​Photographs by Olivia Zimmerman

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An investigation of Amerindian autonomy, land tenure, and tropical forest protection efforts through an understanding of sustainable development programs within the Amerindian community-led "ecotourism" model. 

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The research goal was to identify the obstacles and challenges to Amerindian autonomy over ancestral forest resources and ecosystem management. The question was whether ecotourism was a manifestation of human rights, environmental protection, and economic development.​

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The research also included realization of domestic Guyanese indigenous rights to land tenure (the Amerindian Act) and whether self-determination and sovereignty over ancestral resources has been made possible through successful examples of Amerindian community-led ecotourism.