By Antonio Dey
The Sophia Point Rainforest Centre, geared at providing platforms for students to study vital ecosystems and biodiversity is slated for completion within 6 to 8 months according to its Director, Sam Airey.
Airey on Wednesday told this newspaper that the non-profit centre is actually located at River’s View at the confluence of the Cuyuni, Mazaruni, and Essequibo rivers. He confirmed that the site of the centre which required approval from River’s View Toshao, Melinda Pollard, is privately leased and is at no point encroaching on indigenous lands. He also informed that public consultations indicated that the research centre was welcomed by the residents of River’s View.
The Director disclosed that Sophia Point will partner with the likes of the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS), the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRC), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Currently, work is underway to construct a low-impact, purpose-built centre on the site. It will accommodate up to 24 students or researchers and provide a gateway to some of the least studied rainforests on the planet, according to Airey.
The centre which offers potential for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine research, will be solar powered and designed after consultation with academic field practitioners and locals, he added.
On Tuesday, UK Parliamentarian, David Lammy, and his wife, Nicola Green, unveiled the new Sophia Point Rainforest Centre at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen campus, which will provide access to young Guyanese to study the rainforest and empowering them to become the young leaders of tomorrow.
Lammy, who is of Guyanese heritage, told the gathering that this initiative serves as his lifelong vow to give back to Guyana, as the centre was necessary to add to forest research and conservation efforts done through the Iwokrama Research Centre in Guyana.
He urged that research must be a crucial part of forest conservation efforts, as is reflected in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, but emphasised that local capacity must be prioritized. On that note, he said that the centre will collaborate with the nearby River’s View Indigenous community and more broadly, Guyana’s academia.
The UK parliamentarian assured that the centre will not be a space for foreign researchers to extract Guyana’s knowledge. “It is not about western scientists flying into Guyana and flying out of Guyana, taking the science out of Guyana. We want to bring an end to that extractive model,” Lammy said. And if these plans are executed as envisioned, he believes that more Guyanese youth can be inspired to help protect the environment.
“It’s a space for young Guyanese to be inspired and inspire others to better protect the vital rainforest and to equip themselves with the knowledge and the skills to inspire generations to come.”
Sophia Point is described as a first of its kind, a truly accessible wildlife and rainforest research centre in Guyana.
Lammy, who is currently the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Common-wealth and Development Affairs, said that “Sophia Point is about building capacity in this great country; if you look around the globe at comparable countries you can see what the standard is. Costa Rica, a country four times smaller than Guyana, has 44 research stations.”
