More than StakeholdersThe Iwokrama experience of community

participation in forest management

Sydney Allicock, Chair, NRDDBIwokrama International Centre and the North Rupununi District Development Board

April 19-20, 2010Indigenous Conference on Protected Areas

Guyana

Where is Iwokrama

Background on GuyanaPopulation* - 740,000

Land Area - 21.6 Million Ha

Total Forest - 16.8 Million Ha

Forested Area-78.5%

Area per Capita- 19.7 ha

Ethnically- Indo, Afro, Amerindian, Chinese, Portuguese

9 Amerindian NationsWapishana

Macushi

Wai Wai

Carib

Arawak

Patamona

Warrau

Arecuna

Akawaio

Agriculture, Mining, Forestry Map © Guyana Forestry Commission

Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development

An international experiment in sustainable development established by Guyana in collaboration with the Commonwealth-1989

An autonomous international multidisciplinary research and development centre

1 million acres of Forest in Central Guyana (371,000 ha)- 2% Guyana’s Forest

Governed by an Act (1996) and managed by the Iwokrama International Centre

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En mo re

We ld aa d

Ma ba ruma

Pila na w a

Ma rlb or oug h

MabarumaMorawhanna

BARAMANNI

Kwara

ArakakaKoriabo

Takutu

Towakaima

Waramuri Mission

Marlborough

Anna Regina

Suddie

Peter's Mine

Issano

Ebini

ApoteriAnnai

Mowasi

Potaro

LINDEN

NEW AMSTERDAM

BARTICA

Issoroso

Perth

Enmore

GEORGETOWN

PilanawaDadanawa Shea

Kurukukari

Parika

LETH EM

VENEZUELA

BRAZIL SURINAME

BRAZIL

GUYANA20 0 20 40 Kilometers

N

Data Source1:1000 0000 CSBS

Iwokrama Forest

Iwokrama’s Mission

To promote the conservation and the sustainable and equitable use of tropical rainforests in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general, by undertaking research, training, and the development and dissemination of technologies

Dual PurposesConservation / Sustainable Use

Non-commercial / Commercial

National Development / Global Value

Integrating Conservation with Sustainable Use

Wilderness Preserve

Sustainable Utilisation Area

First phase – Research including Zonation of the forest

Communities integrally involved in process of selection of zones

Zoning based in specific criteria

Iwokrama BusinessesIntegrating Conservation & Use

Current phase emphasis- Business Development

Core Costs

AreasEcotourism

Training

Sustainable Forestry

Intellectual Property & Services

Iwokrama and Stakeholders

Iwokrama Forest Management

Board of TrusteesIwokrama Centre

Fairview and Surama Villages

The Guyanese Public

Guyana Forestry CommissionEnvironmental Protection Agency

Fisheries Department

Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Affairs

The Lands Commission

Ministry of AgricultureMinistry of Amerindian Affairs

North Rupununi Community Councils

Region 8 Communities

NRDDB

Region 8 Area Council

Ministry of Local Government

University of GuyanaCentre for the Study of Biological Diversity

Conservation International - Guyana

WWF - Guiana Shield

Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society

Gold Miners

Wildlife Trappers and Traders

Commercial Fishers

Aquarium Fish Traders

Karanambu Trust

Environmental Studies Unit

Guyana School of AgricultureNational Agricultural Research Institute

Food and Material Suppliers

Chainsaw Loggers

Institute for Applied Science and Technology

Forest Producers Association

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners AssociationTimber Companies

NTFP Companies

Customers

Region 8 RDC Region 9 RDC

Region 9 Chamber of Commerce

International Zoos and AquariaInternational Conservation NGOs

International Museums and UniversitiesInternational Indigenous Peoples NGOs

Infrastructure Suppliers and Builders

AID Agencies (DFID, CIDA, EU, IDRC, USAID)

Individuals living in, or near, the Iwokrama Forest

Local Police, Education and HealthPolitical Parties

National Amerindian Organizations

International Organizations (UNICEF, UNDP, FAO, UNEP)

International Unions (IUCN)

Commonwealth Secretariat and International CommunityOffice of the President, Government of Guyana

Tourism CompaniesTourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana

Airline, Shipping Companies

Guyana Police Force

International Research Centres (CGIAR, CIFOR)

Guyana National Museum

Guyanese NGOs and Civil Society

Trucking Companies

Sport Fishers and HuntersWild Meat Traders

Tourism Entrepeneurs

Guyana Business Community

Region 9 Touchaus CouncilIwokrama Staff

Amerindians in Guyana

International Foundations (MacArthur, Ford, etc)

