Guyana is making progress towards effectively implementing the European Union Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).

This comes after a meeting with key officials to establish the Government Co-ordination Body (GCB), bringing them one step closer to their goal.

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MONR) convened a crucial meeting at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) on Wednesday, where key discussions focused on the establishment of the GCB, which will be a key component of the VPA implementation structure.

“The GCB will be an established body as part of the VPA implementation structure for the duration of the implementation phase of the VPA and is responsible for overseeing all activities concerning the agencies’ legislative and policy directives for the EU FLEGT VPA process in Guyana.

“It will act as a co-ordination body for ministries and/or government agencies involved in the development and implementation of the agreement,” a release from the MONR said.

At the meeting, representatives discussed the integral role of the GCB in ensuring a co-ordinated and cohesive approach to meet the objectives outlined in the VPA.

These objectives, set forth by the EU FLEGT initiative, include stimulating markets, retaining international markets for Guyana’s exporters, demonstrating the legality and sustainability of timber production, and enhancing reporting requirements within the chain of custody management.

The EU FLEGT VPA, signed in December 2022 and officially ratified in April 2023, marks a significant commitment by Guyana to address forestry-related challenges and promote responsible and sustainable timber production.

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has been tasked with representing the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in achieving the objectives outlined in the VPA.

One of the primary objectives of the VPA is the establishment of the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS). This national system is designed to ensure that all aspects of forestry production comply with relevant laws, encompassing social, environmental, and financial regulations.