I am a very firm supporter of the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).  As a layman, I am also familiar with Guyana’s REDD+ initiative which is a very important component of the LCDS.  In fact, through the proper implementation of Guyana’s REDD+ activities, financial incentives will be obtained to support LCDS implementation.   This information, along with many more details is publicly available and easily accessible.
I was therefore very disturbed and in fact alarmed when I read an article in Stabroek News (June 3, 2010) captioned ‘Improved forest management should be included in ongoing discussions of REDD policy’ by Professor Francis E. Putz of the University of Florida.

Had this learned professor done his research properly, he would have recognised that Guyana’s REDD+ activities are slated to address both deforestation and forest degradation.  Guyana’s Readiness Preparation Proposal (RPP) outlines that even though there is a deforestation rate of less that 1%, only a few prime species are harvested.  This “creaming” is actually forest degradation and one of GFC’s current work plan activities focuses on the promotion of the Lesser Used Species to reduce the pressure on the prime species.

Additionally, the RPP seeks to identify through a thorough stakeholder consultation process, the drivers of both deforestation and forest degradation and also harmonise all the land use legislation so that practices on the ground would minimize deforestation and forest degradation.

Additionally, the updated LCDS speaks about a REDD+ Governance Development Plan (RGDP). This outlines the updating of national guidelines for Forest Management which is currently ongoing.  Only recently, a series of national consultations were held with all stakeholder groups as part of the process of reviewing and revising the National Forest Policy and National Forest Plan. The RGDP also focuses on developing Codes of Practice for processing, and for Non-Timber Forest Products; all of these will have the effect of minimizing deforestation and forest degradation.

Professor Putz speaks about conventional logging practices being used in Guyana. This is incorrect. The Forestry Training Centre Inc. (FTCI) has trained over 1,200 persons to date in Reduced Impact Logging Practices (RIL).  This training is provided to both large and small concessionaires.  In fact, over 180 persons from Communities have been trained already in 2010.  It is an undisputable fact that RIL is practiced in Guyana.

Professor Putz is also off mark when he suggests that selectively logged forests could be treated to improve productivity.

If he had done research on our forests’ soil type, he would learn that our forest soils are nutrient poor and the cost of silvicultural treatment to increase growth rates is financially impractical.

One area where I will agree with Professor Putz is that more forest research needs to be done.  But this needs to be focused on the development of the sector.  In this respect, the academic institutions need to work with the Forest Commission and private sector groups to identify research priorities and actually implement same through MSc or even BSc projects.

In closing, I wish to advise professor Putz that deforestation and forest degradation are high on the Government’s and peoples’ agenda.  Also, there is no need to call for adoption of RIL – it is being implemented comprehensively in Guyana.  Additionally, documentation from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) shows that work has begun on building our MRV System and forest carbon stock assessments are ongoing. We hope that you can contribute your knowledge and skills to supporting these and the many other activities for the successful implementation of REDD+ and LCDS.