Claims about Bai Shan Lin forest holdings are erroneous
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud

–Forestry Commissioner

MINISTER of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud rejected claims made on Monday that Bai Shan Lin Forestry Incorporated holds some 960,000 hectares of forest. 
In the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment, the Minister responded to claims made by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Committee Member Lt. Col. (ret’d) Joseph Harmon, who requested clarification on the approximate 960,000 hectares held by Bai Shan Lin.
The APNU committee member was referring to a Stabroek News article, dated April 13, 2014, which affirmed that the Chinese logging company added some 960,000 hectares of forest to its forestry holdings in Guyana.

ERRONEOUS
Speaking on behalf of the Guyana Forestry Commission was Forestry Commissioner, Mr. James Singh, who in response to Harmon said, “I know that the figure for the forestry concessions is… erroneous.”
He affirmed that BSL “has access to about 640,000 hectares of which 345,000 are under the State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP) process.” Singh similarly noted that “They [BSL] only have timber sales agreement rights by means of joint ventures, which are about 280,000 hectares.”
The Forestry Commissioner disclosed that BSL holds two permits issued for a three-year period; adding that as part of the joint venture, the other permit is held by Sherwood Forests.
Addressing questions on the obligations of the company raised by Harmon, Commissioner Singh stated that the holder of the permits “has to do an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment… [As well as] a forestry inventory and a business plan.”
“Upon review of these documentation, and satisfactory review [by the Forestry Commission], then and only then is a recommendation made to the Board [of the GFC] for the SFP [State Forest Permission] to be converted into a Timber Sales Agreement,” according to Singh.
The Natural Resources Minister stressed that based on information which he is privy to, “Bai Shan Lin is now the only company that is involved in JPs [Joint Partnerships] with other companies.”
Persaud underscored that the forestry sector in recent years has seen more joint venture arrangements such as those held by BSL. He asserted that such joint arrangements should not be seen as unique or a new phenomenon when “It is what has been happening in the forestry sector for many years.”
On the question of BSL’s developmental plans for concessions granted, Minister Persaud affirmed that BSL is obligated to seek approval from the Forestry Commission though an approved annual operation drive.
He added that the logging company must submit “100% re-harvest inventory of the areas that they have logged.”
Upon verification that the information presented to the Commission is factual, the company is given permission with an obligation to observe the codes of practice” that the Forestry Commission has set in place, inclusive of log tagging.
The Minister maintained that Bai Shan Lin currently has access to 640,000 hectares for which 345,000 hectares are accessible through a joint venture with Sherwood Forests.

(By Derwayne Wills)

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