–about BSL, GFC operations

WITH reference to several articles seen in the Kaiteur News, especially the one that stated halt and investigate Bai Shan Lin operation immediately, I wish to outline that this type of irresponsible statement is formulated to degrade the operations of Bai Shan Lin, which sends a false picture discrediting the administration of the Guyana Forestry Commission.

It is totally unfair/unjust to the Commission and Bai Shan Lin, especially when they are working within the confines of Guyana’s Forest Laws.

We, as Guyanese, need to give credit where it is due, and should commend the Guyana Forestry Commission and staff for working tirelessly over the years to bring the Commission to be among the best in the world.

It is sad to see articles humiliating Bai Shin Lin, an investment company that is creating jobs for Guyanese and improving the lives of small loggers and community workers.

As a former Operations Director of Forest Enterprise Limited and a former Forest Officer who has worked and studied forest operations in several countries the world over, and has 48 years working experience, I am fully aware of the rules and code of practice of the Guyana Forestry Commission, which guides all stake holders in doing sustainable timber harvesting.

It is not my hope or desire to respond to the many statements that make the news; but, if I do not, I will be guilty of accepting distorted information, especially when I know the truth.

I must let you know that Guyana Forestry Commission’s objective or the code of practice is for each operation to provide a range of standards, guidelines and rules that will help concessionaires to adopt appropriate practices. Its aim is to function as the following:

1. An effective instrument for the implementation of sustainable management of Guyana’s forest.

2. A brief of guidelines that will facilitate forest procedures of certification.

3. A series of guidelines that will help conserve biological diversity, forest regeneration and wildlife protection.

4. A tool for promoting enhanced productivity, sustainability, and economic viability of forest harvesting.

5. A tool for promoting improved living conditions and safety of workforce.
6. A tool promoting improved relations between logging companies and local communities.

There has been massive development from 1992 to date. In 2000, the log tracking system was introduced to verify the origin of logs or sawn lumber, and to control the level of harvesting within each and every concession, be it state forest permit, wood cutting lease, timber sales agreement etc.

The tracking system is controlled by the use of tags and verification. These tags are freely given to stakeholders at the commencement of their logging operation, and the quota is equated to the number of standing trees which yield the volume and the number of trees computed. Each stakeholder is allotted a number of tags equivalent to his sustained yield. Log tracking is fixed onto the stamp at the time when the tree is felled, and the other bearing the same sequence of numbers as recorded on the stump is placed on the produce being conveyed. These tag numbers indicate where the produce came from, and can be traced to the origin of the produce.

Guyana Forestry Commission controls monitoring of the log tracking system, and the forest station and forest officers are supplied with the log tags for each area. Forest produce is recorded by each stakeholder for reference, and can be verified at anytime.

At Forest Enterprise Limited, our annual allowable cut was based on the company cutting cycle. Senior Forest Officers of Guyana Forestry Commission are aware of the growth rate of the different tree species, and they put systems in place for a cutting cycle. If a cutting cycle is 25 years and the area is x hectares, including small loggers clear felling in case of mining, farms and joint venture with Bai Shan Lin, taking allowance for biodiversity and overgrown trees with large canopies, it is necessary to fell these trees and remove them, so as to allow rapid growth for the many small plants.

All this should be known by those who work in the forest business and are owners of forest concessions. They should also know the forest laws and at least guide the public.

Looking at one of the many pictures I have seen, and based on the cutting cycle, Forest Enterprise Limited is allowed to harvest approximately 18 cubic metres per hectare, which is equivalent to approximately 8 to 12 trees, depending on the size.
According to 100% inventory, one hectare has in excess of 300 trees, when FEL harvests 12 trees per hectare, we find 285 trees remaining, 12 to be harvested after 60 years, and the cycle will continue. By that time the volume of trees in the concession would increase due to the removal of the overgrown ones also.

The form of administration by GFC is compulsory for all stakeholders to follow. As a result, continuous harvesting according to the cutting cycle will continue over and over again. In this respect, it is crystal clear that the forest resources of Guyana could never be exhausted.

Any Guyanese who is in the system and those who want to be honest will say for sure that the administration of Guyana Forestry Commission is above board. With the present harvesting system in place, there is no way Guyana natural forest resources can be exhausted, contrary to the press release.

Another issue in the news is Mr. Harmon asking for a public debate with the Commissioner of Forests. It must be advised that the commissioner is a senior public servant, and is a neutral man in dealing with the public. He is very qualified in forest operations, forest laws, and he knows it all. He should not be forced into political game with Mr. Harmon, who is not a forest officer; and should the debate materialise, there can be a hatred created which will target the commissioner.

Debates of this nature, in my opinion, would be appropriate with the appointed political head of the Commission, if he feels it necessary.

Another article in Kaieteur News is that local loggers demand similar concessions as foreigners.
In this respect, I am aware that duty-free concessions are available to all investors, be they local or foreign, but there is a formality in getting these benefits. You need to apply for duty-free concessions through the Guyana Office for Investment, and keep following up your application.

I know that many forest companies have applied for, and received, duty-free concessions. It is not fair for a company or individual to say that he/she is not getting duty-free concession when that company or individual has never applied for, or followed up the application.

I fully agree that all foreign companies should be involved in downstream operations and value added production.

When speaking about downstream operation and value added production, I must mention that in 1967, UNDP or FAO and Guyana Forestry Department, now Guyana Forestry Commission, established a well-equipped training institution that was keeping abreast internationally with improved technologies in forest utilization and downstream processing for the utilization of the forest resources.

This institution’s ultimate aims were firstly to accomplish improvement in existing industries by the introduction of new technology, and secondly to develop new processes for the utilization of forest resources.

The sections carry out service tests and observe behaviour of wood in use, e.g. flooring, sliding, piling. Improve the durability of wood preservatives
to make wood more stable in the use through seasoning. Works to discover the best techniques of conversion and machining .Works to design and test timber structures, eg. Roof, tresses, furniture, joints and prefabricated buildings. Works to develop uses for slabs and edgings. Works to render the sapwood of all species useable. Works to reduce wastage through proper sawmilling practices. Testing paints, coatings and proprietary preservatives. Prepares and tests new sawmill head rigs and wood working plants through the introduction of production planning and control techniques to ensure the use of the best wood preservatives in sawmills. And works to introduce small but efficient mills in the interior.

With all the systems in place for proper utilization of Guyana’s lesser known wood species, and to improve the downstream processing and value added production, this section of the Guyana Forestry Commission was closed down in 1985, because some machinery used for training were removed by the administration.

I have since resigned after 12 years of studies local and overseas, and have taken up appointment in the Commonwealth of Dominica. I must mention that this was the only institution in Guyana and the Western Hemisphere where students from the Caribbean attend training courses. With comments on downstream processing and value added production etc. had it not been for the closing of the institution, Guyana would have been far better off in regard to downstream processing and value added production.

T. DREPAUL
Ex. Operations Director of Forest Enterprise Limited
Ex. Forest Officer, GFC
Regional Councillor, Region Four (Mahaica/Moblissa)