Press Release 5 March 2005

Iwokrama Host WWF Regional Protected Areas Workshop

Iwokrama Forest, Region 8, Guyana – The WWF - Guianas Programme just concluded on Saturday March 5 th, 2005, a four day regional workshop in Management Effectiveness of Protected Areas held at the Iwokrama Conference Centre, Iwokrama Forest. The conference reviewed the rationale for monitoring the management effectiveness of protected areas, and provided training of participants in the origin and use of the Monitoring and Assessment of Relevant Indicators for Protected areas in the Guianas, the MARIPA-G indicator system designed to monitor and assess protected areas in the Guianas. Participants used Iwokrama as a case study and basis for discussion of the application of this system in protected areas management in the Guianas. This is the third workshop in management effectiveness of protected areas, others having been held in French Guiana and Suriname, and Iwokrama has been the first protected area in the region that has been exposed to this method for testing its management effectiveness.

The workshop drew 16 participants from the three Guianas – French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana, comprising representatives from NGOs, Government, Universities and local communities.

The workshop opened with a field visit where participants observed at first hand the work of Iwokrama in establishing sustainable businesses and building meaningful relationships with local communities. Visits were paid to the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway which is managed by a local company – CATS, Surama Village which operates a lodge, and Bina Hill Institute, Annai which is the administrative centre for the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB). In introducing Iwokrama, Dr David Singh explained the central importance of building a protected area around people, and emphasising the importance that Iwokrama has placed on development of sustainable businesses in rainforest conservation and development, and for self-sustainability.

The meeting highlighted the importance for Protected Areas to focus on its administration and operation, maintenance of socially responsible behaviour especially as it relates to local stakeholders, recognition of natural and cultural resources, provision of a sound political and legal framework, and on its economic viability.

The coordinator of the workshop Ms Haidy Malone, WWF Guianas Forest Resource Management Project Assistant, expressed confidence that with the commitment shown by the participants, the Protected Areas Management within the Guianas will have a tool that is adapted to their situation and which will enable the three countries to develop and manage their protected areas to serve as models for the rest of the world.

The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Jose Courrau, member of the IUCN-WCPA (World Commission for Protected Area) who expressed his appreciation to Iwokrama for “opening its house for people to enter, look at and comment on.” Discussions reinforced the strong relationship that Iwokrama enjoys with local communities, and the extensive amount of planning for the administration and operation of the protected area.

This workshop represents the second regional workshop held at the Field Station, Kurupukari. The choice of Iwokrama as a case study for the workshop provided the opportunity for the Centre to review how effective it has been in management of the Programme Site, and to allow representatives from the other two Guianas to critically review its performance and learn from the experiences of the Centre over the period of its existence.

The conference facility provides the unique opportunity for participants to be away from the normal distractions of the city, within comfortable surroundings, and enjoy the hospitality of people from the local communities. Provision of conference facilities and training services is a central part of Iwokrama’s Business Plan, as it provides the opportunity for Iwokrama to demonstrate its model of natural resource management, and extends Iwokrama’s revenue earning capacity.

Iwokrama has embarked on infrastructural improvements to increase accommodation capacity, and to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation. By mid-2005, the Centre plans to construct new visitor cabins to increase its occupancy rate, and provide a range of accommodation to suit the expected clientele. Along with its present conference room and hall, these improvements will allow for the hosting of larger groups of persons for conferences, and other events in a tropical rainforest environment.

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