Small loggers now have the support of the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as the organisation has recently revised an initiative aimed at assisting the loggers in improving compliance with forest laws of Guyana.
The initiative is titled, “Develop a pilot timber harvesting and forest monitoring model for small loggers associations to improve compliance with the forest laws and agreed forest management prescriptions in Guyana”.
It was revised based on discussions between the small loggers associations, the FAO, the Guyana Forestry Commission and Forestry Training Centre Incorporated.
Advisor on Sustainable Development, Ministry of Natural Resource, Clayton Hall delivering the feature address
These discussions revealed the need for more focus to be placed on developing a forest harvesting model and field testing the model in collaboration with the small loggers.
In addition to support, the EU and FAO will also be developing a timber harvesting and forests monitoring pilot model, of one concession each, for a number of small loggers associations.
Some associations to benefit are Aroaima Forests and Agricultural Producers Association, Hururu Forests and Agricultural Producers Association, Ituni Small loggers and Chainsaw Operators Association, Kwakwani Natural Resources Organisation, Maria Elizabeth Three Friends Small Loggers Association and Upper Berbice Forests Producers Associations.
The project is said to have been implemented for a period of over a year with US$122,000 being pumped into it.
Commissioner of Forests, James Singh, thanked the FAO and the EU for their continuous support of initiatives aimed at empowering loggers and hopes for their continued support.
Singh stated the vocational training of the forestry sector is an ongoing activity being undertaken by the Forestry Training Centre Incorporated.
FAO Resident Representative, Reuben Robertson in his remarks thanked the EU for their continued partnership with the FAO in ensuring that relevant projects are realised.
The project, he pointed out, supported loggers who are now able to monitor their concessions through capacity development and with the equipment received, a constraint of loggers has been remedied.
In delivering the feature address, Advisor to the Natural Resources Minister, Clayton Hall, highlighted the strides being made by Guyana to improve the logging industry.
He stated that often, the importance of governance is neglected in the management of the forests as a resource. As such, he noted that the Natural Resources Ministry is proud the project has resulted in capacity development of small loggers while providing them with much needed equipment to ensure their forests monitoring practices are improved.
