Guyana’s Forests: the future of Guyana’s ‘green economy’
Guyana's forests hold the key to the country’s future and the development of a “green economy”
Guyana's forests hold the key to the country’s future and the development of a “green economy”

GUYANA’s forests form part of the Guiana Shield, a 1.7 billion-year-old formation which stands as one of the largest blocks of pristine tropical forests on the planet, and houses a vast amount of rare and unique species of flora and fauna.

Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Mr. James Singh, has said that Guyana's deforestation rate is among the lowest in the world
Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Mr. James Singh, has said that Guyana’s deforestation rate is among the lowest in the world

Our forests hold the key to the country’s future and development of a “green economy”. We must therefore employ strategies and policies to ensure the adequate conservation and sustainable use of our country’s natural resources.

At the opening ceremony of the Fourth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield, President David Granger said that establishment of a scientific research institute, setting up of strong mechanisms for data and information sharing, and adequate investment and funding are initiatives that should be adopted for the effective protection and preservation of the Guiana Shield.

“Green economies need investment to sustain protected areas and for sustainable energy. The absence of investment will place pressure on the governments of the Shield, particularly the three smallest states, if they are to move towards resource extraction; and it may tempt them perhaps to go into directions which lead to deforestation and destructive mining, which could have adverse effects on biodiversity…

A team from the Guyana Forestry Commission conducting pre-harvest inventory
A team from the Guyana Forestry Commission conducting pre-harvest inventory

“We have only one world, and the world has only one Guiana Shield. We have a responsibility, as the trustees of the Guiana Shield, and that responsibility imposes on us the duty to protect and preserve our unique patrimony,” the President said.

The push towards sustainable development while the country also seeks to conserve its forests has been among the President’s key policies since his taking office. Guyana was among 196 parties to sign on to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in April this year. The Paris Agreement is one which falls within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It deals with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as adaptations and financing needed to tackle climate change, beginning in the year 2020.

The Iwokrama Sawmill
The Iwokrama Sawmill

At the signing ceremony in New York, President Granger said Guyana will play its part by bringing two million hectares of forest under conservation. The President also pledged to improve the country’s timber-monitoring and increase value-added activities in the forestry sector, so as to augment carbon storage in long-use wood products.

But Guyana must exploit its forest wealth. The challenge is to ensure that this is done sustainably and in a way that preserves the forests for future generations. Responsibility for the sustainable development of Guyana’s forestry sector falls within the purview of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), which governs sustainable management of economic, environmental and social forestry practices.

Commissioner of the GFC, Mr. James Singh, has said the GFC has been busy with several projects aimed at achieving the President’s vision. One of the main priorities of the GFC, he said, is bringing to fruition the promise of increased value-added production.

In fact, Government sees value-added production as a higher priority that log exports, with regard to development of the forestry sector. Among its many efforts, the GFC will seek to establish a training school which will look at enhancing practical, marketing and entrepreneurial skills for loggers.

The GFC has also drafted a Log Export Policy which has been reviewed by several stakeholders, including the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association and the Forest Products Association. Mr. Singh has said this policy will aid in ensuring restrictions are placed on species that are in high demand by local manufacturers, to help ensure that sufficient raw materials are available for manufacturers, so that they can enter into the value-added industry.

He said the GFC will now look to meet with these stakeholders to discuss their concerns, some of which have been the contention that restriction of exports can affect the loggers’ livelihoods.

“We don’t want to seem to be dictating, but, at (the) same time, Government has a policy; so what we come up with has to be something that is acceptable to both parties,” Mr. Singh has said.

To help promote value-added production, the GFC is also looking to encourage the expansion of timber species used on the market. Though Guyana has almost 1,000 species of trees, less than 50 are being used commercially. Moreover, the country can afford to produce 1.6 million cubic metres of wood annually, while still committing to its sustainable development goals; yet, only 500,000 cubic metres are being produced, Mr. Singh said.

Seeing value-added production as a key success factor for the future of the forestry sector, the GFC’s focus on pushing this aspect of the industry, therefore, encompasses several projects. Head of the Planning and Development Division (PDD), Ms. Pradeepa Bholanath, has said the division — having responsibility for the economic planning and forecasting of the forestry sector — is currently facilitating conversation between Government and the private sector regarding the move towards value-added.
She said the PDD has been working with the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) to possibly access funds from the Guyana-Norway Agreement to help fund key initiatives that can help to expand the value-added sector.

The Division is also working, through the Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (Guyana) Incorporated, to help to identify the right markets for the right value-added products.

“There is a lot more that needs to be done; and of all the areas we have worked on over the years, this is the one that needs the most attention in moving forward,” Ms. Bholanath has said.

The role of Guyana’s forests in the fight against climate change is also a major focus of the GFC. Therefore, advancing the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD+) Programme is another main focus of the GFC.

The PDD has been working with the REDD Secretariat (Guyana) and the Office of Climate Change (OCC) on projects that seek to include new aspects of Government’s holistic Green Economy Development Plan, which will seek to further support the Climate Change Programme of Guyana.

Most importantly, increased timber production must, as a key priority, be synchronous with effective management of deforestation. Sustainable management in this regard is a goal that is more than achievable for Guyana. Mr. Singh has said that Guyana’s deforestation rate stands at 0.065 per cent, which is one of the lowest rates of deforestation in the world.

“So we have been able to do our forestry, mining, agriculture, and all the expansion that comes with it, and yet maintain a very low rate of deforestation; so that tells you about the potential of our forestry sector,” Mr. Singh has said.

With this much room to manoeuvre and expand, the future of Guyana’s Timber Industry looks bright, Mr. Singh has said; and with the right developments, the industry has the potential to contribute an additional 6 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Outside of these major projects, the GFC’s mandate also seeks to not only work with loggers in an aim to resolve their challenges, but to also work with community associations, by granting concessions to persons within communities in the forested areas so as to support their economic livelihoods.

The Commission also grants and monitors small, medium, and large forestry concessions; conducts studies, and collects data all with the aim of ensuring the country’s forest resources are efficiently and conservatively managed. Focus on marketing, shipping, and establishment of a consolidated log yard to better satisfy lumber demand are also high on the Commission’s agenda.

And these all form part of Government’s plan to increase production in, and expand, the forestry sector.

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