–Natural Resources Minister says

MINISTER of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has said that while there has been significant growth in the country’s forestry sector, the government’s policy is, and continues to be balancing the development of this sector with environmental sustainability.

Bharrat made this disclosure last week during the ministry’s mid-year press conference, where he noted that forestry remains an important sector to the country.

With this, he stated that the government and ministry must emphasise the sector, and continue to expand and provide incentives to the forestry sector while taking into consideration the conversations resonating around the world with regards to climate change, cutting emissions, conservation and preservation of the forest.

Against this backdrop, the minister said: “I want to say that as a government, and as a ministry, our policy is clear; our policy is economic development with environmental sustainability. That has always been our policy and will continue to be so.”

Further to this, he said that the government intends to balance the two to ensure that the people of the country enjoy a better life and at the same time that there is adherence to the responsibilities in regards to the environmental credentials.

With this, Bharrat went on to add that the Guyana Forestry Commission has been doing an excellent job in managing the country’s forests, and the country can boast about a vibrant forestry sector.

“We can boast that we have one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world. Our commitment in the Low-Carbon Development Strategy 2030 speaks to 0.07 per cent deforestation. Today, we are way below that; we are way below our own targets in the Low-Carbon Development Strategy,” the minister expressed.

The Commission, he said, has been on task to ensure that the forestry sector is kept alive and lucrative, while also expanding operations to attract more people to the sector.

He added that this has led to a strong push towards value-added production in the sector, which has seen an increase in the last three to four years.

Giving some examples, he pointed to the housing project, which has been a success story, and sees the production of wooden homes for export to Caribbean islands and elsewhere.

Further, some stakeholders have been engaged in coal production, which is also seeing success and improving on existing packaging while moving same into expanded markets like supermarkets and malls.

The significant move to value-added production is part of the government’s aim to keep the sector lucrative, while also ensuring that there is environmental sustainability.