FIELD REPORT - JUNE 2001
TRIP TO MABARUMA
<click on images to enlarge >
| Location: |
North West District, Region 1 (08° N and 60° W) |
| Date: |
June 26-30, 2001 |
| Duration: |
16:00 hrs June, 26 - 10:35 hrs June, 30 |
| Weather: |
Day 1: Very fair with overnight showers
Day 2: Very fair
Day 3: Sunny with intermittent showers overnight
Day 4: Fair to Cloudy
Day 5: Cloudy with moderate to heavy showers |
| No. of persons present: |
Eight (8) |
| Way of Transport: |
Road and water |
INTRODUCTION
Region 1 (Barima /Waini) lies within the natural highland region of Guyana.
Most of the south and west of the country consists of the forest-covered
mountains - the Imataka mountain range characterizes this region. Apart
from its forest resources, the region is important for other reasons:
- Some of the largest gold and diamond fields in Guyana are near the
mountain range.
- There are deposits of manganese, for example, on the upper Barima and
Barama Rivers.
- The highlands are areas of heavy rainfall. Rain falling in this region
collects in streams which run off in all directions to our main rivers.
- Extraction of non-forest products such as edible heart of the Truli
palm, edible oil from the Abe palm and Tibisiri plus lianas for handicraft.
- Tourism attraction: Shell beach (Nesting place for the Giant Leatherback,
the Ridley, Hawksbill and Green turtles)
- Other resources may be discovered once the entire area is explored.
Morawhanna was the chief Government Station for the North-West District,
but on account of floods caused by high tides, the township was removed
to Mabaruma and now contains the office of the Regional District Council
and residence of the Regional Chairman, an official who is responsible
to Government for the proper management and control of the district. Morawhanna
is the entrepot between Georgetown and the lower reaches of the Barima
River, such as the tributary Aruka River along whose bank Mabaruma is found.
The travelling distance from Georgetown to Kumaka (near Mabaruma) is 173 nautical km (93 nautical miles).
OBJECTIVES
- To evaluate the quantities of some major resources of the highland
region such as heart of palm, edible oil, craft material and wild life
(aquatic, terrestrial and extra terrestrial)
- To orientate educators of Mabaruma and thereby establish Region 1 Chapter
of Evergreen Nature Study Club
- To acquire material information for further outreach educational
programmes in other parts of the country.
RATING OF TRIP
Excellent
Very Good 
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