National Media

International Media

Women’s Organizations

Ministry of EducationInternational Conventions (CBD, Ramsar, CITES)

Diplomatic Corps

Guyana National Zoo

Ministry of Health

Iwokrama and Local People

Historical owners of Iwokrama Forest

Rich culture

Language

Archeological sites

Iwokrama & how it relates to People

Stakeholders & Shareholders

Fairview Village (ownership 22,000 ha of Iwokrama Forest since 2006 through acquisition of ‘title’)

Frameworks for Participation

The Iwokrama Act – Legislation that guarantees and protects the rights and enables access to the use of the Iwokrama Forest by the Indigenous Peoples in the communities “neighbouring” the Forest who have customary (traditional) rights to the Forest

– This section of the Act therefore provides the entry point for participation in the Iwokrama Programme by Amerindian communities living in and around the Iwokrama Forest.

18 communities6000 people90% Amerindian (Indigenous)Mostly savannah

Makushi language spoken in most homes

The Communities-North Rupununi

North Rupununi District Development Board

A multi-stakeholder forum and representative body to enable improved communications, information-sharing, decision-making, benefit-sharing for the people of the North Rupununi

between and among the leaders, village councils community citizens, local & other government officials especially the MoAA.

To provide an organised, local, community-based forum for ensuring community-led interests, negotiations and agendas when meeting with other “outside” / “counterpart” Agencies such as Iwokrama, UNDP, CI etc…

Established 1996

North Rupununi District Development North Rupununi District Development BoardBoard

NRDDB UMBRELLA & INSTITUTIONSNRDDB UMBRELLA & INSTITUTIONS

NRC&DTCredit Facility

NRC&DTCredit Facility

Radio PaiwomakRadio Paiwomak

Community Eco-Tourism

Community Eco-Tourism

Youth Leadership

Youth Leadership

FarmersFarmers

JuniorWildlife Clubs

JuniorWildlife Clubs

AquariumAquarium

ArapaimaArapaima

MRUMakushi

Research Unit

MRUMakushi

Research Unit

BHIBHI

NRDDBNRDDB

Executive Committee

Premise for Sustainable Resource Use

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Sustainable Resource Use

Access to Markets & Capital

Business and Operational Know-How

Scientific Knowledge & ReputationManagement RightsEstablished Partnerships & TrustEnvironmental & Social Monitoring & Management SkillsAccess to Green Markets

Historical Rights & OwnershipLocal Ecological KnowledgeField SkillsSocial & Cultural StructureSocial Monitoring Skills

Sydney Allicock, Surama

Three Legged Stool

From Stakeholders to Shareholders

Community rep. on highest level of Iwokrama’s management- Board of Trustees

No community representative on Board in initial stages 2002 – Sydney Allicock, Surama Village appointed as Community Representative on the Board

Bus

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Sustainable Resource Use

Access to Markets & Capital

Business and Operational Know-How

Scientific Knowledge & ReputationManagement RightsEstablished Partnerships & TrustEnvironmental & Social Monitoring & Management SkillsAccess to Green Markets

Historical Rights & OwnershipLocal Ecological KnowledgeField SkillsSocial & Cultural StructureSocial Monitoring Skills

Collaborative Managementwith North Rupununi

Memorandum of Understanding -2003Identified common goals and objectives and outlined protocols to be observed

Collaborative management agreement- NRDDB-2005, revised 2008

Binding Iwokrama and NRDDB to commitments

Sets out a framework where Iwokrama and NRDDB will collaboratively manage the Programme Site

FairView Village- titledCollaborative MA- FairView

Centre recognises FV village as its partner in conservation and development of lands within the programme site

Ownership in timber businessIwokrama, FairView, NRDDB communities

Shareholding agreementBenefit sharing mechanism

Tourism- visitors fee

Benefits

Community FundEstablished 2008Fund-capacity building, conservation, community business development

Training OpportunitiesCourses- sponsored personsWildlife Clubs

Employment About 60 percent of Iwokrama staff from N Rupununi communities

Community Tourism

The lesson / success of the Iwokrama-NRDDB partnership for co-management relies on the “ownership” by local people, the practice of principles for good governance and the combined vision and skills of stakeholders / partners in the process

Support for Low Carbon Development Strategy of the Government of Guyana

Towards the Future…

www.iwokrama.org

EMAIL ADDRESS

sydneyallicock@gmail.com