Wildlife Clubs

Iwokrama, in partnership with the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), has facilitated the development of 14 youth Wildlife Clubs, one in each of the North Rupununi indigenous communities. These clubs, with members from as young as 8 years old, expose local youth to natural resource management, organisational and governance issues, and provide fora for discussion of environmental and other issues.

Wildlife Club Objectives

• Develop an awareness and understanding of the plants, animals, and physical characteristics of the forest.

• Help in local wildlife inventories & wildlife monitoring.

• Understand natural resource management and conservation.

History of the North Rupununi Wildlife Clubs

The concept of Wildlife Clubs was that they would be an integral part of the wildlife management programme of the North Rupununi. These clubs allow students to gain first hand experience of natural resource management and prepare children for the future. Obviously, the clubs could only be formed if there was a strong interest in the schools about wildlife.

>List of Key Events in Club History (.pdf)

North Rupununi Junior Wildlife & Development Council

The Clubs have formed an umbrella body, the North Rupununi Junior Wildlife & Development Council (NRJWDC), with Paul Nash as the president. Wildlife clubs promote and sustain interest in Guyana's wildlife and the environment, and have implications for fostering future interests in natural resource management.

NRJWDC Badge

The 2005 Officers of the NRJWDC were elected in December 2004. They are:

• President -                   Debbie Jacobus (Aranaputa)
• Vice President -           Caroline Allicock (Surama)
• Secretary -                   Hannah Davis (Toka)
• Treasurer -                   Ezra Isaac (Toka)
• Secretary / Treasurer - Martin Antone (Fairview)

Wildlife Club Activities

The clubs recently began a five year project with Iwokrama, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Audubon Society to monitor the wildlife resources of the North Rupununi. The clubs also run an annual three-day Wildlife Festival which attracts over 250 participants.

Other activities include:

• Cutting nature trails

• Presentation of cultural shows (skits) that help raise conservation awareness

• Village clean-ups

• Education in proposal & report writing and other communications skills

• Building club houses

• Poetry, art, and essay competitions

• Developing communication systems for the clubs via Radio Paiwomak

• Camping

• Learning scientific and local names for animals and plants

• Wildlife knowledge competitions between villages

• Exchange visits with other communities

• Creating collections of insects, plants and animals for the schools

• Learning about wildlife research

• Frog spotting

• Bird monitoring