Community Development & Education

Neighbouring Communities Developing with Iwokrama

Iwokrama is committed to a participatory approach to management of the Forest and its natural resources, and business development in the general Iwokrama Ecosystem. Iwokrama presently works most intensively with the 14 local indigenous communities of the North Rupununi, consisting of approximately 3,500 people.

A major success in this regard is the development of the completely community-based North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB). The NRDDB began in 1996 and has developed substantial capacity for management in the North Rupununi Wetlands and Savannahs. The NRDDB is represented on Iwokrama's International Board of Trustees, as well as the staff and volunteer corps.

Community Programme Development

Several local community programmes based in Region 9* are contributing to the development of communities and the increasing maturity of the relationship between Iwokrama and the NRDDB.

Iwokrama has worked with the NRDDB to develop the Makushi Research Unit (MRU), Community Environmental Workers (CEW's), and the Wildlife Clubs, which hold an annual Wildlife Festival. These programmes provide opportunities for skills development in resource management and scientific techniques, cultural affirmation, the exchange of local traditional knowledge systems, and direct service to the communities and the environment.

Training and Skills Development

The development of local natural resource management skills have largely been accomplished through conservation contracts with communities and management planning with the NRDDB.

Conservation contracts involve agreements between Iwokrama and communities where Iwokrama facilitates resource management processes. More importantly, these contracts require "learning by doing" in communities for effective natural resource management 

The contracts also facilitate the testing of Iwokrama Forest based models on a smaller, locally based scale. The contracts are also important in community-based income generation and employment.

Iwokrama training programmes focus on building skills for other functions as well, including village development, resource surveys and mapping, financial management, cottage industry development, carpentry and masonry, and participatory management.

Skills development is also accomplished through Iwokrama's collaborative projects.  For the Wetlands Monitoring Project, 30 individuals were taught wetlands and riverine monitoring techniques.

Extended Area Community Initiatives

Iwokrama has also reached beyond the communities that live in or near the Forest. For example, 6 people from Gunn's Strip in southern Guyana have benefited from training in food preparation and service, room management, tour guiding and visitor interaction skills.

Iwokrama has also begun developing relations with more distant communities through the Region 7 Amerindian Touchaos Area Council (ATAC). These relationships include incorporating these local leaders into Iwokrama planning processes, hosting them in the North Rupununi and other outreach initiatives.

*Guyana has 10 administrative regions - maps.