…regulator alerts operators of upcoming monitoring
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has put wood processors on notice that with a new Code of Practice for wood processing operations gazette, the regulator will be monitoring their operations to ensure compliance.
With Guyana holding a reputation as a country with one of the best managed forests in the world and the Guyana-European Union (EU) Forest Partnership, GFC in a recent notice made it clear that it will be enforcing compliance with the Wood Processing Code of Practice.
“The GFC advises that the Code of Practice for Wood Processing operations has been gazetted and thus the GFC will monitor the implementation of various aspects of this code. Particular attention must be paid to improving of the quality of lumber being produced and sold locally.”
“In this regard, sawmill and lumber yard operators must ensure the proper display of produce, stacking by species, grade and dimension and general improvement in the quality of lumber for sale and compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines (OSH),” the notice added.
In the notice, GFC also explained that it is currently accepting applications from persons in the wood sector, for renewal or issuance of 2025 licenses for timber dealers, sawmills, sawpit, and log import and export, among other areas.
Among the requirements for issuance of these licenses, is for relevant proof of ownership or legal occupation of the property to be presented. GFC also reminded that applications for timber dealers and sawmill licenses must be accompanied by a permit from the relevant Local Authority body, such as the Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC).
“Persons/companies that have leased small concessions (state forest permit) and owners of private property intending to produce chain saw lumber must have a valid sawpit licence before they can commence production or collect removal permits.”
“Please note that your sawpit applications must include the type/model and serial numbers of the chainsaws intended to be used for the operation. The GFC advises that it will not process applications for applicants who seek to operate on locations previously deemed unauthorised.”
According to the Guyana-EU Forest Partnership that Guyana signed last year with the aim of helping to manage Guyana’s forests and promoting the forest bioeconomy, a roadmap was established to ensure that the EU and Guyana’s commitment to reaching a set number of targets by 2030 can be accomplished.
These targets include: maintaining 12.5 million hectares of sustainably managed forests; expanding protected and conserved forests to 30 per cent of terrestrial and marine species; increasing restored forest to 200,000 hectares; increasing the number of forest-related decent jobs; and maintaining the rate of deforestation of natural forests below 0.01 per cent per annum.
The Forest Partnership and the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) are expected to help Guyana enhance its forest bioeconomy and attract public and private investments while contributing to climate and biodiversity objectives and reinforcing the rights of local communities and Indigenous people.
In November 2023, during Conference of the Parties (COP27), Guyana was one of five countries to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a Forest Partnership with the European Commission. This worked as an acknowledgment of the challenges posed to forests by climate change and development needs as well as the opportunity to position forests to play their full economic, social, and environmental roles.
Through the country’s first Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which was unveiled in 2009, and under the leadership of then President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana was also able to secure a deal with the Kingdom of Norway for up to US$250 million in an agreement that simply meant that Guyana had to continue preserving its dense forests and use the resources for continued mitigation and adaptation efforts.
With more than 80 per cent of the country being covered by forest, Guyana can sequester approximately 19.5 gigatons of carbon. This strategy thus plays a crucial role in the global fight against climate change.
As a result, the Government of Guyana, through the Expanded LCDS 2030, managed to sign a deal with Hess Corporation for up to US$750 million for 30 per cent of the carbon credits Guyana’s forest offers. Since the signing of that deal in December 2022, Guyana has managed to support Amerindian communities in the development of sustainable projects that would serve as new sources of revenue.
Also, sums of money have been allocated to significant adaptation measures, including the construction of several new Hope-like canals and other flood prevention works in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). (G3)
