Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation (Iwokrama) and Conservation International Guyana (CI-Guyana) jointly launched a publication, Climate Change & the Role of Forests — A Community Manual this week.The manual is a key part of a set of tools designed to enhance community understanding of the issues related to climate change and the role that forests can play in addressing these issues.The 68-page manual was designed specially to introduce and explain basic information on the natural processes that affect climate, the reasons why the climate is changing,Jerseys NFL Cheap, some of the impacts of climate change that have already happened, and how the world’s governments are working to solve the problems caused by climate change now and in the future.Information is also presented on REDD+, an important action for lessening climate change that is being discussed internationally and tested in some forest countries, including Guyana.In recent times, forest-based communities have increasingly engaged in national discussions on climate change and REDD-F, and have expressed the desire to better understand key issues and basic concepts related to the subject.The Community Manual was used for the first time at a two-day workshop held in Lethem, Region 9 organised by Iwokrama and CI-Guyana.Participants at the two-day Climate Change, Communities and Co-Managing Forests Workshop,Cheap Jerseys China, comprised representatives of the Rupununi communities of Shulinab, Merriwau, Quiko, Parikwaranawa,NFL Jerseys China Wholesale, Nappi, Hiowa, Parishara, Moco Moco, Kumu, Quarrie and St. Ignatius along with staffers of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, National Agricultural Research Institute and the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.The participants of the workshop received copies of the Community Manual.The Workshop was co-facilitated by Community Trainers, specially trained at a Training of Trainers’ Course at the Annai, Region 9, in November of last year.The Manual and tool kit were produced by a team led by Conservation International’s Indigenous and Traditional Peoples Programme and benefitted from review and input from CI Guyana and Iwokrama. Input from 24 representatives of communities in Regions 8 and 9,Sale NFL Jerseys, Amerindian Advocacy Groups,NHL Ice Hockey Jerseys, Government Agencies and Non-Government Organizations was also incorporated during the pilot Training of Trainers course last November at Annai.According to Iwokrama, the exceptionally well structured, full colour, illustrated Community Manual carries a Foreword written by Mr. Sydney Allicock, a community leader, Chairman of the North Rupununi District Development Board, Trustee of the Iwokrama International Centre and an Anthony Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence 2010 laureate.He emphasized the need and importance for communities to understand the issues surrounding climate change and lauded Conservation International and Iwokrama along with the Government of Guyana in their work towards increasing understanding on these issues.Noting that, “leaders must have a vision, the will to realize their vision and have (or be able to access) the skills necessary for sustainability” for the realization of the development of communities, he encouraged “all Guyana to make good use of the knowledge and materials contained in it (the manual).”Both CI and Iwokrama said they are committed to supporting Guyana’s move towards a low-emissions economy and will continue to engage in joint efforts in this regard.Conservation International Guyana is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization working in Guyana for more than 20 years linking human development with the conservation of the earth’s living natural heritage.Iwokrama is an autonomous non-profit institution established by Guyana and the Commonwealth to show how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used for ecological, social and economic benefits to local, national and international communities.Iwokrama and CI-Guyana are collaborating to build a resource of local community trainers equipped with a variety of training tools that can help to expand learning on Climate Change and the role of forests to local communities, especially forest dependent communities, bringing key information that is presented in ways that work well for community learners.The organizations believe that skilled local trainers can help to get essential information about climate change and the role of forests to local communities more efficiently and effectively.This collaboration forms a part of the organizations’ missions to help empower local communities