Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (IIC)
IIC is the Regional Focal Point Organisation for the Guianas
IIC manages the 371,000 hectares of Iwokrama Forest in central Guyana to show
how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used to provide
ecological, social and economic benefits to local, national and international
communities.
For the past decade Iwokrama has been at the forefront of Research and
Development into best practices for sustainable forest management. Heavily
integrated into our best practices are our strong community relations with the
communities of the North Rupununi and the Village of Fair View within the
Iwokrama Forest. These integral activities form the core of the Iwokrama
International Centre. This core in turn supports the businesses of Iwokrama. By
integrating human needs and values into business development and conservation
strategies, partnerships with local communities are established so they can
assist in forest management and get direct benefits through joint business
development.
Ecotourism, Conservation, Intellectual Property and Services, Sustainable
Forestry and Training, all bring Iwokrama closer to fulfilling its mandate;
however its heartbeat lies not in its programmes, breath taking beauty, or
wealth of biological diversity, but with the people who strive daily to help
Iwokrama to achieve and maintain its mandate. This rare blend of technology,
ancient culture, and traditional knowledge will ensure that Iwokrama fulfils its
mandate and promise to the world.
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Research Station: Iwokrama International Center
Since its commencement in 1996, the Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) has
firmly established itself as a 371,000 hectare living laboratory of intact
tropical forest where novel, cutting-edge research projects have and continue to
be successfully implemented. The Centre specialises in Climate Change,
Sustainable Forestry Management, Ecotourism, Research and Training with strong
emphasis on monitoring, research and more recently, sustainable business
development.
For over a decade, the thrust of Iwokrama’s research has made significant
contributions to informing policy and providing new and additional information
on non-timber forest products and lesser known timber species; sustainable
forest management including certification, biodiversity assessments including
floral and faunal inventories; collaborative resource management with indigenous
communities; sustainable businesses development and valuation of forest
resources and services to name a few.
The Centre is well positioned in the heart of the Guiana Shield with
excellent representation of the various forest types and ecosystems of Guyana’s
rainforest and healthy populations of a significant range of faunal species.
Project implementation is based on careful planning and proactive stakeholder
involvement, in particular, the indigenous communities which lie within and
contiguous to the boundaries of the Centre.
The Field Station (FS) boasts well appointed cabins with an air-conditioned
conference facility complete with LCD projector, flip charts and other related
teaching aids, research space and research assistants in addition to other
support staff. The more basic Turtle Mountain Camp and other satellite camps
also provide space for research activities around the Iwokrama Forest. There is
also broad band internet connectivity at the Field Station. Graduates of
Iwokrama’s Ranger Training Programme are employed by the Centre and are key
facilitators of studies conducted by local and international researchers.
Several off-road vehicles and water craft form part of the fleet at the FS
which allow scientists to traverse the one million acre natural laboratory and
neighbouring locations.
Contact persons:
Mr Dane Gobin (CEO IIC)
Email: dgobin@iwokrama.org
IIC Representative in the Steering Committee
Ms Vanessa Benn (project manager)
Email: vbenn@iwokrama.org
IIC Focal Point Person to the project Dr Raquel Thomas (Director, Resources Management and Training)
Email: rthomas@iwokrama.org
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