First workshop for Guyana-based Community Measuring, Reporting and Verification project

The Guyana-based Community Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) project held its first workshop on 2-3 November. Each of the 16 communities from across the North Rupununi region was represented by its village chief and two monitoring trainees. Leading from GCP were Mandar Trivedi and Ben Palmer Fry.

The main aim of the workshop was to determine what communities want to monitor in order to manage their natural resources and maintain their cultural traditions more effectively.

Under a future climate change treaty, MRV of forest carbon stocks is likely to be required in order for projects to be compensated for forest stewardship. The monitoring data gathered by local communities could be an invaluable bargaining chip for them in their interactions with outside partners (including governments) interested in paying for ecosystem services.

The local Community MRV project management team is composed of members of the local community working for the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), an Amerindian NGO. Based at the NRDDB's regional HQ, the team will coordinate field activities in collaboration with project partner the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development.

Ben will remain in Guyana throughout November, collaborating with the communities to design a monitoring scheme that provides reliable information while being simple and cost-effective for the communities to implement, with little outside support.