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Delineation process for proposed Shell Beach protected area begins
The process towards the delineation of the boundaries of the proposed Shell Beach Protected Area (SBPA) has commenced.
Some of the stakeholders who attended the workshop.
The much anticipated move, according to Protected Areas Project Coordinator, Michelle Kalamandeen, began with an initial consultation workshop in Santa Rosa on August 28 and 29, last. At that workshop key stakeholders met and were able to discuss and decide on the strategies and methodologies to be used in determining the boundaries of the proposed protected area.
The workshop brought together leaders of the local communities surrounding the Shell Beach area, namely Almond Beach, Fathers’ Beach, Morawhanna, Warapoka, Kwebanna, Waramuri, Santa Rosa and Manawarin. Several communities, Assakata, Santa Cruz and Three Brothers’, were unable to participate due to transportation issues.
Local and state agencies such as the Regional Democratic Council, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Department, GDF Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency were also present.
Shell Beach, which is a 140-kilometre stretch of beach and mud flat along the Northwestern coast of Guyana, is the nesting ground for four species of endangered sea turtles here.
The Beach has been recognized nationally as one of the areas in Guyana proposed for protected area status because of its rich ecological and cultural diversity, according to Kalamandeen.
The Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS) has been identified by the Government of Guyana as the Lead Agency in the process of establishing Shell Beach as a protected area. And it was since in the year 2000 that the Society has been working with stakeholders including the local communities towards this goal.
Kalamandeen noted that “a Rapid Assessment Programme (RAP) and numerous education and awareness programmes have been completed, ensuring that sustainability of natural resources and protection of the sea turtles is reached with full community participation. These activities are key building blocks for the commencement of this delineation process.”
She further stated that “the delineation project facilitated by GMTCS and funded by the German Development Bank (KfW) is being done in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency. This project is using a fully consultative and participatory approach involving stakeholder communities, NGOs and state agencies.”
The goals of the initial stakeholder workshop included the formation of the Community Representative Group (CRG) for the proposed SBPA process; establishing the criteria for including lands in the proposed SBPA; defining the data sets required for decision-making and determining availability of existing data and the process to fill any data gaps; defining the participatory methodology for the delineation decision-making process; and determining the roles, responsibilities, commitments, communication and timelines required to delineate the
proposed SBPA boundaries.
Kalamandeen noted that “during the workshop, participants discussed and decided on a way forward for this process which is scheduled to last for the next five months, at which time recommended boundaries for the proposed SBPA and a report of the process will be submitted to the Government of Guyana.”
Importantly and historically, the Community Representative Group (CRG) was established for the SBPA process with the Executives being elected by the Toshaos and Councillors present at the workshop. The CRG comprises of Captains and councillors of the stakeholder communities.
The election process was overseen by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Community Development Officer, Mr. Victor Boyer.
The Executives of the CRG include Mr. Alonzo Cornelius (Waramuri Community) as Chair, Mr. Bonny Boyer (Three Brothers’ Community) as Vice-Chair, Mr. Ishmael Khan (Morawhanna Community) as Secretary, Mrs. Genevieve Rufino (Santa Rosa Community) as Treasurer/Assistant Secretary, and Mr. Bertie Benjamin (Manawarin Community) and Mr. Ernest Daniels (Santa Cruz) as community representatives.
The CRG was elected to represent the communities in this process. According to Kalamandeen, several consultations and awareness activities for the key stakeholders will be held in the near future.
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