Welcome to Iwokrama's 3rd Newsletter for 2005!

Edward Glover Appointed Chair of Iwokrama International Board of Trustees

• Commonwealth Secretary General, confirmed Mr. Glover’s appointment effective 1 August 2005.

• Mr. Glover served previously as the British High Commissioner to Guyana and is a former senior career diplomat.

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Iwokrama Commences Certification of Forest

• Forest Certification is vital to practice sustainable timber harvesting in the Sustainable Utilisation Areas with strong recognition of its environmental, social and economic responsibilities.

• This is a voluntary process which on request by a company allows forest management audits by independent parties.

• The certification process follows completion of all the stages of preparation, including the successful completion of the environmental impact assessment, undertaking of a 100% inventory for the first year of operation, and preparation of the annual harvesting plan.

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Iwokrama and North Rupununi District Development Board Sign Collaborative Management Agreement

• Another groundbreaking step in the model partnership between Iwokrama and the communities of the North Rupununi.

• Agreement on how the Iwokrama Forest can be conserved and developed.

• In attendance were community toshaos, councillors, women, and youth representatives of the North Rupununi who have the historic rights and privileges to the Iwokrama Forest.

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UK Parliamentarians Visit Iwokrama

• In August Iwokrama welcomed a group of five UK Parliamentarians and their Guyanese counterparts at the Field Station and the Canopy Walkway.
• Visitors were on a study tour to understand more about Guyana, its politics, and culture.
• One parliamentarian noted, "We greatly appreciate the wonderful work IWOKRAMA is doing...”.

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Amerindian Heritage Day, 10 September 2005 Comments from the Hon. Carolyn Rodrigues, Minister of Amerindian Affairs and Iwokrama Trustee

• The Minister kindly permitted Iwokrama to publish excerpts from her “View Point” on the 10th Guyana Amerindian Heritage Day.
• “Amerindian Heritage Day allows us to count our accomplishments and examine the challenges that we have faced and may continue to face.”

• “In the North Rupununi, where thanks to the work of Iwokrama, the communities are very conscious about conservation and sustainable use…”

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Recent Iwokrama Course Pave the Way for an International "Training Centre of Excellence"

• Training is a fundamental component of Iwokrama’s long term strategy for sustainable utilisation and management of the Iwokrama Forest.

• National and international participants have learned valuable skills.

• Recent training topics have included integrated community development, an introduction to Iwokrama Forest and Field Station for Guyanese youth and camera trapping for researchers working in Guyana.

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• The Iwokrama International Centre will be hosting visits from the primary schools of NRDDB for a second consecutive year.

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Iwokrama to Produce HIV/AIDS Healthy Lifestyles Project

• Iwokrama International Centre received a two-year grant funded by World Bank and the Government of Guyana.

• This project will raise awareness in several ways including the training of fifty peer educators, radio programmes on Radio Paiwomak, and the distribution of posters and booklets in both English and Makushi.

• Iwokrama will partner with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the North Rupununi District Development Board on this project.

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Global Environmental Issues: Trade in Wildlife and Wildlife Products

• Our regular newsletter feature highlights the trade – both legal and illegal – of wildlife and related products, and its impact on biodiversity.

• Included are abstracts and links to online articles to learn more about the issue.

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Staff Spotlight: Raquel Thomas, Ph.D., appointed Director of Training and Resource Management

• Iwokrama is very pleased and honoured to announce that Dr. Thomas, a former Iwokrama Fellow, has joined its dedicated team of professionals.

• National and international training and experiences will prove invaluable in Dr. Thomas’ position, which oversees management and development of the Iwokrama Forest.

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Iwokrama Supports North Rupununi Football Sub-Association; Clubs Play for Iwokrama Trophy

• Young people from the North Rupununi Communities, vied for the Iwokrama Trophy in both Male and Female categories.
• Football is a unifying activity in the Rupununi and a strong part of the local culture.

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Interns and Volunteers Continue to Support Iwokrama Mission

• This critical programme offers capacity building to participants and contributes greatly to the mission.

• Several recent volunteer and interns and their projects are highlighted in this article.

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