Press Release 04 January 2005

Iwokrama International Centre Makes Major Strides in 2004; Announces Key Initiatives for 2005

Georgetown , Guyana -- Iwokrama International Centre released today a summary of its accomplishments in 2004 and priority activities for 2005. The organisation particularly notes significant past progress and future plans for timber harvesting and tourism - two key enterprises to help position the non-profit for financial sustainability by 2007.

In 2004 the Iwokrama International Board of Trustees made a policy decision to undertake the business of low volume sustainable harvesting of high value timber products. Before March 2005, Iwokrama will initiate reduced impact timber harvesting in the Iwokrama Forest; the planned enterprise will involve local communities and private sector and in the first year will harvest less than 10,000 cubic metres. The timber enterprise will be in accordance with the Iwokrama Act, and be implemented under a sustainable management regime that will also comply with national and international policies, guidelines and best practice.

Major steps toward harvesting achieved in 2004 include: completion of a management level timber inventory and timber harvest inventory for the first harvesting area; the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment to the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency; and the preparation of a draft forest management plan.

In tourism, the number of Iwokrama Forest visitors more than doubled from 347 in 2003 to over 900 in 2004. Another key accomplishment was the signing of the joint venture agreement for management of the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway which was concluded with Community and Tourism Services ( CATS ). "CATS" is a new company formed by Rock View Lodge, Surama Village, and Wilderness Explorers. Several new Iwokrama Forest tourism products were also developed in 2004: the Prince of Wales Trail; the Iwokrama Mountain Trail; and a Turtle Mountain Camp Site with hammock accommodations for up to 30 guests, a kitchen facility, and modern latrines and wash basins.

In 2005, Iwokrama will create an operating agreement for the new Turtle Mountain facility similar to that for the Canopy Walkway and will also renovate and open five new guest cabins at the Iwokrama Field Station. Continued improvements will also be made to enhance the hiking trails, such as more handrails and tree identification markers. Resources to aid bird watchers are also being developed. Bird watching is one of the world's most popular activities for tourists to wilderness areas.

In order to promote itself to both potential tourists and donors in 2004, Iwokrama launched a new web site, www.iwokrama.org, published several new leaflets and a summary report, and also collaborated on an interpretive Neotropical rain forest exhibit at Florida's Jacksonville Zoo. Iwokrama will also continue to hold regular press briefings, and distribute regular news releases and an updated electronic newsletter to a growing list of national and international media outlets and constituents.

Perhaps Iwokrama's most innovative accomplishment for 2004 was the establishment of a US-based non-profit corporation called Iwokrama Friends - USA, Inc. The organisation will exclusively raise funds for Iwokrama from private sector donors in the US such as individuals, family foundations and corporations. In addition to the support from its Board, the non-profit will benefit from donor research and the development of fundraising planning documents produced by an American fundraising professional.

Although early fundraising efforts will be made understandably difficult by the recent natural disasters in the Caribbean and South Asia, the development of a fundraising infrastructure will position Iwokrama to compete more effectively for funds in the US.

Other notable accomplishments for Iwokrama in 2004 include: hosting Guyana's first major international course in collaborative management for Caribbean Regional Environment Programme managers; regular patrolling and monitoring systems implemented for the Iwokrama Forest and the Rupununi Wetlands; new road management mechanisms including gated checkpoints and regular patrols. In addition, the Iwokrama Board of Trustees has been strengthened with two new members: Mr. David Cassells of the World Bank and the WWF Alliance Chair, and Mr. Alex Armstrong the former Chief Operating Officer of the Countryside Alliance, UK.

Iwokrama's additional plans for a similar level of progress to be achieved in 2005 include: agreements with civil society and Government agencies to enhance human resource capacities for protected area management in Guyana; negotiation of a merchandising agreement with Jacksonville Zoo; and the implementation of a social and cultural impact monitoring tool in collaboration with the North Rupununi communities. Another objective that will help raise Iwokrama's position within the global conservation movement will be to secure Iwokrama Forest's inclusion on the "List of Wetlands of International Importance" of The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.