either two or three regularly scheduled flights per week, depending on demand. This was one of several issues raised by residents at meetings at Annai, Surama and Fairview with the Prime Minister and his delegation which included Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, Director of Public Information, Imran Khan and Chief Executive Officer of Iwokrama, Dane Gobin.
NRDDB Vice Chair Michael Williams receives the OPM Certificate of Recognition from Mrs Sita Nagamootoo while Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo looks on.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who was also accompanied by his wife Mrs Sita Nagamootoo, also visited the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre, the Iwokrama Saw Mill where responsibly harvested logs are processed and also trekked to the Canopy Walkway at the Atta Rainforest Lodge before departing for Georgetown from the newly resurfaced and extended Surama airstrip.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway.
During the meetings residents raised issues relating to the provision of better health services, better dorms, staff room and classroom facilities at the Annai Secondary School, the provision of electricity via solar panels and access to government services.
The Prime Minister made donations of solar LED lights to assist children, at night, with reading and preparing for classes and examinations.
Executives of the NRDDB listening to points being made during the meeting with the Prime Minister and his delegation.
Georgetown, Guyana – (June 18, 2016) President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, are currently on a two-day visit to the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development to get a first-hand look at the operations of the facility, which is located in Potaro-Siparuni Region (Region Eight), some 300 kilometres South of Georgetown.
The President and First Lady arrived this morning at the Surama Airstrip where they were warmly greeted by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and residents of Surama Village before embarking on their journey by road to the Iwokrama Centre.
President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger being given a guided tour of the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre by Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dane Gobin
Sustainable development
Speaking to the gathering at the Surama Village Office, the President reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to sustaining Iwokrama and ensuring that it becomes a workable model for development and environmental protection.
“We cannot develop this country unless we learn the lesson of Iwokrama; the lesson of biodiversity, sustainable development, renewable energy, climate change and living together, not in conflict, but in concert with nature… Unless we solves these problems, Guyana will continue to be poor,” President Granger said.
Surama Village has set the bar for community-based tourism and environmental protection and the President expressed his Government’s appreciation to the residents for being in the forefront in this regard and urged them to continue working together to preserve the country’s natural patrimony for generations to come.
President David Granger receiving a status update on works that are currently on-going on the Fairview Airstrip
Infrastructure
President Granger also spoke of the importance of proper infrastructure in the hinterland, the lack of which is a major impediment to development. He said that this is major priority for his Government and assured that these outlying areas will no longer be cut off from the coast. Work in this regard is on-going through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. In fact, the residents of Surama will be commissioning their rehabilitated airstrip.
Additionally, works are in progress at the Fairview Airstrip. The President made an on-site spot check on his way to the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre. This airstrip, which be become a hub for flights to and from Iwokrama, is likely to be extended to about 4200 feet to facilitate larger aircrafts and cater for increased air traffic. This improved infrastructure will also allow for faster and easier access to the Centre, particularly to Guyanese and Caribbean students, as well as tourists and researchers from around the world.
President David Granger became the first sitting Head of State to cross the Canopy Walkway at Iwokrama
First President to cross the Canopy Walkway
No trip to Iwokrama will be complete without having a glimpse of the birds-eye view of the forest from Canopy Walkway. The President and First Lady did not shy away from the steep trail to the walkway, which is suspended at some 33 metres (100 feet) from the forest floor, secured by steel cables. This was the first time in Guyana’s history that a sitting Head of State has crossed the canopy walkway.
Standing on one of the platforms along the walkway, the President said, “I would like to see more Guyanese children get an opportunity to walk almost at tree-top level and to look out and see what a beautiful country we have. It fills me with a great sense of national pride and deepens my commitment to the environment and to this green agenda that we have adopted.”
The Head of State explained that his vision for Iwokrama is for it to become, largely, a centre for education in biodiversity and conservation for Guyanese and the Caribbean Region.
“It is a huge area of 371 square kilometres and there is room for a variety of activities and my emphasis will be on biodiversity, botany, zoology and focusing on protecting our flora and fauna and preserving our wildlife… We want to see this as part of the education system,” the President said.
President David Granger receiving an arrow and bow, which he called a “silent missile” from Daniel Allicock of Surama Village
For many years, the Iwokrama Centre has been depending on donor funding. However, the President said that it is time for Guyanese to become more involved in the protection of the nation’s patrimony He explained that while the Government have a significant role to play, corporate Guyana and civil society, too, must recognise the importance of Iwokrama not only to the green agenda but to livelihood in Guyana as a whole.
“It is not going to be a Government project. It is going to be a national project and I expect that in the fullness of time, not only the Commonwealth would adopt it more fully, but the Caribbean Community will understand its importance to their future as well,” the President said.
First Lady Mrs. Granger, who is happy to spend a few days away from the hustle and bustle of the City, said that Iwokrama will be a good laboratory for testing the country’s transition to clean energy and biodiversity and can play a major role for creating a new database of different species of flora and fauna.
New financial model
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Iwokrama Centre, Dr. Dane Gobin said that Iwokrama is working to change its financial model as it cannot rely solely on donors anymore. In this regard, the Centre is embarking on a sustainable forestry project, which will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
“This started last year, we have a joint venture with Farfan and Mendez and we continuing to build capacity… We are actually looking for high value niche markets and ultimately what we would like to do is to have an Iwokrama brand on this wood, which would stand for best practice, community integration and best environmental practice,” Dr. Gobin said.
President David Granger and First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger with the children of Surama Village who came out to greet them
The Centre is also actively marketing itself through tourism. The CEO disclosed that Iwokrama gets an average of 1100-1300 tourists annually. He said that while this is not a large amount, it is consistent figure. He said that with the advent of the rehabilitated Fairview Airstrip, the Centre will be looking to attract more visitors and thereby increasing its earnings.
Additionally, the Centre is offering training services. Every year, it hosts Operation Wallacea, where a network of academics from European and North American universities conduct biodiversity and conservation expeditions. Dr. Gobin said that while the Centre does not make a lot of money from this venture, the research value is immense.
The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation was established in 1996 through an agreement by the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat with the aim of managing and preserving 371,000 hectares of pristine rainforest. Former President Desmond Hoyte Committed to the Iwokrama Rainforest Project in 1989.
