Towering Iwokrama canopy walkway commissioned
By Miranda la Rose
Stabroek News
November 24, 2003
Yvonne Hinds using a cutlass to cut the vine to mark the symbolic opening of the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. She is aided by representative of the North Rupununi District Development Authority, Andrew Forde (far right). Looking on is Prime Minister Sam Hinds
The 154-metre-long Iwok-rama Canopy Walkway, consisting of three aluminium platforms and five suspension bridges, the first of its kind in the Caribbean and the Guiana Shield was officially opened on Saturday morning.
Built at a cost of US$180,000 with funding from the Canadian Inter-national Development Agency and from a Canadian company, the state-of-the-art facility was officially opened by Prime Minister Sam Hinds one year after the construction phase was completed.
The canopy walkway will be managed by a consortium which will involve the indigenous community of Surama in the North Rupununi and Rockview Lodge of Annai also in the North Rupununi; tour operator, Wilderness Explorer and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development.
The consortium is being registered under the name Community And Tourism Services (CATS).
The opening ceremony took place in the heart of the country's rainforest to the sounds of the territorial, screaming piha, pigeons, doves and sun-bees. Adding to the atmosphere in shady undergrowth at the base of Mount Mauishparu, were leaves and blossoms which fell to the forest floor constantly.
A visitor completing his trek on the canopy walkway.
Present at the opening were residents from the community of Fairview, the only indigenous community found within the Iwokrama concession, and from the neighbouring Amerindian district of Annai, a number of invitees including members of the diplomatic community, non-governmental organisations, government representatives and the media.
Yvonne Hinds, wife of the Prime Minister cut the vine under an archway made by twisting a live koofa vine, decorated with plants found in the area. All were invited onto the canopy walkway "to experience the exhilaration of being suspended over the forest canopy" as part of the opening ceremony.
In welcoming remarks, Iwokrama Logistics Manager Vibert Welch noted that the facility, which will be an added attraction for tourism and scientific research, is located at its highest point some 30 metres above ground level with the entry and exit point located on the sides of Mount Mauishparu. It is accessible by steps cut into the sides of the mountain.
Speaking on behalf of residents in the North Rupununi District Development Author-ity, Andrew Forde welcomed the development but urged government to be more strict in protecting the bio-diversity of the area. He noted that with the recent improvement of the Georgetown/Lethem road, though better for traffic and trade in goods, a lot of wildlife was being killed due to hunting and over-harvesting.
Forde expressed appreciation for improvements brought to communities in the North Rupununi, through the Iwokrama initiative.
In his remarks, Director General (acting) of Iwokrama, Dr Graham Watkins noted special features of the Rupununi and Iwokrama which are on par with the grasslands of Brazil and the Amazon.
Though not made known officially, as yet, Dr Watkins said that Iwokrama has more species of freshwater fish and more species of bats than any part of the world "which is really quite stunning". He said that biologically, Iwokrama is a very special area with a series of species, such as, the black caiman, jaguar, giant otters, giant river turtles and the world's largest freshwater fish - the arapaima - that are endangered elsewhere.
In terms of the people, he said it was also a very special area, being the Macushi homeland with its many characteristics.
The Rupununi and Iwokrama are special not just in Guyanese terms but globally, he said adding, however, that if "you want to conserve such a place you have to ensure that the benefits go to the local and to the national communities first... then you can look at the conservation issues in terms of the international benefits."
Speaking about the partnership which will manage the canopy walkway, Dr Watkins said that "no one group can do that by themselves." He sees the need for the communities to contribute their local knowledge; businesses their marketing and business skills and Iwokrama its management expertise.
In terms of marketing, he said that Iwokrama has established links with the national Audubon Society, the Jacksonville Zoo and the Philadelphia Zoo in the USA which have connections to other nature and bird watching groups. Over the next couple of years, Iwokrama is seeking to establish links to other zoos which offer nature tours and which could tie into Iwokrama's programmes, he said.
General Manager of Wilderness Explorers Teri Ramnarine in her remarks noted the strong input by the local community in the construction of the project and said some residents are still employed as canopy walkway specialists and are performing maintenance and repairs on the walkway. They also completed a one-month guide-training course with Iwokrama and will continue to be employed on the walkway in the capacity of walkway specialists and guides.
She recalled Wildernes Explorers partnership with the community of Surama in which they helped it to improve its tourism product while retaining 100% ownership.
Ramnarine said that the last four years have proven that a private sector and indigenous community relationship can be successful and bring benefits to both. She noted, too, that Wilderness Explorers has worked closely with Iwokrama and when the company heard that Iwokrama was tendering for management of the walkway, the company was interested and sought to include Surama and the Rockview Lodge.
She noted that Wilderness Explorers has already begun to market the walkway and only a week ago the product and community based philosophy was well received at the World Travel Market and the UK Travel Trade. During that visit Wilderness Explorers appointed a London-based representative to promote the canopy walkway.
As a company, she said that Wilderness Explorers has made a commitment to have lower rates for Guyanese to promote domestic tourism. With improved roads and a new bus service to Lethem, tourism to Guyana's interior could be more affordable.
She said, too, that Wilderness Explorers will also provide subsidised rates for communities from the North Rupununi to visit the walkway and the full amount collected will go to the North Rupununi District Development Board, to build its tourism capacity.
Offering his congratulations Hinds said that the canopy walkway and the partnership in its management, represents an example of wanting to reconcile the various contradictions that come with development.
Guyana, with its small population and the fact that it has not enjoyed the industrialisation of the last hundred years is in a position to provide significant areas that would be protected but in so doing must be able to enjoy improved standards of living.