The North Rupununi District in located in south-west Guyana consisting of a mixture of forest, savannah and wetlands ecosystems and is considered one of the most diverse areas in South America.
Located on the eastern margin of the larger savannah system which extends into Brazil and is separated by the Ireng and Takutu rivers that come together to form the Rio Branco.
Officially, Guyana is home to 9 Amerindian tribes, although some tribal designations refer to the descendants of several, formerly linguistically distinct, groups–notably the Wai-wai[4] and Wapishana.
Though this situation is being remedied with a greater focus on consultation with Amerindians in current development programmes [e.g. Bishop 1996], the problem of ensuring their full participation in and benefit from the changes that are taking place in Guyana remains.
Aside from subsistence and economic value, the North Rupununi also feature prominently indigenous culture and folklore, and have significant aesthetic value, serving as a primary place of recreation for local residents.
Notably the construction of the cross border Takutu River Bridge to Brazil, improvement of the Lethem-Georgetown Road which runs near the Kanuku Mountains and through the Rupununi savannahs, allowing increased access to natural resources, increased population growth in Lethem, the nearest town to the Kanukus, fire, over-harvesting of wildlife for sale to Brazil, and illegal wildlife trade.