THE Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) continues to work to ensure equitable distribution among communities that depend on forest resources for their livelihoods.
The Community Forest Organisations (CFOs) is one such initiative that is designed to ensure equity as well as sustainable logging.
These organisations have elected representatives that are being managed under a constitution, registered under the Friendly Societies Act.
Community forestry has been an important part of the GFC’s work programme for the past 11 years; it evolved out of the Commission’s Social Development Programme, which was developed to ensure that all communities located within as well as outside of forest concession areas, utilise their forest resources in an environmentally sustainable manner to garner economic and social benefits for all.
Speaking at a seminar in commemoration of International Year of Forests, as declared by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, President Bharrat Jagdeo lauded the GFC for this “unique” programme which places Guyana in a more advanced position with regard to sustainable logging, an issue that other countries are still struggling with.
‘If individuals were not organised then you would have had illegal logging but because we moved ahead of the curve and tried to mobilise people together, we have deterred  them from going off individually to cut trees to earn a living,” he said.
This initiative began with approximately six communities. However today, the Commission has successfully mobilised 54 communities to be part of CFOs with almost 2000 people (both indigenous and non-indigenous) from all counties.
The GFC is also committed to promoting greater public awareness and understanding of social responsibilities of forest stakeholders while at the same time, empowering communities with the requisite knowledge to utilise the forests for benefits in a sustainable manner.
In the National Forest Plan and Policy Statement, CFOs have been identified as a priority focus area.
Additionally, the revised forest legislation also makes provisions for CFOs with regard to sustainable forest management and resource allocation.
In an effort to ensure that the community forestry programme is sustained, the Commission has taken bold steps to formalise arrangements for the governance and administration of a Community Forest Loggers Association to oversee collective logging activities.  (GINA)