Greetings from Guyana and welcome to Iwokrama's first newsletter of 2005! 

We hope that 2005 has thus far been happy and healthy for you and your loved ones!

The first couple months of the year have been quite positive for Iwokrama. With even stronger support from the Government of Guyana, the United Kingdom, and UNDP, as well as excellent leadership from our newly appointed Acting Director General, Dr. David Singh, we expect this to be the best year yet for Iwokrama. Please read on!

A Letter from Dr. David Singh, Iwokrama’s New Acting Director General:

"Dear Friends, I wish to take this opportunity to thank our worldwide community of supporters for their commitment and enthusiasm over this past year. It is a direct result of your strength of commitment that the Iwokrama concept continues to stand as a beacon for sustainable development in Guyana and the world...."
[FULL LETTER]

• The Government of Guyana reiterates its commitment by facilitating support for Iwokrama.
• US$300,000 loan from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Grant of £112,000 from the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
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• Iwokrama is extremely pleased and proud to share its accomplishments in 2004 and priority activities for 2005.
• Of particular note is significant past progress and future plans for timber harvesting and ecotourism – two key enterprises to help position Iwokrama for financial sustainability by 2007.
  [FULL STORY]
  

• Iwokrama contracted by Flora and Fauna International to provide a one-month course in February.
• Rangers to return to their respective organisations and communities with more skills for natural resource management.
• Course supports capacity development for protected areas management in Guyana.
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• Over 190 visitors from 12 schools and 13 communities visited the Iwokrama Forest from May 2004 to January 2005.
• Goal was to foster better understanding of Iwokrama, forest ecosystems, and importance of sustainable resource use and management.
• Iwokrama received letters, drawings, and other expressions that showed how rewarding it was for the students to have had the opportunity to learn about the forest from inside the forest.
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• The Darwin Initiative funded project, “Sustainable Management of the Rupununi – Linking Biodiversity, Environment and People”, has now completed one year of activity in Guyana.
• In January 2005 a second round of training and planning was accomplished.
• Focus was on use of techniques for Collaborative Natural Resources Management, GIS and Participatory 3-Dimensional Modelling (P3DM), Data Analysis, and evaluation of year one.
  [FULL STORY]
  

• After 20 months operating under the auspices of Iwokrama and its project partners, El Dorado Aquarium Traders is shifting from a donor-funded initiative to a self-sustaining community-based business.
• Marketing studies currently being finalised and a three-year business plan is being prepared.
• At the end of April 2005 donor funding will expire and three-year business plan will become active.
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• Leaders of all 14 North Rupununi youth wildlife clubs met in December.
• New executive committee for the North Rupununi Junior Wildlife & Development Council elected.
• Participants also collected bird data for the wetlands monitoring project.
  [FULL STORY]
  

• Iwokrama scanned the internet for timely articles on birds and their role in the environment.
• Birds are a highly effective - and ecologically sound - form of pest insect control.
• Asian Tsunami likely to have major, long-term negative impact on birds and biodiversity.
• New report states that 10% of bird species may disappear by 2100, causing major negative impacts on forest ecosystems and agriculture, and may encourage spread of human diseases.
  [FULL STORY]
  

• The web site is Iwokrama's most effective tool to communicate our work to the world - a key aspect of our mission. See what's been added to the web site over the last few months...
• Tell us what you think and you could win a free Iwokrama shirt.
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• A valuable member of the Iwokrama team since 1999, Roxroy has been involved in many areas of Iwokrama, and now is helping launch the timber harvesting business.
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