Press Release 03 February 2005

Iwokrama Currently Conducting Course for Community Rangers from Regions 1, 8 & 9

Iwokrama Forest, Region 8, Guyana -- On Tuesday, 1st February, Iwokrama International Centre began conducting a one-month training course for community rangers from Regions 1, 8, and 9. Most of the rangers are associated with Kaieteur National Park, the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society, or the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB). Flora and Fauna International (FFI) contracted Iwokrama to conduct this course as part of FFI's programme to support capacity development for protected areas management in Guyana.

Course participants will learn various aspects of rangering, including: understanding the links between local, national, and global environmental issues; the importance of co-management of protected and sustainable utilisation areas; environmental education and interpretation; presentation and report writing; and representing an organisation. The course will also expose participants to natural resource management laws in Guyana, Guyana 's history and political organisation, and participatory approaches to resource management including community project planning and implementation, sanitation, and hygiene.

The rangers will then be prepared to return to their respective organisations and communities equipped with a skill set with which they can carry out their responsibilities as field-based natural resource managers.

Instructors for the course include experts from the University of Guyana, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Court of Appeal, Conservation International - Guyana, Youth Challenge - Guyana, and Bina Hill Institute, an NRDDB-led training organisation based in Annai. Course participants will also benefit from the instruction of several Iwokrama Forest Rangers who were trained during previous Iwokrama programmes.

Training is a central part of Iwokrama's Strategic Plan to assist in further development of the Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS). It provides the opportunity for Iwokrama to demonstrate its model of natural resource management, and extends Iwokrama's revenue earning capacity by the provision of training services.

According to Iwokrama's Director General (Ag), David Singh, Ph.D., " Rangers provide the most effective mechanism for feedback on how a protected area is functioning, as they are the eyes and ears of a protected or managed area. They have a strong interface between people and parks, and they are a highly valued resource in management of a protected area. Iwokrama has gained much experience over the years in its ranger training programme, and we are happy for this chance to share our knowledge and experience in Guyana."

This particular course provides a core set of rangering skills and is one component of the Iwokrama Ranger Training Programme. Other course subjects in Iwokrama's training portfolio include tour guiding, participatory approaches in community-based resource management, and protected areas management.

The Iwokrama Forest is the only fully functioning protected area in Guyana and Iwokrama has been identified as a critical training institution for the GPAS. Iwokrama enjoys an excellent relationship with local communities and is internationally recognised for the involvement of local communities in its management and decision making. It uses the principle of collaborative management, which recognises the shared responsibilities, rights and rewards related to the management and sustainable use of the rainforest. Iwokrama presently employs twelve rangers drawn mostly from local communities.

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