South Rupununi Conservation Society

FIRE EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION TO STRENGHTEN COMMUNITY LED FIRE MANAGEMENT

During the recent Red Siskin Collaborative Management Meeting held in Katoonarib Village, fire management equipment was distributed to the Red Siskin communities of Shulinab, Sand Creek, Rupunau, Sawariwau, Katoonarib, Shea, and Maruranau to strengthen community-led fire management and support Village Councils and Red Siskin Fire Rangers.

The equipment was procured to strengthen community-led fire management and enhance the capacity of Red Siskin Fire Rangers and Village Councils to safely implement preventative fire management. Recognising that the South Rupununi is a naturally flammable savanna landscape, where fire is an essential ecological process, the equipment supports a "living with fire" approach. This approach uses well-planned prescribed burning to reduce fuel loads (dry vegetation that can fuel large fires), create strategic firebreaks, and minimise the risk of large, destructive late dry-season wildfires. It enables communities to proactively protect farms, villages, cultural sites, and priority biodiversity areas, including critical Red Siskin habitat, through effective fire management.

The equipment distributed included fire-resistant gloves, half-mask respirators with P100 filters, collapsible backpack water bags and hand pumps, GPS units, fire flapper beaters (fire swatters), drip torches, binoculars, fire brigade uniforms with personal protective equipment, and backpack blowers.

SRCS remains committed to strengthening community capacity for uncontrolled fire preparedness, climate resilience, and sustainable land management across the South Rupununi. With continued support from partners, we hope to equip and train more communities to establish community fire brigades and further strengthen locally led fire management across the region.

We extend our sincere thanks to Groupe d'Étude et de Protection des Oiseaux en Guyane (GEPOG) Gepog Oiseaux Guyane for funding the procurement of this equipment. We also thank the Kilverstone Wildlife Conservation Trust (KWCT) and the Whitley Fund for Nature for supporting the distribution of the equipment and the training of our community fire rangers.

Thank you to Katoonarib Village for hosting this important milestone event! And to the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission and South Rupununi District Council for their partnership.

Photo Credits: SRCS

THE FIRE FESTIVAL | KEY HIGHLIGHTS🔥

Shulinab Village hosted a successful fire festival on June 26th! Celebrating Indigenous knowledge, culture, and community-led fire management.

The festival brought together communities from across the South Rupununi for a day of learning, cultural exchange, and celebration. Activities included presentations, a traditional fire cleansing ceremony, a fire-lighting competition using traditional methods, demonstrations of the many traditional uses of fire for food and medicine, storytelling, poems, and vibrant cultural performances including a captivating fire dance.

SRCS was proud to share findings from our community-led fire management research, highlighting how Indigenous knowledge and scientific research can work together to strengthen fire management, reduce uncontrolled fire risks, and protect biodiversity and livelihoods across the South Rupununi.

One of the day's standout moments was recognizing Shulinab Village's leadership in community fire management. As the only community in the South Rupununi with a trained Community Fire Brigade, Shulinab is setting an inspiring example of how community-led action can build safer and more resilient landscapes, especially as we prepare for the upcoming dry season.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Village Council of Shulinab for hosting this outstanding event, the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) South Rupununi District Council for their partnership, and the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI) for donating the plants, and all the participating communities for making the festival such a success.

Special Acknowledgement to the Events Key Speakers: Mr. Bernadine Fernandes (Toshao, Sawariwau Village), Mr. Nicholas Fredericks (Toshao, Shulinab Village), Mr. Leroy Ignacio (SRCS President and Shulinab Village Councillor for Tourism & Environment), Dr. Kayla De Freitas (SRCS Lead Researcher, Community-led Fire Management Programme), Ms. Tessa Felix (Shulinab Village Councillor for Social Welfare), and Mr. Morris Joaquim also known as Uncle Mao, Commander of the Shulinab Community Fire Brigade.

📸: The South Rupununi Conservation Society / Swipe through to see some of the shots from the day!🔥