…as GFC launches new law enforcement project
Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Monday boasted of Guyana’s low rates of deforestation as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) launched a new project at its Kingston, Georgetown office, which aims to strengthen forest legality and improve the livelihoods of forest communities among others.
The Minister, while highlighting the Forestry Commission’s mandate to sustain the forest, said Guyana has documented one of the lowest rates of deforestation in the world.
“The Guyana Forestry Commission has a national mandate to promote sustainable forest management in Guyana, in keeping with its national laws and international standards and agreements, and has been successful in the past in this regard and this is evident in Guyana’s rate of deforestation still being one of the lowest in any other part of the world. In the year 2016, this rate was verified by international auditors at a mere 0.05 per cent,” the Minister boasted.
“Guyana has long been recognised internationally as a country that practises SFM [Sustainable Forest Management] at the concession management unit lesson. We are also considered to be a global leader in the fight against climate change and our monitor, reporting and verification system is second to none…despite these advances, we remain committed to reviewing and revising our legislative and policy framework when necessary to ensure that the necessary sector operate at the best governance framework,” he added.
Trotman further encouraged the beneficiaries of the new programme to make use of the opportunity to gain knowledge, to improve the quality of community operation which will benefit all Guyanese.
The new project was launched under the Food and Agriculture Organisation-European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FAO-EU FLEGT) Programmes.
It seeks to build the capacities of the community forestry groups, to strengthen compliance with regulations on taxes, social security, and labour laws over an 18-month period.
Twenty-five community forestry organisations are expected to be part of the US$54,500 project.
GFC Board of Directors Chairperson Jocelyn Dow encouraged the representatives from the community forestry organisations to continue complying with the regulations and reminded them of their roles to the forest.
Meanwhile, Programme Officer of FLEGT and European Union Delegate, Federico Esteban Suarez said, “The European Union, FAO and Guyana share the view that climate change is a real threat for our dear planet, at large, and in the Caribbean and in Guyana in particular. Sustaining the forestry has to play a major role as part of the solution for both climate change, mitigation and adaptation”.
The launch also saw representatives from various forestry regions, as well as persons from the Labour Department, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
