The Ministry of Natural Resources through the Guyana Forestry Commission in collaboration with several supporting organisations, on Monday hosted a public education and awareness workshop aimed at edifying the necessary players, on the benefits of expanding usage of Lesser Used Species (LUS) of timbers in Guyana.
Opening remarks at the workshop highlighted the fact that Guyana’s forestry base is equipped with over 1000 different species of wood but only 30 of these are used. The participants including contractors, saw millers, lumber yard operator, forest concessionaires and other entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to participate in an informative session aimed at highlighting challenges and solutions.

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, giving the feature address highlighted the fact that over the years Guyana has been dependent on exporting raw timber and only recently there was an increase in value added production. With this revolution, there is need to adapt to the LUS rather than to over rely on the 30 out of 1000 species. “As a responsible people and government, we cannot allow this situation to continue unabated this is especially so since studies commissioned by the GFC (Guyana Forestry Commission) and FPDMC (Forest Products Development and Marketing Council) showed that some of these lesser used species are comparable to traditional commercial timber species, it is therefore imperative that we begin to utilize the comparable LUS” Trotman urged.

He revealed that research shows that the local market is not receptive to the LUS and local contractors are reluctant to try them which pose as a major challenge in proving the initiative successful “This needs to change and we are currently in Cabinet addressing the National Housing Policy and I have no doubt that this will be addressed there,” he said. At a time when the forestry sector is at a decline, the Natural Resource Minister however expressed optimism that this workshop is opportune in bringing discussions to the table with the various players. He made commitments to the various organizations that his Ministry will support any venture undertaken to boost extensive usage of timber.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin in his short address expressed satisfaction that the value added production in the timber industry is finally expanding since it was unfortunate that a country with such generous endowment of forest was stuck with exporting raw material. “ I believe that there is a strong will to finally remove the barriers and obstacles that were stopping this industry from taking off, I believe with that will, we have an opportunity to put our heads together,” Gaskin said adding that a strategy needs to be developed for the plethora of species to be exploited.

Chairman of the Guyana Forestry Commission Joycelyn Dow told the audience that she is cognizant that there is a complex system which the sector is built on and this poses as one of the major challenges. As a result of this, she encouraged the major players to create an enabling environment so that everyone can play an integral role in this new initiative. “You must demand of us (GFC) what is needed for you to do a better job…..we are willing to do that,” she said while encouraging all Guyanese to work together and be consistent towards to success of this initiative.

SHYAM NOKTA President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association said that his organization has over the years made several attempts at promoting LUS and is finally happy that the initiative is being embarked on. Research has been done which he said confirms the mechanical properties including durability which are found in these underexploited species. He highlighted economic and environmental benefits.

“From an environmental standpoint, it will help to reduce the pressure on species that are currently high in demand in the markets and thereby allow for fewer threatened or vulnerable species……so there is from both sides from an economic and environmental perspective, a general incentive to move in the direction of lesser used species,” he said. The GMSA President said that the challenges lie in the supply and demand since there is a lack of knowledge of the LUS.

“The GMSA is committed towards the of the use of lesser known species, we want to commend the initiatives that are being taken in this regard and we want to express our commitment in working with the FPDMC, the GFC, the Ministry of Natural Resources in working with other stake holders in the efforts in promoting lesser known species.”
Some of the prime species used in Guyana are greenheart, purple heart, mora, bullet wood and locust while some of the LUS with the similar density that can be bought at a cheaper price are Buruda, Black Kakaralli, kurokai and Suya.

The discussion highlighted that the utilization of these species will allow for better management of the sector, it will lead to increase in the value added production and will increase employment from logging along the chain of production.