Guyana launches good practices for birding tours

Guyana yesterday launched the world’s first good practices checklist for birding tours.
The checklist is aimed at influencing and helping tour operators, lodges and guides to integrate key environmental and social practices into their birding tours, a press release from the British High Commission said. Birding Tours Self-Assessment Checklist: A Practical Guide for Good Environmental and Social Practices positions Guyana as an international leader in sustainable birding tourism development, it said.

The checklist includes visitor education, interpretation and messaging, infrastructure development, health and safety, engaging with local communities, interacting with birds and protection and conservation of birds and habitats. It identifies 21 good business and environmental practices to help ensure the long-term success and sustainability of birding tourism in Guyana. It was co-ordinated by Judy Karwacki of Small Planet Consulting, Canada, who has been involved in birding and nature tourism development in Guyana for the past three years.

At a simple ceremony held at the Official Residence of the British High Commis-sioner, Deputy High Commis-sioner Simon Bond, who spoke on behalf of High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler, said the checklist can be used as a medium through which persons can learn to protect the natural environment. He added that in doing so “we would be able to better foster the growth of the Tourism Industry here in Guyana.”

Vice-President of the Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds Society, Rhonda Cornelius spoke of the importance of the checklist being incorporated to protect birds and their environment. Meanwhile, Dr David Singh, Executive Director at Conservation International (CI) said he was pleased to be on board with such a project and encouraged others to adopt like practices. Singh stressed that CI intends to become more involved in supporting Guyana’s sustainable enterprise development efforts.  The release said too the tours checklist is meant to be used as a companion to CI’s A Practical Guide to Good Practice for Tropical Forest-Based Tours.

Also, Administrative Manager at the Guyana Tourism Authority Ohene Koama said the Tourism Authority was pleased to be associated with a project of such magnitude. He said “This project will indeed be a boost to the Country’s Tourism sector.”

The checklist was developed by the British High Commission in close collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority, Guyana Amazon Tropical Birding Society, Rupununi Tourism Association, South Rupununi Conservation Society and Guyana’s top birding guides.