Children of the local indigenous communities will inherit the hard work of their parents and Iwokrama. They are the most critical element in keeping the circle of life alive in the Iwokrama Forest / North Rupununi Region.
Two students from Wowetta Primary School bird watching at the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway |
During the last year, visits to Iwokrama Forest by the children of the local communities have been made possible by the National Audubon Society, and were facilitated by Iwokrama staff and the CATS staff of the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. In total, over 190 visitors from 12 schools and 13 communities visited the Iwokrama Forest from May 2004 to January 2005.
In a previous newsletter, we wrote about the youth from Apoteri and Rewa who traveled from their communities down the Essequibo River and visited the Field Station and Turtle Mountain at the height of rainy season. Beginning in September, the remainder of the school visits was conducted at Corkwood Ranger Station and the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway.
The goal of the visits was to foster a better understanding of Iwokrama International Centre, forest ecosystems, and the importance of sustainable resource use and management.
“Iwokrama Canopy Walkway”, by a 10 year old girl from Toka |
Over the course of two or three days, the groups of children participated in interactive environmental education programmes entitled “Rain Forest Ecology and Iwokrama”, “Web of Life”, and “Chain of Life”. Other activities included bird watching, story telling, making cultural presentations, and nature walks.
The children also participated in “Citizen Science” monitoring activities. Citizen Science is using eyes, ears, nose, touch and one’s brain (curiosity), and demonstrates that anyone can take part in scientific study. Using the tools we all have, Citizen Science proves that you don’t have to be formally schooled in science to do science.
A letter of thanks from Aranaputa Primary School
(Click to enlarge.) |
The reaction of the schoolchildren to their visit was overwhelmingly positive. Iwokrama received letters, drawings, and many other expressions that showed how effective and rewarding it was for the students to have had the opportunity to learn about the forest from inside the forest.
Learn more about the school visits and what a great success the visits were by reading the Report (.pdf).
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