The Numbers – What’s Iwokrama Been Doing?

(Unless noted otherwise, all information is for April 1st – June 30th 2004.)

Ecotourism                                                                      >Visit Iwokrama

National and international visitors and researchers, April through :
National: 139 Days spent: 34
International: 110 Days spent: 80
Researcher: 01 Days spent: 07

Training and Development
• Culinary Training Programme
• Hotel Plant Maintenance
• Orientation Session for Microsoft Outlook
• Personal Development Program “Turing difficult situations into winning opportunities’ dealing with difficult people”

Merchandise Sales (GY$)                                >See what we have to offer!
Books, posters, cards: $62,084
Clothing and tote bags: $121,650
Crafts & community products: $26,600
Total: $210,334 (US$1,073)

Information and Communication

Presentations
• “Iwokrama”, A Place of Refuge”; Guyana Zoological Park
• Case Study of Iwokrama at the United Nations Forum on Forests; Geneva Switzerland

Exhibitions and Outreach Activities
• Judged national essay competition for World Environment Week activities. Essay competition was sponsored by the US Embassy. Awards Ceremony was held May 28th at the National Library Auditorium.
• Participated in the “Green Walk” on Sunday May 30th that was sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Participated in an Environmental exhibition at the Umana Yana on Wednesday June 2nd. Exhibition was sponsored by the EPA for World Environment Week.
• Created an exhibit for the new Jenman Education Centre House at the Botanical Gardens. The opening ceremony for of the Centre took place on Saturday June 5th 2004.
• Completed “Rainforest Layers” teaching aid for use in Georgetown and at the Field Station.

Library
A total of 126 new reports and articles have been electronically catalogued and added to local area network (available to staff as well as the public).

Public Relations

Press Releases                                                              >Read the Releases
• 14 April: “Iwokrama Opens New Ecotourist Facility at Turtle Mountain”
• 14 April: “Iwokrama Moves Forward with Collaborative Management of the Iwokrama Portion of the Georgetown-Lethem Road”
• 18 May: “President Jagdeo Visits Iwokrama Forest; Voices Support and Compliments”
• 25 May: “Iwokrama Presented as Case Study to United Nations Forum on Forests”
• 27 May: “Successful Aquarium Fish Business Developed in the North Rupununi”
• 4 June: “Iwokrama Reaches Another Milestone in its Plan for Sustainable Timber Production”
• 14 June: “North Rupununi Wildlife Clubs Continue to be Important Activity for Youth and a Resource for Regional Conservation Efforts”
• 21 June: “Iwokrama Helps New York Students with Award-winning Giant Otter Conservation Web Site”

Web Site
• Approx. 23,610 visitors
(May & June only; statistics for April unavailable due to a change in the ISP)
• two major uploads of new pages/content
• continuous editing and minor uploads

Print Materials
“Iwokrama” – general brochure about Iwokrama
“Visitor Activity Guide” – card with list of options for ecotourist visitors
“Guidelines for Visitors” (English & Portuguese versions)
“Guidelines for Road Users” (English & Portuguese versions)
“Iwokrama International Centre Report 2002-2003” (actually released for distribution at the Board meeting in mid-July)

Interns and Volunteers                     

• Alex Armstrong (volunteer; UK) – Strategic Planning and Administration Development
• Jake Bicknell (volunteer; UK) – Project Leader (Ag) for Aquarium Fish Project
• Malte Puck (volunteer; Germany) – Assistant, Jaguar Camera Trapping Project
• Fiona Rutherford (intern; Guyana) – Administrative Support for Information and Communications and Personal Assistant to Director General (Ag.)
• Timothy Silcott (volunteer; USA) - Marketing & Public Relations
• Monique Yaw (intern; Guyana) – Administrative Support for Ecotourism

Researchers                                                           >Research at Iwokrama

• Sheliza Bostwick (Guyana) – University of Guyana; “Analysis and Evaluation of Visitor Questionnaire
• Sian Morse-Jones (UK) – Imperial College, University of London; “Valuing the conservation and sustainable use of Tropical Rainforests using multiple methodologies and from multiple viewpoints: A case study of Iwokrama Forest, Guyana”
• Jake Bicknell (UK) – Liverpool John Moores University, UK; “Bio-geographic linkages between fishes of Amazonia and the Guiana Shield”
• Damian Fernandes (Guyana) – University of Manitoba; “Lessons in conservation and development: A case study of community-based initiatives in Guyana and Belize”