ERM was featured recently in an article, “From Exploration to Discovery – Researching Nature in Guyana.” The article summarises some of the results of ERM’s work for ExxonMobil Guyana to conduct bird, marine and sea turtle studies offshore and along the coast of Guyana. ERM also contributed to an ecosystem services study, which documented the relationship between coastal ecosystems and local human populations – the first study of its kind to be conducted coast-wide in Guyana.
ERM leveraged technology throughout the project to ensure safe, timely and accurate results. With specially adapted tablets, the team produced real-time data analytics in the field. Connecting with geospatial specialists located in ERM offices, local team members were able to conduct extensive and precise coastal mapping that was critical to the integrity of the biodiversity studies. Highlights from the field studies included successfully tagging sea turtles with telemetry devices to understand their nesting, dive and migratory patterns; identifying bird and fish species that had not been previously recorded in Guyana; and the participation of over 700 local community members in the collection of ecosystem services data along the coast.
To learn more, watch this short video from ExxonMobil Guyana.