The EMC Foundation and the Karanambu Trust have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, February 28, 2025, in an innovative move to officially formalize their collaboration on education, awareness, monitoring and conservation actions with focus on Giant River Otters. This partnership will see joint initiatives being developed and implemented to protect Giant River Otters and their habitat through awareness and preservation actions.
This MOU Signing coincides with World Wildlife Day 2025, being observed under the theme “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet” and marks a significant boost in the conservation efforts for Giant River Otters- one of Guyana’s endangered species.
Through this partnership, both non-profit organizations will augment each other’s capabilities and benefit from access to knowledge and expertise, strategic networking, fundraising, and implementation capabilities.
There also exists major potential for boosting environmental awareness through the EMC Foundation’s E-STEM Programme and our 19 Environmental Clubs across Guyana’s coast and the numerous Wildlife Clubs in the Rupununi that the Karanambu Trust supports.
Founder and Director of the EMC Foundation, Mr. Shyam Nokta during the MoU signing expressed his excitement about this partnership. “We are excited to collaborate with you to see how we can bridge this gap between the coast and the hinterland and more so how we can collaborate on raising awareness on Giant River Otters and boosting efforts at the local level- working with communities, school children and with other stakeholders to not just raise awareness but to influence conservation actions.”
Project Coordinator of the Karanambu Trust, Ms. Melanie McTurk, also shared similar sentiments. “Our reputation as the pioneers of Giant Otter research and conservation in Guyana but of course our work has expanded beyond that. We also do a lot of work with communities and especially in the community tourism sphere… So, we are very excited to be partnering with you and be able to hopefully to take that influence beyond the realms of the Rupununi.”
About the EMC Foundation
EMC Foundation was established by Shyam Nokta, winner of the 2022 Anthony N Sabga Award for Entrepreneurship. The foundation works to support environmental awareness and education in Guyana by promoting activities that encourage a greater understanding of the environment, creating a network to connect like-minded people, and providing opportunities to experience Guyana’s rich natural environment.
For more information, please visit https://www.emcfoundation.gy
About the Karanambu Trust
The Karanambu Trust is one of Guyana’s first private protected area that has spearheaded Giant River Otter conservation since its establishment in 1996 and has been managed by the McTurk Family for almost 100 years.
For more information, please visit https://karanambu.gy/
EMC Foundation’s Director, Shyam Nokta and Karanambu Trust’s Project Coordinator, Melanie McTurk signing the MoU
EMC Foundation’s Director, Shyam Nokta and Karanambu Trust’s Project Coordinator, Melanie McTurk discussing future collaborations
EMC Foundation’s Director, Shyam Nokta, EMC Foundation’s Project Coordinator Sarah Singh and Karanambu Trust’s Project Coordinator, Melanie McTurk examining one of EMC Foundation’s many publications
The EMC Foundation was established by Mr. Shyam Nokta, winner of the 2022 Anthony N Sabga Award for Entrepreneurship. The Foundation works to support environmental awareness and education in Guyana by promoting activities which encourage a greater understanding of the environment, creating a network to connect like-minded persons, and providing opportunities to experience Guyana’s rich natural environment.