Iwokrama showcases model forestry operation in London

THE Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development recently partnered with local industrial company Farfan and Mendes Limited (FML) ton showcase a model forestry operation at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

According to a release from Iwokrama, the entity, on February 5th, showcased its model forestry operation in London at Marlborough House, the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. According to the release, both technical and strategic presentations were made on the forestry model by Iwokrama’s CEO Dane Gobin, and forest management personnel and FML, Iwokrama’s partner in the development of the model.

The discussions that followed the presentations included areas such as species selection, volumes and products, FSC certification, sustainable forest management, processing equipment and techniques, involvement of local communities in the model, and research and science opportunities.

The participants expressed satisfaction that Iwokrama’s forestry operation was up and running, and said they were looking forward to contributing to the development of the model. The international buyers, the release said, were particularly interested that Iwokrama would be able to provide FSC certified wood.

Currently, no one in the world produces FSC-certified greenheart, a major species for marine construction works in Europe and North America.

Invitees to the event, which was supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH and the Commonwealth Secretariat, included representatives from Guyana’s High Commission to London and Iwokrama’s Science Committee; international timber buyers from the UK, Holland and the US; the Commonwealth Forestry Association; and international scientists on climate change and ecosystem services, among other stakeholders.

Stakeholders were provided with background information on sustainable forestry operation, the release stated. Last year, the Centre and FML commenced operations in keeping with the Centre’s mandate to develop sustainable businesses using multiple forest resources and international best practices.

In accordance with Section 9 of the Iwokrama Act (1996), a complex and extensive exercise was conducted on the Iwokrama Forest, resulting in the zoning of the Iwokrama Forest into a Wilderness Preserve (WP) and a Sustainable Utilization Area (SUA). The SUA was demarcated as the area where development work for the Centre’s experimental timber model and all of its other business models, including tourism and training services, are undertaken.

The release stated that all of Iwokrama’s business models are designed to follow international economic, social and environmental best practices, and employ innovative governance systems involving various stakeholders.

According to the release, the Centre will use the results of the research and experience it acquired in Phase I of its operations in areas such as forest dynamics, pre-harvest and post-harvest inventories, community engagement, certification, facilities layout and logistics to help refine and improve operations and forest management in Phase 2.

As with its other businesses, the Centre will replicate its overarching management and sustainability protocols in the timber operations by
(1) informing forestry policy by providing practical results to policy holders and
(2) building local, regional and international capacity in areas of sustainable forest management.

The Centre will employ a 60-year cutting cycle, harvesting a maximum of 1,800 ha per year (which is less than 0.5% of the Iwokrama Forest) under a very selective harvesting regime, which will result in only a few stems per ha being removed, and no large gaps created in the forest canopy.

Iwokrama noted that the operations will employ best practices in forestry, including a strict no-log-export policy and the employment of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) and Directional Felling (DF) techniques. One key area that will be addressed and demonstrated is that it is much more efficient to employ a “cutting for value” (which allows for the highest recovery of high grade lumber from the log, and therefore the greatest value) strategy rather than the industry standard of a “cutting to order” that precludes getting the highest volume and grade recovery.

New technologies will also be tested – a new Tigercat 635D skidder and a model 234 knuckleboom log loader are also being tested. This brand is new to Guyana and the technology should allow for the faster and more efficient harvesting operations and a reduced environmental footprint.

According to the release, forestry research studies such as testing inventory and log measurement methods and sawmilling efficiencies will be done, and the impact of harvesting on the forest by conducting pre- and post-harvesting inventories on indicator species etc. will also be evaluated.

As it develops the model, the Centre intends to continue to work closely with its community partners, the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), which represents the 20 villages of the North Rupununi. In January 2016, the Centre renewed its collaborative management agreement (CMA) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NRDDB after a six-month period of consultation and review. The CMA and MOU are the guiding documents through which Iwokrama and its community partners co-manage the Iwokrama Forest.

To validate its employment of best practices in its operations, the Centre is once again on route to achieving international accreditation of its forest management practices and operations by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), for which funding has already been secured.

FSC is the most prestigious international forest certification scheme, and in 2008, the Centre was the first to have achieved and maintained FSC certification in Guyana. From all indications, the Centre will again repeat that distinction in 2016, as it is likely to be the only institution in Guyana to be FSC-certified.

Iwokrama said the Centre would ensure all its operations continue to comply with the stipulations of all national regulators, including the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), with whom the Centre works closely, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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