We’ve been quiet, but the forest hasn’t!
And other Spring 2026 updates…
We may have been quiet for a while - but the forest certainly hasn’t.
Behind the scenes, Sophia Point has been bustling with activity: supporting vital research, facilitating training, forging new partnerships, and capturing incredible footage of the wildlife that surrounds us.
We’re delighted to begin sharing our newsletters again, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our recent work and exciting developments. Stay tuned!
Protected Areas Commission Training Day
We recently hosted 22 rangers from across Guyana as part of Guyana’s Protected Areas Commission (PAC) ranger training. We were delighted to facilitate this exciting and important event.
Rangers came from across Guyana's protected areas, from Shell Beach to the Kanuku Mountains, as well as from local Rivers View and Karrau communities.
They gathered at Sophia Point for an intensive program including ecological monitoring, data management, community engagement, and a ranger knowledge exchange. Participants also completed certified first aid and boat handling training, strengthening the skills needed to work safely and effectively in the field.
A huge thank you to the Sophia Point team and community members whose support made the training a success - in particular to trustee René Edwards whose hard worked made this possible. Thanks also to the Protected Areas Commission, attending trainers, and the brilliant rangers.
The experience highlighted the potential of Sophia Point as an accessible hub for training, research, and knowledge exchange in Guyana. We hope this is the first of many.
eDNA Science at Sophia Point
We are thrilled to partner with researchers from the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the University of Guyana to bring cutting-edge environmental genomics (eDNA) analysis to Guyana!
Sophia Point is part of a cross-border program linking Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil. Using non-invasive DNA collected from soil, water, and air, the project detects species, monitors ecosystem health, and helps guide conservation decisions in real time.
Led by Dr. Louise Brousseau from French Guiana, the team visited Sophia Point at the beginning of the year with trustee Dr. Gyanpriya Maharaj to set up sampling sites and train our rangers, Henry and Joshua.
A major goal of the project is building local capacity - giving rangers, scientists, and students hands-on experience with field-based, portable DNA sequencing. With their training complete, our rangers are now collecting eDNA on site and directly contributing to this groundbreaking research.
Conservation collaboration in action!
In January, our ranger Henry Bernard spent time at the amazing Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, where he participated in an excellent bird guiding course and gained valuable insight into their monitoring programme alongside their experienced rangers. He returned full of new insight and enthusiasm.
We then hosted Iwokrama's ranger, Jermaine Bernard, at Sophia Point for a week. During his visit, he took part in a range of activities, including camera trap setting and bird monitoring under the guidance of local expert biologist and guide, Wally Prince.
This knowledge sharing in action shows the enormous potential in Guyana for collaboration. This program builds on the Memorandum of Understanding we signed with Iwokrama in 2025 and we look forward to many more opportunities to work together.
Thank you @iwokrama_international, we are excited to continue to build capacity in Guyana together!
Celebrating two years since construction
In March 2024, we proudly opened Sophia Point’s new facility - an accessible, purpose-built space where Guyanese students can immerse themselves in the rainforest and study it. The centre was designed with nature in mind, running entirely off solar power and rainwater capture and adopting techniques used in indigenous building design to keep the place cool in the midday heat.
Our completed facilities feature both wet and dry labs, accommodation for up to 30 overnight visitors across 16 rooms, as well as a classroom, dining area, and kitchen facilities all set within the incredible surrounding forest.
This vision was brought to life thanks to the dedication of the Sophia Point team, architect Marcel Gaskin, lead contractor Indar Ramlall, and a skilled group of local workers and support staff. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and commitment, delivering the building in just 8 months.
Since completion we've supported hundreds of visitors to explore, study and appreciate Guyana's nature. All helping us deliver on our mission to promote research and conservation of these unique rainforests.
