– forestry commission partners with EU to host bamboo production workshop

THE Ministry of Natural Resources has announced the completion of a bamboo furniture training programme aimed at expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural communities as Guyana continues to explore alternative forestry and climate-resilient industries.
According to the ministry, the training was conducted from May 13 to 17 under the Euroclima Bamboo Project and involved 10 participants from the communities of Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends and Nottinghamshire. The sessions were facilitated by the Guyana Forestry Commission in collaboration with international partners including the European Union, Expertise France and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization.
The course focused on bamboo furniture production, equipping participants with practical skills that could support small business development and income generation within their communities.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote bamboo as a sustainable natural resource and climate-friendly alternative within Guyana’s forestry sector.
Bamboo has increasingly gained international attention because of its rapid growth rate, carbon absorption capacity and potential use in construction, furniture manufacturing and handicraft production.
Guyana has been seeking to diversify its forest economy beyond traditional timber production while maintaining its low-deforestation status. Through programmes led by the Guyana Forestry Commission and international partners, bamboo cultivation and processing have been identified as areas with economic and environmental potential, particularly for hinterland and rural communities.
The Euroclima programme, funded by the European Union, supports climate mitigation and adaptation projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. In Guyana, several initiatives under the programme have focused on sustainable forestry management, community development and strengthening green economic opportunities.
Officials have said that community-based training programmes are intended not only to build technical capacity but also to encourage entrepreneurship and value-added production using locally available resources.
The bamboo furniture course is among a series of capacity-building activities being rolled out under the project as Guyana advances policies tied to sustainable natural resource management and low-carbon development.