Forest and Wildlife Monitoring for Fairview Village

Fair View Village has title to 22,000 ha of the total of 370,000 ha of the Iwokrama Programme. The dominant land use is shifting cultivation based on the slash and burn land clearing method. The Guiana Shield Initiative Phase II Project has selected Iwokrama as one of its Pilot Site and will develop a model for a Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) System. This system is very well defined in its baseline conditions. These services will then be monitored utilising simple and technological advanced methods including radar. All attempts to stabilise the resource use of the local people and to provide economic alternatives that are eco-friendly will be welcomed as a support to the PES system. More importantly, it will contribute to increases in disposable incomes and balanced employment opportunities. The Fairview Village Council has the responsibility of leading the development of its populace of forest peoples. These Amerindians have been actively protecting the rainforest for hundreds of years promoting strict sustainable lifestyles. The modernisation process has not spared the Amerindians as they are becoming more exposed to the capitalist system which continuously erodes their communal culture. The village traditionally cultivates its staple foods, relies on the forests for meat and on the rivers for fish. This combination of resources has led to the development of a beautiful communal culture. The overall goal of the project is to contribute to the implementation of the village’s management plan and demonstrate resource utilization of zoned areas. Implementing the management plan will require knowledge of resource monitoring. Therefore this project will contribute to building a training centre which will give the community the opportunity to receive training in resource monitoring and cultivating cash crops. With this knowledge a resource monitoring plan can be implemented. Finally a cash crop demonstration plot will be established.