Georgetown: After spending two weeks exploring the South Rupununi, the Biodiversity Assessment Team (BAT), has found that the area has a diversity of high species and natural resources that are important for local communities.
However, the team’s biggest achievement of this World Wildlife Fund (WWF) undertaking has been the documenting and mapping of approximately a thousand species of fauna and flora including a variety of new species. This was announced by the team on Friday at a briefing on their findings, which was held at the Moray House, on Camp and Quamina streets.
The BAT expedition team comprised national and international scientists who have expertise in the identification of plants, birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, insects and fish, along with water quality and community resource use.This international collaboration has also provided training for Guyanese biologists and para-taxonomists from the South Rupununi communities along with students of the University of Guyana (UG).
The aim of the team was to gather new biological and natural resource use data that could be used by government agencies, the Universities, NGOs, local communities and businesses to make informed decisions about the sustainable use, management and conservation of the Rupununi. This is because although the Southern Rupununi has reported high diversity and unique species composition, biological data was lacking.
The team explored two key sites in the South Rupununi district, which are Kusad Mountain and Parabara.
They found approximately 241 unique species of main vegetation, which individually narrows down to 70 Savannah, 25 Bush Islands, 29 Rocks, 100 Gallery Forest, 41 bush species, more than 80 unique species of trees, and 139 species of insects in 64 genera/class (tentative) were also found, At least three types and 10 species are new to science and the water beetle community of the South Rupununi is extremely diverse, likely due to high habitat diversity.
One hundred and fifty (150) ant species were also discovered, which is likely a new record for Guyana and includes a new species to science (yet to be confirmed).
Three hundred and two (302) species of birds were observed.There is a high interest in the Red Siskin (IUCN Endangered), Glossy-backed Becard ( Rare species ), Billed Honeycreeper(short). The Region has a high potential for bird watching tourism.
Thirty-four (34) species of reptiles and 25 species of amphibians were also discovered. Among the most interesting are the Green Anaconda, Emerald and Amazon Tree Boas, Red- footed tortoise, Three-striped poison dart frog and the uncommon Bushmaster (Lachesis muta) species.
A total of 33 bat species were discovered along with two rat species. Twenty-six (26) samples of water were taken from nine water bodies in the Kusad Mountain and 25 samples from nine water bodies in the Parabara area. The team tested the turbidity and dissolved oxygen of the water.
Also 145 different species of fish from 30 families were discovered including the Guyanacara, a fish that is only found in Guyana water ways. The result on large mammals in the areas is still outstanding. The team used the camera trapping method for this research and the cameras will be brought in at the end of the month with the data.
The team also conducted four three-day workshops in four villages, interacting with the residents and discussing sustainable measures for the natural resources in their areas.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has announced that they will be creating small booklets to be distributed in these communities on preservation measures.
The team expressed its appreciation and pride in achieving their desired results; they also acknowledged that they were looking forward to working in Guyana in the future.
The Rupununi has a unique and diverse ecosystem in south western Guyana that is home to over 1400 species of vertebrates, including many highly endangered globally. The high biodiversity of the area is the result of the mixing of Amazonian and Guiana Shield fauna, high habitat diversity, and marked seasonal flooding. The South Rupununi Savannah is also home to over 5,000 indigenous people.
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