Region 10 forestry stakeholders benefit from Sustainable Livelihood Symposium

Forestry and other related key stakeholders in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were given an opportunity to vent their concerns on record as well as to put forward recommendations for an improved sector as the Natural Resources Ministry hosted a Symposium on Sustainable Livelihoods for Forest Dependent communities.

The initiative was organised by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) in collaboration with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)(REDD+Readiness) Project and was held at the Watooka Complex, Linden, on Friday.
Subject Minister, Raphael Trotman engaged the participation of numerous Community Forestry Organisations (CFOs) across the region, including the Aroaima Forest and Agricultural Producers Association, Rockstone Loggers Association and Ituni Small Loggers and Chainsaw operators Association amongst others.

Presently, there are about 19 CFOs in Region 10. Minister Trotman noted that Friday’s engagement stemmed from a promise which was made to CFOs last year.
“It’s really [in keeping with] a promise we made last year to just come and sit with them to discuss not only logging but how can they associate themselves through logging, out of logging…tourism, farming, sustainable harvesting, preserving the forests…“, the Minister said.
Trotman highlighted that coming out of the exercise he has heard of issues such as those relating to penalties and fines. The Minister explained that the Forestry Commission, as the regulatory body, has a duty to ensure that loggers and other forestry stakeholders stay in line but at the same time should not be oppressive.
“We want a partnership, and that is something I’m going to look at. I’m also going to look and see how we can have more value-added done so that we’re not only cutting logs and sending it to Georgetown to be shipped but we can do wood, we can use the waste…what we call sawdust…all of these have value and we’re exploring today how some of those can be used as well…Personally, I’m excited about agriculture, not just in this region but throughout the country”, the Minister continued.
Trotman said he was heartened by the turnout, responses and exchange of ideas at the event, noting that he was confident that fruitful recommendations will be made in moving forward. The Minister also took 200 fruit plants which he noted is in an effort for the region to be able to seize opportunities which are being offered. In this regard, he said a company, Topco, has already expressed interest in the region becoming a supplier as he noted that it is very much poised to do so.
“It’s a good exchange and we’re happy that the Chairman of the region, the Mayor, the REO and others were here to participate”, Minister Trotman said.
Organisers of the event noted that part of the aim was to identify key elements of a plan for achieving sustainable livelihoods in forestry-related communities as well as to provide an opportunity for CFOs and other key stakeholders including State agencies to partner in an effort to build sustainable livelihoods.
Presently, there are over 70 Community Forest Organisations (CFOs) in Guyana, some of which are Indigenous.
The CFO members are allowed access to GFC tags, training and other inputs to facilitate their forestry activities which include felling trees and conversion of logs to lumber. It was noted that the profitability of CFOs has dwindled over the years with current CFO business models and approaches straining forestry resources and jeopardising prospects of sustainable livelihoods being generated from community forests.
It was also noted that given the imperatives of the Forest Law, Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process, there are genuine fears that CFOs will be forced to exit the forestry sector as they may not be able to produce legal timber profitably.
According to organisers, CFOs during a recent REDD+ organised event expressed that improvements and changes are needed at a business level as well as for interventions which would assist in diversifying and strengthening their business.
It was noted that the FCPF project is strategically positioned to assist with the CFO request. The Natural Resources Ministry has asked for the GFC to work with the REDD+ Project to develop a proposal for engaging the CFOs on ways and means of ensuring sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.