The Fund, which is an annual grant of US$10,000 for the duration of CI's tenure of the lease of the Upper Essequibo Forest Conservation Concession, was used to purchase equipment requested by the three communities, after having completed their own internal consultation and discussions with the management committee of the VCIF. The Conservation Concession was launched on July 17, 2002.

According to CI, the equipment, provided at discount prices from the local firm, Farfan and Mendes, comprises one swing fog machine and one brush cutter for Apoteri; one power saw and one Alaska frame for Rewa; and one power saw with additional sprocket for Crashwater.

Apoteri will use the swing fog equipment to deal with the prevalent problem of acoushi ants on the community’s farms, while the grass cutter will be used to maintain the Apoteri Airstrip and to enhance the environment of this large village.

Rewa village will produce sawn boards and materials from the selected felling of trees to improve the community housing and other accommodation. The power saw will also be an asset in clearing channels for a significant reduction of distance and time by boat travel during high water periods.

The power saw for Crashwater will be utilised for clearing of takoobas in the narrow channel of Crashwater Creek.

The value of the equipment at a discount prices is G$1M, and apart from its generous discount prices, Farfan and Mendes staffer, Mr. Andrew Mendes, conducted a one-week training programme at Annai for the following eight operators of the equipment: Eustace Sandy, Junior Sandy, Ivan Bowen and Hubert George from Apoteri, Patrick Honorio and Mauri Joseph from Rewa and Harry James and Ivor Milton from Crashwater.

The handing over ceremony, which was facilitated by Mr. Colin Edwards, General Manager of the Rockview Ecotourism Lodge at Annai, was witnessed by the Touchau of Annai, Zacharia Thomas, Treasurer of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) Ms. Emily Alicock, Regional Project Coordinator, Mr. Sydney Allicock. Staff of Paiwomak Radio at Beena Hill, the eight trainees, the instructors and the community representatives on the VCIF Management Committee - Baldwin Thomas of the Apoteri, Noel Ignacio of Rewa and Harry James of Crashwater - were also at the function.

Conservation International Guyana is managing the 8,000 hectares standing forest Conservation Concession which is eighty kilometres south of Apoteri on the Essequibo River. The organisation has also recently completed a forest inventory in the concession conducted by independent contractor Mr. Ivan Welch. The report is being compiled for submission to the Guyana Forestry Commission, in accordance with the management plan for the concession.