Ambassador Robert Kopecký with EU-ACP Forestry Research Network Project Coordinator Vanessa Benn and Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development Operations Manager Vibert Welch
The European Union and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development are currently collaborating on a sustainable tourism development and fisheries management project in the North Rupununi area.
The EU is providing 90 per cent of the funds for this euro 300,000 project, which began in December 2009 and will end in June 2012. The remaining funds have been contributed by Iwokrama.
According to a release from the EU, the head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký, was accompanied by officials from Iwokrama on a working visit April 12-14, to appreciate the impact of the project.
During the visit, Ambassador Kopecký stated that such a form of Guyanese-European cooperation is in line with EU global priorities in the areas of sustainable development and the environment.
“I was heartened to see tangible results of all the different programmes, which are the product of a lot of effort and devotion of real people – all this on the eve of the upcoming Rio+ 20 Conference due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, which means literally next door, in June this year,” he said.
The project is being implemented primarily in six communities: Annai, Wowetta, Surama, Fairview, Rewa, and Yupukari, and focuses on strengthening the organisational capacity of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), which is the umbrella body for the 18 communities of the North Rupununi.
The key areas of activity are: enhancement of fisheries management by extending the North Rupununi Arapaima Management Plan to cover all fish species; enhancement of awareness and development strategies to manage three key areas in the North Rupununi – Upper Rewa, Pirara-Karanambu-Simuni and Surama Conservation areas; enhancement of existing tourism products in Annai, Wowetta, Surama, Fairview, Rewa, and Yupukari; enhancement of the international marketing of the Rupununi community tourism products; and building and establishment of research and tourism networks, especially linkages to outside entities.
To improve the fisheries sector in the six communities, a manual was developed and management plans were drafted in consultation with each community. The objective is to establish sustainable fishing in the wetlands (rivers and lakes). Fisheries in the community can be described in three categories: on the community level, small scale fishing, and commercial fishing (permits are necessary for this type of fishing).
Workshops were held in the communities to create a better framework for fisheries, which defines fishing periods for certain species and explains new fishing techniques and methods.
Three of the communities are involved in developing aquaculture in their villages.
In the area of tourism, the major activity is capacity building, and manuals in the area of financial record keeping, product development, services delivery, ethics and standards have been developed during the course of the project. Workshops were conducted in the villages, and tourism business plans are being finalised.
Iwokrama will continue to work with the communities beyond the close of the project to further build on capacity.
