Iwokrama continues to build partnerships for conservation

Guyana has a long history of good conservation practices and Iwokrama was a flagship initiative created in 1989 and later formalised in 1996 with the Iwokrama Act being passed. The foundation of Iwokrama is about partnerships at the highest level.
The Government had developed a special agreement with the Commonwealth to create models of sustainable use of tropical forest within the one million-acre Iwokrama Forest that lies in Central Guyana above the North Rupununi Wetlands.
Critical partners have been on many levels including Government and non-governmental agencies, donors, academic institutions, business entities, zoos, and corporate sponsors to name a few.
The Indigenous communities in the area that have ancestral ties to the Iwokrama Forest are linked to Iwokrama through the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), and since 1996 has worked closely with Iwokrama on many projects and development activities.
In fact, the two agencies have a collaborative management agreement that gives the communities a direct say in how Iwokrama is managed.
Within the past month, Iwokrama has seen formalised Memoranda of Understanding signed with the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission and the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS).
Iwokrama also continues to be grateful for the support given by the Minister and the Natural Resources Ministry and was happy to host several groups of youth apprentices recently.
The Corp of Wardens visited last week where there was a ranger exchange programme and they also participated in a joint operation to check on illegal gold mining in the Siparuni area. This was done in collaboration with Iwokrama staff and the Guyana Police Force.
Over the past few months, Iwokrama was invited by the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) which requested rangers and other staff to assist and learn about sea turtle monitoring.
Iwokrama and the PAC collaborate very often with training exchanges being held for staffers on a wide variety of courses/workshops over the years.
Some other key agencies giving Iwokrama support over the years include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International – Guyana, Hydromet, and the Fisheries Department.